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Everyone wants to live a healthy lifestyle. One that will make you happy, energized and proud of yourself. However, not many of us know how to do that.
So, we try a bunch of things, here and there. Switching a pizza slice for a salad, sleeping more or meditating to reduce stress. Some start exercising, some start drinking more water.
But, life often gets in the way and a few days in, we already start falling off the wagon.
Does this sound familiar?
It probably does.
The truth is that we often don’t take the right approach.
But what is it?
Read more to find out.
How to Start Living a Healthy Lifestyle
Whenever we decide to start living a healthier life, we get really excited. Fresh start, new you – who knows what you can do with all that power?
But the story seems to always has the same ending, doesn’t it?
Well, not anymore, because here is a better guide to self-improvement and sticking to a healthy lifestyle.
The trick is this: start small.
Pick one of the things from this list and allow your system to get used to it. Then, build from there.
Use herbs and spices in your everyday meals
Herbs and spices are great for your health because they contain plenty of healthy ingredients that will give you a boost without you noticing. This is one of the simplest habits to start because, most of the time, changes won’t be so noticeable. And when they are, you’ll have some tasty food on your hands. Some herbs and spices can even support weight loss, so you’ll also have that benefit.
Research your favorite herbs and spices and start adding them to your routine.
Take a walk everyday
Another simple tip to implement, taking a walk on a daily basis will certainly help you in many ways. Green environments will provide your body with plenty of fresh air, being outdoors will invigorate you with sunshine and it’s an exercise routine as well. It can also help you reduce stress and learn to cope better, improve your mood and anxiousness. Walking around in the nature, for as little as 20 minutes a day will instantly affect your entire lifestyle and make you happier and healthier.
Feed your mind properly
When you are always angry, frustrated, scared or stressed, your mindset is instantly in the fight or flight mode and it affects your whole being. It shapes your beliefs and affects your actions.
But where do these bad thoughts come from? Do you watch the news and feel stressed afterwards? Are fights between your coworkers making you anxious? Did the movie you saw make you scared or sad?
These are the things that you put into your mind voluntarily on a daily basis. If you want your mind to be better and healthier, you need to clean all of that up. Focus on reading and watching things that make you happy. Listen to conversation – and participate – when the topic is something you are passionate about. Spend less time with energy vampires. Spend less time on social media.
All of this will cleanse you and make you a happier person. It’s no small feat to do all of these things, but the effort will really pay off.
Eat vegetables with meals
It’s not easy to start eating vegetables in or with all of your meals. That’s a drastic life change to some and even if it’s good for our bodies, they really can’t adapt that quickly. So, it’s a good idea to incorporate colorful, fresh vegetables with two of your meals a day. For example, you can bring a small veggie snack to work and eat it with whatever you enjoy eating for lunch. And then you can eat some when you get home, with your dinner.
This way, you will get all of the health benefits of eating those veggies and you will prepare your body for the transition to using more and more of them. In the end, going full veggie won’t really be that much of a difference.
Find a bedtime curfew
Most of us had designated bedtimes when we were kids. That’s probably one of the reasons why we all had so much energy throughout the day. However, when you grow up, life gets in the way and you forget to sleep properly. The good habits our parents gave us go down the drain with parties, work and stress.
Well, how about giving yourself a curfew – a time when you have to be in bed, ready for sleep. This may sound radical, but it’s really not. For instance, set your bedtime to 10 or 11 pm. You can do whatever you like until then – there’s plenty of time for social gatherings and all of those emails. But then, just let it go and go to bed.
It can be hard in the beginning, especially since you won’t find much support from your friends and family. They will always ask you to stay a bit longer. Learn to prioritize yourself and just say no. Your body will thank you. How you’ll feel the next morning is beyond explanation.
Be grateful
This may sound a bit corny, but gratitude exercises at the end of the day can make all of the difference. We often go through life always wanting more and we may never stop to think about what we already have.
For instance, you may have a great partner, great kids, friends and family that love you and a job that you adore. But you want something more – for example, to have more money. Forget about your yearnings for just a moment. Focus on how what you already have is making you happy. Thank the things that are making you happy.
This will reduce the stress of your daily life and help you realize that you are not actually looking for happiness, but rather that you are already happy.
Carry healthy snacks
Do you always carry a candy bar in your bag, just in case? Well, how about switching that candy bar for a granola bar, an apple or a banana?
This is not a radical change, just a small one that will reduce your intake of sugar and increase your intake of healthy ingredients.
Floss daily
Oral health is the root of your overall health. So, brushing your teeth properly and flossing can help you improve on many levels.
For one, you will have a healthier gut. Your gums will be healthier as well. Not to mention, your teeth will look amazing and you’ll save yourself from all of the pain of having a bad tooth.
Make a point to fix all of your teeth and then take extra care of them. You will be healthier, look better and be generally happier.
Create a growth environment
To make implementing good habits easier, design your surroundings in such a way that will make healthy habits easier to perform. Reduce the number of steps it takes to do them. We often go for the bad habits because they are more available. But making them harder to get to and healthy habits easier to get to will make all the difference.
For instance, if you want to eat healthier, stock your home with healthy options and donate unnecessary food. If you want to take a walk every day, bring your favorite music or podcast that will make your walks even more enjoyable.
Drink water in the morning
Reaching for coffee as soon as you wake up is normal – that’s what we all do. But while the coffee is boiling, why don’t you also reach for a glass of water. It will refresh you, wake you up and make you feel better in general. Lemon water is also a great option.
Be active
Sedentary lifestyle is really not meant for humans. But if you have no other option because of work, then you need to find simple ways to be active throughout the day.
First off, do some stretching exercises when you get out of the bed in the morning. Try to walk or ride a bike to work. If that’s too far, you should then opt for the stairs instead of an elevator. In your office, stretching exercises are also a good idea. But you can also walk around as you talk on the phone and get a standing desk where you’d be able to work and move around some more.
Place all of your office necessities a bit further away. Enough so that you have to get up and walk to reach them. Take a walk on your lunch break. Walk or bike home. All of these are fun ways to incorporate physical activity into your life without sweating at the gym.
Here are some more habits to employ:
- Leave your home sooner if possible, to have extra travel time to walk or bike
- Don’t drink sugary drinks
- Wash your hands often
- Connect with people in a meaningful way
- Practice mindful eating
- Create a healthier environment in your home
- Don’t overthink
What are Simple Lifestyle Changes You Can Make?
So, we have covered what lifestyle changes you can make and how. But are you looking for something simpler, more friendly for beginners? Don’t fret because there are plenty simple healthy habits to choose from.
Download a fun water drinking app and drink water when it tells you to
Stretch before bed and when you get up
Don’t watch TV or your phone while eating
Put on sunscreen every morning
Unplug from social media for at least 2 hours a day
Make your portions of alcohol smaller
Walk around at work
Find someone to take walks with
Connect more in real life
Make food at home
How to Live an Organic Lifestyle
What is an organic lifestyle?
Most people know about organic food, but lifestyle – not so much. It extends beyond food and encompases what it really means to be healthy and live purely.
Here are some tips:
Replace your cleaning products with homemade versions
Buy products without phosphates and phthalates
Use lemon juice, ACV or baking soda to make natural cleaners
Use Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 food lists when shopping
Replace items in your pantry with organic products one at the time to make the transition easier
Spend time in the nature daily
Research healthier options in all aspects of life
Set small and realistic goals
Use natural hygiene and beauty products as much as possible
Use a bike, walk or use public transportation when possible instead of using a car
If possible, buy an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly car
Buy your food from local farms
Reduce your food waste
Make your own meals with whole foods at home
Inspect the materials in your home for harmful chemicals and replace them when possible
Reduce plastic usage in your home, especially the disposables
Do the best you can with the resources you have – make one small change at the time.
Top Tips to Affording Organic Products
We all want to eat more organic food or buy more organic products. However, organic products often come at a premium price and it’s making it harder for people to adopt these healthy choices.
However, not all hope is lost, because there are ways to be organic and keep your wallet full. Here are some options:
Limit the amount of meat you eat – organic meat is especially expensive so make the veggies the stars of your meals and reduce the intake of meat as much as possible
Purchase items in bulk – If you still want to eat plenty of meat, buy more of it when the price per unit is cheaper. Double check before purchase, to make sure you're getting the best price. This also makes it easier to cook because you will always have something to prepare at home.
Buy food that’s in season and buy from local farms – Some small farms don’t have their organic certifications because those are expensive but they still produce organics. Buy seasonal food from them – it will be a lot cheaper.
Stock up on frozen food – It has all the health benefits of fresh food but it can be a lot cheaper.
Avoid processed foods – Packaged organics get really expensive
Grow your own garden – For an average family, a small yard will work perfectly. It’s a great way to be sure that your food is healthy, to get exercise and to get cheaper food.
What are some of your best tricks to living a healthier lifestyle? Feel free to share in the comments down below!
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