8 Habits To Make You Fitter, Healthier and Happier
Let’s be real, becoming fit and healthy (and maintaining it) doesn’t happen by accident and it certainly doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. What people don’t realise is if they form one healthy habit at a time, they are more likely to stick with it and be fitter, healthier and happier than they were before they started. These habits don’t have to be extreme, just small changes can make a big difference. Here are 8 habits to make you fitter, healthier and happier!
1. Eat a breakfast that’s going to fuel your day
Every meal is important, however, breakfast is the one meal you should never skip! If you eat a healthy breakfast to fuel your body, it’s going to help improve your focus, satiety and energy levels for the rest of the day. Personally, when I fill my body with nutritious and healthy foods in the morning, I’m more likely to make better food choices throughout the day. You’ll definitely want to employ this habit to make you fitter, healthier and happier.
2. Drink lots of water
If you make it a habit to drink lots of water every single day, you’re going to be on your way to a healthier, fitter and happier you! Drinking plenty of water will help your body maintain its fluid balance. This ensures nutrients can be carried throughout the body. This means you will reap the benefits of the healthy foods you eat much faster! Yay! Drinking enough water throughout the day can even help you feel full. People often mistake their thirst for hunger, so getting enough H20 throughout the day can stop you from overeating. It’s especially important to drink tons of water if you workout. When you work and stress your muscles, they lose water. If you’re not replenishing your body, your muscles will get tired quicker and you may not be able to work out as hard. So drink up peeps!
3. Give your goals a deadline
You’re going to be more efficient and more likely to reach your goals if you set a deadline! This helps to eliminate procrastination and will make your health and fitness goals seem more achievable and tangible. Once you’ve made it to this deadline, set yourself a new goal with a new deadline, that way you always have a checkpoint to work toward! Apply this habit to make you fitter, healthier and happier. Physically and mentally.
4. Be consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to health and fitness! We’re always going to have our ‘off days’, where we skip our workouts or overindulge (or both). But as long as you practise a healthy lifestyle, then these ‘off days’ are perfectly okay! No, they’re natural! What matters most is what you do most of the time, not sometimes. Practise a healthy lifestyle (making good food choices, moving your body, drinking lots of water, taking care of yourself physically and mentally) most of the time, and don’t worry about the sometimes.
5. Fill your cupboard with healthy foods
If you fill your pantry with healthy, whole foods, you’re most likely going to reach for these nourishing foods and processed, junk food is going to seem like more of an inconvenience than a treat. Eliminate unhealthy foods from the picture and employ this habit to make you fitter, healthier and happier.
6. Take your workout wherever you go
Many people have to travel frequently for work, to visit their family, or for a holiday. If you’re one of those people, this doesn’t mean you should abandon your health and fitness goals, just because you can’t find the time to go to the gym. Take a workout DVD with you, use the internet to find body weight only workouts, go for a walk. There are thousands of activities you can do to stay fit and healthy without a gym membership or equipment. Make this a habit to make you fitter, healthier and happier.
7. Don’t give up socialising
Just because you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle, doesn’t mean you have to stop socialising with your friends. If you do choose to go out for food or drinks to catch up with friends, check the menu beforehand and plan what’s the healthiest option to order. Instead of going out on the town for food and drinks, you and your friends can always do something equally as fun that’s better for your health and fitness, such as a hike, a bike ride, etc.
8. Make time for mental health
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, if not more important. Make sure you dedicate time to your mental health. You can do this by practising yoga or meditating, writing a journal, seeing a therapist, etc. Anything that keeps you happy and mentally healthy. Having a healthy mindset will keep you on track with your health and fitness goals, and will provide balance in your life.
