It’s all about living a healthy life today, and for a reason. High levels of pollution and a sedentary lifestyle are only some of the things plaguing a modern man. While sometimes changing your environment may not be possible, adopting simple health habits into your life may be worth the trouble. If you are ready to take a leap into improving your wellbeing, here are some tips on how to do it.   

1. Start with a Good Night’s Sleep

There is a reason doctors constantly stress out the importance of a good night’s sleep. It helps with the repair and healing of certain organs, like the heart and blood vessels. If you sleep 7–8 hours every night, you may lower the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, weight gain, and type 2 diabetes.

In case you have trouble falling asleep, some tricks might help, like wearing an eye mask and keeping electronics out of your bedroom, including your phone. Adding some feng shui to your bedroom can also help. Soothing sounds of nature or pink noise are known to have positive effects on the sleep cycle, too. Valerian root and chamomile can be helpful to promote sleep and even treat insomnia.

2. Improve Your Diet

The key to a healthy diet is not only in ingredients but also in the way you prepare your food. Deep-fried dishes are full trans fats, a known cause of serious health conditions. Some vegetables when thermally processed lose vitamins and minerals, while others are better consumed cooked.  Skipping meals is also not a good idea since your body needs the energy to help you function physically and mentally throughout the day.

If you are not a breakfast person, choose some easy methods to prepare this important part of your day. Have a fruit bowl, smoothie, or make your own muesli from the healthy nuts, seeds, and oats. Fatty fish and lean meat should find their way to your plate, as well as a great deal of fresh and colorful vegetables. Advice from a nutritionist is always a good way to start changing your diet, especially if you need an extra boost and guidance.

3. Slow Down

While the world may dictate a fast tempo, you should slow down your pace from time to time. This means that even when you are trying to change your life for the better, you should go one step at a time. Rushing into something may overwhelm you and make it harder to adopt healthier habits and can cause a lot of psychological discomforts.

For example, e liquid in NZ has become a popular way to replace cigarette smoking, if someone is unable to quit completely. In the UK and Europe, mindfulness holidays are a big trend offering people to de-stress through meditation and tai chi. It’s important to choose your battles wisely and give yourself time to adapt to a new lifestyle so you can stick with it in the future.

4. Include Physical Activity into Your Day

Always have time for just a walk around the neighborhood since that can increase the blood flow and keep your musculoskeletal system in shape. Having at least half an hour of moderate exercise five days a week is a good practice to take control of your health. There are many types of workouts to choose from today, so you can easily find the one that best suits your personality.

Additionally, physical activity is great for the mind, especially if you suffer from anxiety, depression, or just have to think about something. A morning exercise can give you a boost of energy and make you more productive during the day. If you are not a fan of working out at home, opt for walking to work or at least going some part of the way on foot.

5. Nothing can Replace Water

For most people, the first drink in the morning is a cup of coffee. However, being a diuretic, coffee can make you lose water, leaving you groggy and hard to wake up. So, before you turn on your coffee machine, have a glass of water first.

This liquid is in every part of the body — organs, tissues, and cells. Sweating, digestion, and breathing eliminate water from the body so you have to rehydrate through fluids and food. If you are not very disciplined about your recommended daily water intake, carry a bottle with you at all times. A few slices of lemons, cucumbers, and berries may give water taste and infuse it with nutrients.

Final Thoughts

Every change is hard at first because it brings something new and takes you away from your comfort zone. But with these simple healthy habits, you can easily adopt a better life without causing too much stress for yourself. So, give yourself time to get used to the newness of an improved lifestyle by going one change at the time.

Lena Hemsworth

Writer

Lena Hemsworth is a writer, enthusiast, and loves to read a good book. She believes that there is nothing better than starting your day with a hot cup of coffee.