There Are Lots of Easy Ways to Be Healthy
Living a healthier life doesn't take drastic changes or running a series of gruelling 5K marathons. Some simple changes to your daily routine can make you healthier and maybe even feel better about yourself. Here are 20 healthy habits you should do daily.
1. Drinking More Water
Ensuring you are more hydrated every day promotes better health, including brain performance and digestion. Drinking more water daily can also flush out toxins and make your skin healthier. Most adults need about 2 to 3 liters of water per day.
engin akyurt on Unsplash2. Don't Skimp on a Balanced Breakfast
Instead of just having coffee and sugary cereal for breakfast, try a more nutrient-rich meal to start your day. A balanced breakfast can stabilize blood sugar and curb cravings, so you act less hangry a few hours before lunch.
3. Bask in the Morning Sunshine
Ensuring you get some sunshine in the morning, and not just at the end of the day, can regulate your circadian rhythm and improve your mood. Exposing yourself to sunlight promotes vitamin D production and healthy immune function.
4. Move More
Exercise of any kind is a healthy habit that you should do daily. It contributes to heart health, strengthens muscles, and can improve joint flexibility. Even if it's just a 20-minute walk at lunch, you'll be better off and healthier.
5. Add Unprocessed Food to Your Diet
Your diet should feature as many whole and unprocessed foods as possible. Include lean proteins, nuts, seeds, legumes, and fresh fruit and vegetables in your meals as often as possible. Whole foods can provide more energy and support gut health.
6. Less Screen Time
We are all guilty of indulging in too much screen time every day. Reducing your screen time can minimize eye strain and help you sleep better. To start, keep your devices out of the bedroom and use blue light filters.
7. Straighten Up
Good posture is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your daily health. Proper posture minimizes muscle strain and improves your breathing, whereas bad posture can cause back pain and headaches.
8. Improve Your Sleep Routine
Getting enough quality sleep every night is vital for cognitive functioning, allowing your body to repair itself, and to feel more balanced emotionally. Create a better sleep routine that is free of screens and include a relaxing activity, like a breathing exercise, before bed.
9. Stretch Throughout the Day
Setting aside 10 minutes to stretch every couple of hours is a great way to improve your health. It can also reduce the risk of injury, relieve muscle tension, and alleviate stress.
Natalie Runnerstrom on Unsplash
10. Practice Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness through meditation or other exercises can make you feel less stressed and improve your focus. Start practicing mindfulness for five minutes a day and then gradually increase it by a few minutes every week.
11. Limit Added Sugar in Your Diet
A diet with too much sugar can lead to obesity, dental issues, and heart disease, all of which you want to avoid. Your goal should be to limit your sugar intake to less than 25 to 36 grams per day. The best way to do this is to read the labels of food and beverages before you consume them.
12. Spend More Time Outdoors
A simple walk after dinner will improve your health via light exercise and sunlight exposure. Finding a green space in your neighborhood and spending a bit of time there every day will work wonders. The trick is to make it a routine and put it in your daily schedule.
13. Read Every Day
Reading is great for your brain activity and concentration, and will help you feel less stressed. It doesn't matter what you read, but committing to doing it every day, even for 20 minutes, is important for your health. Pick reading material you think you will enjoy, so that reading is fun and not a chore.
14. Keep a Tidy Home
Living in untidy quarters can make you feel messy and stressed. A well-organized and tidy home, however, can be a peaceful sanctuary and also save you time. Clutter is an unhealthy habit, so ditch your pack rat ways and spend some time organizing your living space.
15. Eat Out Less Often
Eating in restaurants usually means adding more sodium, fat, and sugar to your diet. Cooking at home, on the other hand, lets you control the ingredients of your meals. You can also exercise portion control, and it's far easier on your bank account.
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16. Wash Your Hands Regularly
Washing your hands is the easiest way to avoid getting sick or spreading germs. Simply use warm water and soap and wash for at least 20 seconds. If you don't have any soap handy, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
17. Eat Protein-Rich Meals
Protein is essential for muscle repair, hormone production, and other health benefits. By eating more protein, you can maintain a higher energy level and avoid overeating. Foods that are strong sources of protein include lean meats, eggs, fish, nuts, and dairy.
18. Start Journaling
Most people don't journal, and it's a shame. Journaling is a great way to reflect on your life, track your goals, and process your feelings. It's also a proven way to reduce stress, and it only takes about 10 minutes a day.
19. Listen to Music
Music isn't only awesome, it can also help relieve your stress and improve your focus. A great tip is to make playlists for different situations, like work, cooking, or exercising. Instrumental music can work well for concentration.
20. Reflect to End Your Day
Self-reflection is a great way to improve your health and end your day on a calming and positive note. Focus on gratitude and the small wins you achieve that day. It's also okay to think about the challenges you experienced and any lessons you learned.
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