Healthy Habits You Should Be Doing Everyday

Healthy habits are so important to add to your everyday schedule. You need to take time to yourself every single day in order to stay happy, healthy and well, sane. No matter how busy you are, everyone can make time for these simple steps towards a healthier lifestyle. It’s in your best interest to start these habits young, as habits formed in the early ages of one’s life can affect how one age.

Drink Water Before Every Meal

Water is so important, especially before eating a meal. By drinking water about 30 minutes before eating you are helping your digestive system flow properly. If you are looking to lose weight, drinking water before a meal can help you feel fuller, therefore you will tend to eat less. Planning to drink water before a meal will keep you hydrated which has a large number of benefits including hydrated skin, staying energized and even leads to better moods.

Develop A Morning Routine

Morning routines help to keep one organized and prepared for their day. I could not live without routines, I feel they are the most important way to stay productive. Having a set routine will make waking up way easier, as you can look forward to a hot shower or that delicious breakfast you planned out (because there’s no more skipping breakfast- it’s the most important meal of the day.) Morning routines can be something like this: get out of bed, stretch, take a hot shower, brew coffee, do makeup and hair, eat breakfast, get dressed and get out the door. Of course, everybody’s routine is specific to them and their day.  

Make One Meal Healthier Each Day

I love this habit and I think it’s super fun to stick to. Pick one meal a day to focus on. Say Sunday you start with breakfast. Instead of having toast with peanut butter try switching over to brown rice cakes. Or maybe you want to fix up your lunch. Switch from buffalo chicken salads to just grilled chicken salads. By slowly making each meal healthier, you are on your way to a completely healthy diet. Plus, by switching out ingredients for an ingredient or finding healthier options of some of your favorite foods, it’s not as drastic of a change. You’ll probably even look forward to adjusting your meals!

Cut Back On Sugar

Sugar is bad for your health for a variety of reasons. Not only does it increase the risk of diabetes and obesity, but it is extremely addictive. There’s a reason why parents don’t want to give their kids too much candy, and it’s not because they’ll get a sugar rush. Having a decent amount of sugar each day is bad for you because it can slow cognitive function and decrease your memory and attention span. Cutting back on sugary snacks and drinks might be hard but it’s totally worth it. 

Get More Physical Activity

Getting more physical activity each day can improve your overall life. It has both longterm effects, like reducing your risk of serious cancers or diseases, and immediate effects, like releasing endorphins that leave you feeling happier and less stressed. So instead of taking the bus to class, try biking. Instead of driving to get coffee with your friends, walk downtown. There are so many easy ways to squeeze physical activity into your everyday life.

Develop A Nighttime Routine

Just like morning routines, nighttime ones are just as important. Set a steady plan that you can do before bed each night to ensure you get the best sleep possible because sleep is the most important factor in how you perform each day. An idea for a nighttime routine includes washing your face, applying lotion, brushing your teeth, making decaffeinated tea and reading or studying before bed. It’s best to stay off your phone 30 minutes before you go to sleep to ensure that the blue light does not throw off your body’s internal clock.

Less Excuses

Stop saying “I’ll do it tomorrow,” or “I’m not good enough.” Each day you make an excuse you’re setting yourself further and further from your goals. Stop telling yourself you can’t do something, and instead, each day try to do something new. Think you can’t run that extra mile at the gym? Today tell yourself you can. Tomorrow, tell yourself you can run one-and-a-half. Improving yourself each day for the better can drastically change your life for the better.

Practice Good Posture

The way you present yourself can say a lot about you. If you have horrible posture and are always bent over your desk, that’s one of the first things people will notice about you. Don’t let your slouching problem speak before you can! Each day, spend more time in an upright position whether it’s when you walk around or when you’re just sitting at a desk. The best way to increase your posture is to sit back and let the chair support your spine. Avoid having your legs crossed, and keep your knees in line, or even above, your hips.

Sun Exposure

Natural sunlight can be hard to get depending on what your school or work schedule is like, but try your best to get outside more often. Sunlight prompts the body to produce vitamin D, which helps maintain strong bones. Exposure to sunlight also puts people in a much better mood than being cooped up in an office all day. So next time the sun is shining, eat your lunch outside or take your dog for a walk after class. Sunlight and fresh air are bound to improve your happiness and wellbeing.

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Get Eight Hours Of Sleep

Like mentioned earlier, getting good sleep is the most important aspect of maintaining a healthy life. Eight hours of sleep is the perfect number because it allows for a night of deep sleep to repair and renew one’s body. Getting good sleep is vital to a healthy lifestyle because it boosts your immune system, protects both your mental and physical health and helps your body fight against illnesses. For simple ways how to ensure you get better sleep at night, try exercising each day, stick to a steady sleeping schedule, and put away your electronics 30 minutes prior to bed. Your body will thank you for this.

Hit The Sauna

If you have the opportunity to use a sauna every day yet you still don’t, what are you doing? Not only are the super relaxing, but they’re the best way to end a workout. Benefits of using a sauna include flushing toxins out of your body, leads to getting a night of better sleep at night, improves your cardiovascular performance and alleviates stress. To avoid heatstroke, it’s best to stay in a sauna for between 12 and 20 minutes.

Cut Back On Electronics

You’ve heard your parents say it a million times, put your phone away! Cutting back on electronics is super beneficial to your mind and your body. Each day, try to spend less time on your phone or laptop. This can be hard depending on your job, but find ways to decrease your usage and you’ll notice a difference. Less time on electronics leads to better sleep, improved focus, fewer headaches and a reduction of eye strain. So instead of scrolling through Instagram 10 times a day, why don’t you try to limit that to five? 

These healthy habits can be adjusted to anyone’s specific schedule. Which steps are you going to take to change your life?

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