Try these 1o easy strategies to help you live healthier
The health and fitness world is a billion dollar industry so needless to say there are a million ways for you to improve your health! If you want to tackle the job on your own you need to develop healthy habits like drinking more water, exercise regularly, meditate, sleep more, and eat nutritious foods. The list is endless on ways you can improve your health, you just need to start. Before you pick up any fad diets or destine to fail workout routines, you first need to incorporate healthy habits into your everyday routine.
Sometimes all you need to pick up a healthy habit is a little inspiration and a few ideas. Here are 10 strategies that might make managing your health easier.
1. Commit
The first step to any real change is commitment. Decide today to be mindful of your health from this point onwards. Be mindful of the pace that those changes will happen. You don’t have to become a health nut overnight. Simply tweaking your food and lifestyle choices over time can make an impact and have lasting results. Dedicate your focus to your health!
2. Track
Take inventory of the habits and choices that may be sabotaging your health. Keeping a food journal to record everything you eat and drink for at least a week is a great place to start. This helps you see what and how much you are eating so you can eliminate the foods that have no nutritional value. It’s also helpful to track your daily exercise on a calendar, sleeping patterns, and stress related episodes.
3. Exercise
Experts recommend 20-minute of movement 3 to 5 times a week for a beginner. As your fitness improves, you can increase the duration or intensity of physical activity. Getting some sort of movement in your day every day is important to live a healthy life. Alternate between cardio activities and strength exercises to get the best results. If you don’t know where to start, just get outside for a walk or work with a personal trainer to help you learn your way around the gym.
4. Sleep
The average adult requires 7-8 hours of sleep a night. To be sure of your own sleep requirements, set aside a couple of days to sleep restfully and wake up without the help of an alarm clock. This can help you determine the hours of rest your body needs each day.
5. Alcohol Consumption
Most health professionals agree that one drink a day is sufficient and potentially beneficial. This translates into 150 milliliters of wine (5 oz.), 355 milliliters of beer (12 oz.) or 44 milliliters of distilled spirit (roughly 1.5 oz.). A good habit is to limit alcohol intake as often as possible, avoiding consumption during weekdays. This is because alcohol can slow down your metabolism and induce fatigue, which might make exercise and other physical activities challenging.
6. Stress
The effect of stress on energy levels, immune system function, sleeping patterns, alcohol consumption and general wellbeing cannot be emphasized enough. It is imperative to find a hobby or activity that helps relieve physical and mental tension on a daily basis.
Whether it’s a morning jog, a yoga session, or creative activity forming a ritual that will help you blow off some steam and relax both mentally and physically. Managing stress should be a top priority if you want to be happier and healthier.
7. Choose a Habit
Try to incorporate as many health habits as you can into your routine. You don’t have to do them all at once, do one a day until it becomes a habit and something you look forward to. In fact, the more gradually you ease into the changes, the better the results in the long term.
To help you being living a healthier life, here are a couple of healthy habits to start you on your wellness journey:
- Drink 8 glasses of water daily
- Replace sugary beverages with flavored or sparkling water and herbal teas
- Get creative with crafting or make special meal
- Eat all your main meals with a serving of fresh or frozen vegetables
- Eat at least one piece of if you need a nibble between meals
- Increase your protein intake with lean options
- Avoid processed foods
- Practice eating slowly, chewing food well
- Stop eating on the go
- Take daily supplements M.O.D. Multivitamin, Omega 3s, Vitamin D
- Get your blood pumping with a 20-minute cardio session or jump rope for 10 minutes
- Exercise with weights for more resistance
- Schedule “me time” for at least 30 minutes first thing in the morning or after work
- Take a soothing bath once a week using bath oils or bath salts
- Stretch at least once a day
- Use a body scrub before a shower or bath to improve lymphatic drainage
- Sleep 8 hours every night
- Spend more time outdoors
- Wear sunscreen
- Floss your teeth at least once a day
- Spend more time standing than sitting
- Go for regular health check-ups with your medical team
- Quit smoking
- Learn to let go of the past
- Meditate
- Refrain from drinking alcohol on weekdays
- Limit your screen time at night
8. Practice
According to behavioral experts, it takes about three weeks to adopt a new habit. Put the ideas into practice and don’t rush it. Choose one or two healthy habits and practice daily until they become the norm. As tempting as it may be to adopt several habits at a time, gradually incorporating one or two into your lifestyle is the best strategy.
9. Do More
Get motivated to do more. Once you are comfortable with one health ritual, adopt another. Keep adding a new habit every 21 days, or simply once the last one feels like a part of your routine. Replace unhealthy food options with more nutritious versions, drink one more cup of water, sleep one more hour, log off of screen time an hour earlier in the evening. Changing a lifestyle might take longer than expected, but the benefits will last a lifetime.
10. Evaluate
Before you begin your wellness journey, record your starting weight and energy levels. You may also jot down notes relating to your emotional wellbeing, stress, time management and any other area of life you’re looking to improve. With every new healthy habit, monitor the changes you see and any benefits you gained over time. Evaluating your progress can help you appreciate your effort. Plus, you a chance to review the healthy habits that work for you…. and those that don’t.
The more healthy habits you incorporate into your lifestyle, the healthier and happier you are likely to be. For more expert advice on how to live a healthy life visit Jane’s television show www.LivingHealthyTV.com
