7 Simple Habits for a Healthier Life. Breaking bad habits is never easy. Moreover, even if you give up your worst habits, quit smoking, or stop drinking, it’s almost impossible to quit all your bad habits long-term. However, you can always start by substituting a few of those habits with healthier, more positive practices. You will see great results by taking it day by day and making minor adjustments to your everyday life. So, in the rest of this article, we’ll go over a few simple habits for a healthier life. You won’t believe how much a few small decisions can add up over time.
Table of Contents
7 Simple Habits for a Healthier Life
1 – Get Enough Rest
Getting enough sleep is crucial for your health. While you’re sleeping, your brain resets and rebuilds your neural networks so that they can operate once you’re awake. Drowsiness, lack of focus, forgetfulness – they’re all symptoms of sleep deprivation. Moreover, when you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces fewer hormones that control your hunger, contributing to weight gain. To avoid all these things, make a habit of resting regularly.
As you probably know, seven to eight hours of sleep is optimal for an adult. However, what many don’t know is that those hours don’t have to be consecutive. If you feel exhausted, don’t feel bad about sneaking in a quick snooze early in the day. But don’t overdo it; limit your naps to 30 minutes. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, avoid TV, laptop, cell phone, and other electronics before bedtime. Allow your brain some actual rest.
Caption: Looking at your phone before bed will make you stay up later and sleep in.
2 – Take Care Of Your Body Everyday
When it comes to simple habits for a healthier life, the second most important one is taking care of your body every day. A few small changes in your daily routine can really pile up over time. That’s why, to keep your teeth clean and healthy, you should definitely start flossing every day if you’re not already doing it. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it can make all the difference!
Another thing you should add to your list is a proper skincare routine. If you want your skin to be smooth and healthy:
- Don’t skip your skincare, no matter the hurry you’re in.
- Start with washing your face at least twice a day.
- For best results, use a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.
And, whatever you do, don’t forget about sunscreen. With skin cancer rates rising, it’s your best line of defense. Furthermore, avoiding UV damage keeps your skin appearing youthful for longer.
3- Make A To-Do List
There are only 24 hours in a day, and when we’re balancing work, relationships, healthy nutrition, social life, and everything else, it just doesn’t feel like enough time. One of the best hacks to improve your well-being is developing excellent time management skills. They will keep you from feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
To-do lists are the bare minimum. The idea is to write down everything you want to do in a day. Make a note of it on your phone, in your journal, or daily planner. Everyone is different, so you should figure out what works best for you. Writing down your to-do list will help you remember and accomplish said tasks more quickly.
Caption: Making to-do lists can actually help you save a lot of time and finish your tasks more quickly.
4 – Spend Time Outside
Time away from technology is essential, especially for people who are overstimulated and exhausted by continual notifications and work-related stress. And if you can unplug outside, that’s even better. Being outside and breathing in the fresh air can do wonders for not only your physical health but also for your mental health. Spending time outdoors can help improve your mood and reduce stress. That’s why you should take a walk every day. Or, just go out and sit on a bench in the park. Whatever you do, don’t bring your phone. Listen to the sounds of nature and just take it all in.
Another great way to do a digital detox is to delete all the unnecessary apps on your phone. This will help reduce the number of distractions you face when you unlock your screen, giving you more room to focus on the more important aspects of your life.
5 – Eat Mindfully
Do you ever stare at your phone or TV while you’re eating? Multitasking during a meal makes it difficult to respond to your body’s hunger cues. This can lead to overeating, indigestion, and weight gain. That’s why it is critical to allow yourself the luxury of eating mindfully, without interruptions. Focusing on what you’re eating is one of those simple habits for a healthier life that will leave you feeling more full.
Furthermore, eat healthy whenever possible. To avoid cardiac arrest or other health risks, try incorporating foods that are good for your heart. Include greens, lettuce, and other vegetables in every meal. Avoid ice cream, sweetened yogurt, soft drinks, and processed flavored fruit juices. Replace soda with carbonated water or unflavored tea.
Caption: Try to include as many vegetables into your meals.
Alt: A bowl of vegetable salad with eggs.
6 – Exercise, Even If It’s Minimal
If you’re working in an office, you might not get much time during the day to exercise. Moreover, sitting in front of your computer and staring at the screen the entire day can be terrible for your posture and your health. The first thing you could do is try to sit up straight. A good posture can have a positive effect on your overall health. Next, you should start incorporating easy exercises that can be done from the computer chair. Every once in a while, stretch your neck and your arms. Every half an hour, get up from your desk and take a walk. You don’t have to go far. Just get your blood circulating a bit.
7 – Give More Hugs
As unbelievable as it sounds, a hug a day can sometimes keep the doctor away. Out of all simple habits for a healthier life, this one might seem ridiculous. However, it’s actually very serious. Hugging, according to research, raises oxytocin levels. This “bonding hormone” causes a chain reaction of stress-reducing chemical changes in your body, which helps keep you healthy. Moreover, it’s proven that caring for other people and being around other people can also help brighten up your mood.
Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/asian-woman-studying-on-embankment-7147393/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sleeping-in-bed-near-smartphone-4473864/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/high-angle-shot-of-a-notebook-and-a-pen-beside-a-laptop-7213439/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/bowl-of-vegetable-salad-406152/
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