10 Healthy Habits For Living A Better Lifestyle
We all know how challenging it can be to maintain a healthy lifestyle in the midst of our busy lives. But instead of looking for short term fixes to get back on track (which we’re all guilty of), it’s important to look at your life long term and set yourself up for success in all aspects of your life. Over time small decisions add up and can make a big difference in your overall health and happiness. Take a look at the healthy habits that we find to be most important in order to live a good lifestyle.
Regular Exercise
This is a no brainer. Exercise is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle; it is so beneficial and extremely rewarding. When you work out and get your heart rate going, your endorphins release. This would also make your stress levels go down, and it is scientifically proven to put you in a better mood. Of course, regular exercise also helps us maintain a healthy body weight, and lower the risks of disease. Trust us, this is one of the pinnacle healthy habits you need to have!
Set Goals
Whether it be for your upcoming week, or for long term, setting goals is extremely important. It gives you motivation, keeps you focused, and helps organize your time and resources. For personal goal setting we recommend using the SMART acronym. S – Specific, M – Measurable, A – Attainable, R – Relevant, and T – Time-bound. This is a useful way to give your goals practical structure.
Hydrate
Water, water, and more water! You should be drinking 8 eight-ounce glasses of water everyday in order to keep your body hydrated and healthy. Water is the body’s transportation system, it keep our nutrients circulating and maintains our body temperature. So next time you go to grab that diet coke from the fridge, think again! Make water one of your healthy habits instead.
Me Time
Most of us are guilty of putting others well being before ourselves. But in order to live a healthy meaningful lifestyle, self-care is essential too. If you think about it, how can you care for someone else if you don’t care for yourself first? We challenge you to take a period of time each day and dedicate it to doing something you love. Whether it be putting on a face mask and having a glass of wine, reading a book, or taking a relaxing bath, me time is so important and will do so much good in your life.
Adequate Sleep
Sleep is essential for optimal health and well being; it is undoubtedly one of the most important things to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Lack of sleep can affect our daily functioning, hormonal balance, immune system, and even our appetite. So do yourself a favor and aim for the recommended sleep time of 6-8 hours a night, even if that means going to bed a little earlier then normal. Get into your comfiest pajamas, put the phone away and rejuvenate.
Balance Your Meals
Diet is hands down the most important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. You know that saying “you are what you eat”? Well, it’s the truth. In order for your body to function properly, it needs high quality fuel. We know its easy for life to get in the way, especially when you have a busy day and need something quick to eat so you head to the Chick-fil-A drive through. Of course this is okay once in a while- because it’s all about balance and moderation. So if you know your lunch isn’t going to be the healthiest, plan for your breakfast and dinner to be on the extra healthy side. We also suggest eating something green with every meal. Challenge yourself to this!
Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
People who live a healthy lifestyle do not let stress consume them. As difficult as this might sound, it really is key. Stress can do terrible things to our body, it can cause weight gain, anxiety, and mood swings. In order to get around this, it’s important to recognize what triggers your stress and find ways to calm and relax your mind. When something doesn’t go the way you expected, it’s not the end of the world. Reflect on it and move on.
Family & Friends
Spend time with the ones you love. It’s as simple as that. When you have a good foundation and support system, it is easy to live a happier and healthier life. Show love and appreciation to those around you, and always be grateful for the life you have. Of course we all have struggles and hardships, but when you have people to lean on, you know you’re not alone.
Alcohol In Moderation
Wine is good for your heart right? Well, yes, but not 5 glasses of it! While it is true that alcohol does offer some health benefits, it also comes with risks. The key is moderation (or don’t drink any at all if possible!). Sure, have a glass of wine with dinner a couple nights a week, and maybe a few glasses more on the weekends, but don’t overdo it. Know your limits and know how it can affect your body.
Don’t Compare
Everything in life is easier when you don’t concern yourself with what everyone else is doing. Trust us when we say that comparison is that fast track to unhappiness. You wont get far in life if you are not your number one priority. Everybody follows different paths and takes different journeys, what might be right for you and your life may not be right for someone else’s, and that’s okay! Focus on how you can be your best self and never let anybody get in the way of that.