Over time, people forget to do the small things that position them to bring their best effort to the table every day. Sometimes, creating healthy habits can be harder than it seems. But if done right, the benefits are worth the work.
In this post, you will find simple health habits you can incorporate into your day that will help you live a healthy and happy life.
Always eat breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and for a good reason, it improves your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness. Eating things that are high in fiber and proteins keeps you feeling full and energized. These include whole-grain cereals and breads, low-fat milk, fruit, and yogurt.
Practice self-care and self-compassion
Self-compassion is the positive attitude that we can have towards ourselves. It is through giving attention to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of ourselves. Having self-compassion means being able to relate to yourself in a way that’s forgiving, accepting, and loving especially when situations are tougher.
Practice healthy eating throughout the day
Healthfy eating means replacing foods that contain trans fats, added salt, and sugar with more nutritious options. Following a healthy diet has health benefits, such as preventing diseases, and boosting mood. Control your food portion, go for larger portions of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and consume smaller portions of higher calorie foods containing large amounts of sugar and fats.
Find effective ways to manage stress
Stress response is triggered when we are faced with overwhelming demands. The demands can be large or small, but the importance we attach to them decides their impact. Stress harms the body and the mind in very real ways like having decreased focus and a lowered immune system. Incorporating healthy habits like meditation, visualization and practicing gratitude will help you manage stress and avoid its negative effects.
Stay hydrated
Most healthy people stay well hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel thirsty. Getting the proper amount of water is extremely important as every organ in our bodies needs water.It is a fine balance to have atleast eight glasses of water daily.
Developing deep and supportive relationships
Someone having over 5000 friends on social media may think they’re a rock star. But, how many of those “friends” would be there to support them when they start a business or go through a personal crisis? Connecting with others is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Deep and supportive relationships improve health, increase lifespan and lower your risk of depression.
Get your sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is incredibly important for your health. When we sleep, the brain clears away the debris of the day’s work. The common effects caused by the lack of sleep include fatigue, lack of focus, and forgetfulness. Sleep deprivation may put your health at risk, which is why it’s essential that you prioritize and protect your sleep on a daily basis. Engage in simple bedtime routines like showering, turning off all lights, and listening to soft music.
Reflection and Journaling
Journaling and reflective writing allow us to list our thoughts, emotions, and questions to gain a deeper understanding of what we are feeling and how we relate to the world around us. Take a few minutes during your day to reflect on any noticeable patterns. Talking about feelings isn’t easy so journaling offers an alternative option to explore thoughts, feelings, and emotions in a private space.
Challenge yourself
Challenging ourselves means we decide to take on new tasks, approach things in a different manner than we’ve not done before and also try to do more work to improve ourselves. Don’t feel embarrassed about not being an expert, every expert was once a beginner. By taking steps out of your comfort zone, you have the chance to discover new ways of life which is more satisfying and fulfilling.
Go Offline
As the internet is taking over more parts of our lives, more people are striving to take a break from it. You can do it for a day, a week, or go offline for a couple of months. Set a time to log off and put the phone down. When you cut back on screen time, it frees you to do other things. Take a walk, read a book, or explore your kitchen skills and make a great meal.
It might take you several months to create a new habit, so you need to include the change as part of your regular routine.