In the busyness of life, we’ve all built up bad habits when it comes to our personal health and wellness. We don’t do it on purpose; we simply get immersed in work, home life, and our social calendar. Over time, it’s easy to make poor choices that eventually turn into bad habits.
Every few months, take a few moments to take stock of your overall health. It’s important that you find ways to build new, healthy habits in your life while eliminating the harmful ones. Making changes doesn’t have to be drastic to make a big difference. Here are six simple ways you can build healthy habits in your life:
1. Drink More Water
We all know that we need to drink more water, but it rarely is a priority. Not only do most people deprive themselves of their body’s necessary hydration, they also routinely get most of their body’s water from soda and coffee. This only compounds the problem. By neglecting to drink enough water, you throw off your body’s delicate innate balance, which can cause a host of health issues.
On average, it’s recommended that adults drink at least 8 glasses of water a day (64 fluid ounces). Make it a daily habit by always having water close by throughout your day. Many people find the best way to do this is to find a refillable cup or thermos and keep it filled with filtered water. Need help remembering to drink during the day? There’s apps for that! Check out your smartphone’s app store to find a multitude of free options.
2. Utilize Proper Brushing and Flossing
Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day should be a high priority on your daily to-do list. Building healthy habits for your teeth is about more than your oral health. Good oral hygiene affects your overall health and wellbeing.
How do you build habits for oral care? Consider:
- Brush and floss at the same time daily. Find a time in the morning and evening to brush your teeth. Then, stick to it.
- Keep the tools handy. Keeping your toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss on the bathroom counter will help aid your memory. Flossing can be more difficult to remember, as most people readily admit. Don’t hide the container of floss in a drawer. If you do, it will likely sit there until your next dental cleaning!
- Use a timer. Proper tooth brushing should take no less than two minutes. Use a timer on your phone to ensure that you’re not skipping out too early.
3. Create An Exercise Routine
For most people, exercise is simply about losing weight. Unfortunately, this narrow way of thinking discounts the great benefits your body experiences when you exercise.
Thankfully, creating an exercise routine doesn’t have to be stifling. Choose something that is unique and individual as you are. Love running? Hit the road or treadmill. Enjoy swimming? Check for indoor and outdoor options. Ever thought about self-defense classes? Learning Krav Maga can get you fit and equip you with ways to defend yourself. Find something you love, and you’ll find that creating a habit of exercise is infinitely easier.
4. Set A Proper Bedtime
For most people, bedtime is whenever their head hits the pillow. Having a bedtime is something that seems more appropriate for little kids than adults. Yet, having a proper bedtime is an excellent habit for any adult to set.
Although it’s recommended that adults get about eight hours of sleep a night, most people fall woefully short of that. But, instead of thinking it’s impossible, make it possible by going to bed at a regular, earlier time
Set an alarm on your phone to go off 15 minutes or so before your bedtime to help keep you accountable. To help aid you in falling asleep, make sure you’re off your electronic devices at least an hour before bed. If you’re still having trouble falling asleep earlier in the evening, consider finding a podcast to help you drift off to sleep.
5. Improve Your Diet
Healthy eating can sometimes seem like a chore, but it actually is much simpler than dealing with the host of issues that come from eating a poor diet. Digestive issues, weight gain, and fatigue are only a small sampling of the problems that come from unhealthy food choices.
Looking to improve your diet and create good, new habits? Start with simple steps, like:
- Eliminating soda: This is a quick and simple way to start improving your diet. Not only will you be avoiding all those chemicals and empty calories, you’ll also save money!
- Shop the perimeter of the grocery store: It’s often said that the foods that are best for you are found on the edge of the store, while many of the processed, unhealthy foods are found in the aisles in the middle. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables by staying on the perimeter of the market.
- Read labels: When was the last time you read a food label, checking the nutritional information and ingredients? Simply learning to look at labels is a small step in building a healthier diet.
6. Take Time For YOU
As hectic as your schedule is, make sure you take time to do something for your own personal enrichment. Put it on your calendar if you need to, but find ways to take care of yourself and don’t put it off.
Taking time for yourself means finding something that will help you grow as a person. Head to the local library and enroll in a free class. Visit that park you’ve been wanting to visit and take a hike on a scenic trail. Go for a massage. Visit the local symphony orchestra. If you don’t put your own needs on your schedule, your overall health will suffer in the long term.
It’s okay to start small. The habits you start or break can each add up to a big impact on your life. Try one of these tips and take that first step today.
What are your favorite everyday healthy habits?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
About the Author
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry, collaborating with industry insiders and designers, getting insight on the latest trends.
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