Is your resolution to lead a healthier, happier life? Making new habits can be a struggle, but the benefits of a healthy lifestyle are critical to a long and prosperous life. Health and Sustainability advocate Vikki Gerrard La Crosse WI shares seven of her top tips for creating simple habits that can help lead to a healthier lifestyle:
Start With An Energizing Breakfast
Fueling your body correctly in the morning has lasting effects throughout the day. Eating a balanced breakfast with plenty of fresh, healthy foods gives you an energy boost that can help jumpstart your day and keep you going until dinner. Offering your body the right nutrition in the morning also keeps your metabolism running efficiently and enables you to maintain a healthy weight.
A great breakfast should include protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Yogurt with fresh fruit and nuts, whole-grain toast with avocado, or a smoothie bowl are great options. You should also eat breakfast at the same time every day to maintain consistent stamina.
Take It Easy On Processed Foods
Processed foods are convenient and easy to prepare, but they often contain high amounts of sugar, unhealthy fats, and preservatives that can harm your health in the long run. Eating too many processed foods can also lead to weight gain. Try to limit your intake of packaged snacks and meals. When you eat processed foods, choose options with fewer ingredients and less sugar.
You can easily improve your diet by swapping quickly processed and packaged food with more natural, whole ingredients. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats to your meals to nourish your body. While dropping the fast food habit can be challenging, the less you consume, the better you will feel. Over time, you’ll crave processed foods less.
Drink More Water
Getting dehydrated without realizing it is easy, especially when living a busy lifestyle. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps keep your body hydrated, which helps with energy levels and mental clarity. Additionally, it can help your body to flush out toxins more effectively.
If you struggle to meet your water intake quota, there are plenty of simple ways to make water more enjoyable. For instance, you can add fresh fruit and herbs to infuse your water with flavor and additional nutrients. You can also try drinking tea or flavored sparkling water instead of sugary sodas and juices.
Move More
Exercise is integral to leading a healthy lifestyle, as it helps keep your body fit and strong. Make sure you make time for physical activity a few times each week, whether taking a brisk walk in the park or joining an online yoga class. Even just 10 minutes of movement can help to improve your energy levels, mood, and productivity.
If you’re short on time, make small daily changes to get more movement in. Take a few minutes during lunch or breaks to take a quick walk or do some stretches, and take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can.
Get Enough Sleep
Your sleep patterns can significantly affect your physical and mental health. Aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night to help your body restore energy and balance hormones.
To get the most out of your sleep, avoid screens at least an hour before bedtime and ensure you’re winding down in a calming environment. A regular nighttime routine can help establish healthy sleep habits, so try to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day.
Practice Gratitude
Taking the time to practice gratitude can help improve your overall well-being. Writing down a few things you’re grateful for each day or setting aside a few minutes to meditate and focus on being thankful can hugely positively affect your mindset.
If you make it part of your daily routine, you’ll soon start noticing how much of an impact it has on your life. Practicing gratitude can help to reduce stress, improve your mood, and reset your perspective when things don’t go as planned.
Make Connections
Humans are social creatures, and making time for connections with your loved ones is essential. Whether having a virtual coffee date or taking a socially-distant walk in the park, staying connected can help reduce stress and lift your mood.
Making regular calls or scheduling times to chat with family and friends can help put things into perspective and remind you that there are people who care about you. Healthy relationships with others are a great way to look after your mental health and stay connected, even when life gets hectic.
Final Thoughts
Living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated. It can simply mean making small changes that help you feel energized and in control of your life. Start by getting enough sleep, moving more, improving your diet, drinking plenty of water, and being mindful of the relationships around you. With these simple steps, Vikki Gerrard La Crosse WI knows you’ll soon start feeling fitter, healthier, and happier.
