It’s never too late to start developing habits for a healthier lifestyle. A healthier lifestyle ensures your optimal mental as well as physical well-being, so you can perform your daily activities in a breeze. Of course, it can be hard to let go of your old habits but once you make yourself aware of how unhealthy they are, you will gradually want to make better lifestyle decisions for yourself.
Now, it doesn’t mean you have to make drastic changes in your habits. You can start simple. For example, investing in a to start cardio activity right in the comfort of your home while listening to your favorite music or podcast can be a great kick-start!
If you’re looking for more ways, this article will jot down 10 simple habits to help you kick-start a happier, healthier lifestyle. Read below to explore!
1. Keep the Indoors Clean and Fresh
As most of our time is spent in our homes, we should make sure that the air we breathe is clean and pure and so are the surroundings. That’s why it’s best for you to place some natural green plants in your house, as they produce oxygen and purify the air that we breathe.
Moreover, purchasing an air purifier can further help you in removing toxins, allergens, and smoke from your house which is not good for your health.
2. Incorporate Veggies into Your Diet
Meat and processed food always seem more scrumptious, however, they aren’t really good for your health. No matter how “boring” vegetables may look, they are enriched with essential vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to reduce the risk of cancer and heart diseases.
Hence, you must start incorporating vegetables into your diet. Try to add at least half of the portion to your plate consisting of vegetables, so you can add the rest of the portions as you like.
You can add spinach in your omelet or tomatoes in your sandwich for breakfast, whereas, keep half of the plate reserved for your seasoned veggies for lunch and dinner.
3. Be More Grateful
Your mental health is essential for a healthier lifestyle. Having pessimistic thoughts or sending negative messages to your brain can make you anxious and sad.
In order to keep yourself mentally healthy, you should start practicing gratitude on a daily basis. For instance, before going to bed, you should list down at least three things in a journal that you were thankful for that day.
Additionally, jotting down your thoughts in a journal every day will also help you assess your thought pattern and declutter your mind.
4. Prioritize Homemade Food
Nowadays, economical fast food or restaurant deals lure you into placing an order without having to prepare food at home. This is not a healthy option, and you need to let go of this habit.
Of course, it is a time-consuming and strenuous task to cook food at home. However, you can plan your meals for the next week and make sure you have also shopped all the necessary groceries from the store.
Eating homemade food allows you to keep track of your portions and ensure that whatever you are putting in your body is clean and healthy.
5. Keep Yourself Hydrated
Keeping yourself hydrated is imperative as it helps you in flushing out toxins from your body and maintaining optimal body temperature. However, many of us overlook the significance of hydration.
You should try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and keep a reusable water bottle with you whenever you are outdoors. This simple habit will make you feel healthier.
Eating water-based foods like watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, and peaches also help with hydration, especially in the summers.
6. Indulge in Healthier Snacks
Mid-afternoon hunger pangs are something we all are pretty aware of. It makes you want to eat cookies, pastries, or other fried food items.
However, to curb this unhealthy binge snacking habit, whether at home or outside, you should always keep a packet or box of healthy snacks.
For instance, bite-sized fruits, dried fruits, nuts, carrot sticks, rye crackers, etc. They will satisfy your cravings, keep you healthy, and won’t deprive you of energy for the day.
7. Get Quality Sleep
Sleep is essential for your physical and mental wellbeing. It also helps in the cognitive functioning of your brain to help you perform better at work.
Although most of us compromise on 7-8 hours of quality sleep for the sake of work or other commitments, you must start prioritizing your sleep from today.
Train your body’s sleep-wake cycle by sleeping and waking up at the same time every day, even on the weekends. Make sure the sleep environment such as bedding, noise, and room temperature are ideal as well.
8. Say “No” to the Sedentary Lifestyle
In this modern digital era, it’s hard not to be glued to your smartphone, tablet, and laptop. The traditional work environment can also make you continuously sit at your work desk for hours.
To prevent a sedentary lifestyle and its adverse effects on one’s well-being, get up from your desk every hour and take a small round in your office.
Rather than using escalators or elevators, leverage stairs to encourage smooth blood flow in your body.
9. Be More Physically Active
Physical activity like swimming, hiking, jogging, or even walking regularly encourages the release of feel-good hormones in your body and keeps your body in optimal condition.
You can start off by walking at least 20 minutes a day for five days a week in nature. This way, you will be absorbing vitamin D and at the same time enjoying the fresh air to maintain excellent mental and physical wellbeing.
10. Reduce Screen Time
Although social media has brought a lot of convenience to our lives, excess usage of social media platforms can cause problems for you. In addition to straining your eyes, unwanted news and comparison of your life with others on social media can cause mental stress and anxiety.
Instead of being stuck with your phone round the clock, monitor your screen time and set curfews to clear your mind and for some me-time. It’s always better to socialize in person with family and friends than be on social media most of the day.