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Do you want to make changes to your lifestyle? This post shares 15 easy tips to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Did you make a resolution this year to get healthy and to feel better? By now over 91% of the people who made New Years resolutions have let them go by the wayside. If you were one of the 91% don’t worry, every day is a new day and a new opportunity. Here is a list of 15 easy tips to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle that I made for myself and thought I would share them with you as well.
Note: I am not a doctor, nor am I am medical professional so always consult your own doctor before changing your health routine.
The older I get the more I realize how important it is to take care of myself and to stay healthy. But some days that is easier said than done. Life, work, family, and other obligations and distractions get in the way. Not to mention, there are times when you just want to sit back, relax, eat comfort food and binge on Netflix.
As much as I would like to eat my favorite foods like pasta and pizza daily and skip the exercise I actually feel bloated, tired and less motivated when I do.
The good news is that taking small steps to add more movement into your day, drinking more water, eating less processed food, keeping a journal will all have a positive effect on your overall health and well-being.
What’s a healthy lifestyle?
A healthy lifestyle is different for everyone but it general it is a life that promotes good mental and physical health. Healthy living is the actions and choices we take to get there.
Living a healthy lifestyle requires: getting adequate sleep, eating right, drinking more water, reducing stress in your life, having a good work-life balance, exercise, emotional and spiritual well-being.
15 easy tips to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle
There are many ways to live a healthy lifestyle, here are 15 tips for a healthier life that are easy to add to your routine and may help you reach some of your goals this year.
1. Drink More Water
Water is essential to your health and well being. According to the Mayo Clinic drinking water and staying hydrated:
- Regulates body temperature
- Moistens tissues in the eyes, nose and mouth
- Protects body organs and tissues
- Carries nutrients and oxygen to cells
- Lubricates joints
- Lessens burden the on kidneys and liver by flushing out waste products
- Helps dissolve minerals and nutrients to make them accessible to your body
Wake up every morning and drink a glass of water, plain is fine but with the juice of a lemon is even better. It cleanses your body and keeps you hydrated which make your skin soft and your body feel great.
I drink a glass in the morning, and I keep a glass by every sink in the house so that every time I wash my hands I am reminded to drink another glass. I also carry this water bottle in the car so that I am not tempted while out to get a sugary drink. Grab your Stanley and drink up!
Here are 5 Easy Tips to Drink More Water.
2. Walking
Get up and out! Walking is free, it doesn’t require a gym membership, almost anyone can do it and you can do it almost anywhere, including in your house. All you need is a pair of walking shoes and a water bottle(it is important to stay hydrated) and you are on your way to improving your mind and body.
Working from home has taken a toll on some people and the daily commute they had has been shortened to walking from the bedroom to their office.
I wear a Fitbit,fitness tracker, so that I can keep track of wether or not I am moving enough during the day. There are days I find myself walking laps around my house just to get my steps in. It’s funny because you would be surprised how fast the steps add up when you are trying to reach your daily goal.
At the end of the day, you have to “move it or lose it.” Walking not only benefits your body but it is great for your memory, your mood, it can help you sleep better, and strengthen your heart as well. Here are a few more benefits of walking.
Start slow and and find opportunities to add steps to your day, take the stairs instead of the elevator, park in the back of the lot at the store, go for a walk at lunch, take your pets for a stroll or add a family walk in every weekend. Small increments can make a big change to your health. Just 20 minutes a day of walking to your daily routine will help you not only create a healthy life but maintain one as well.
3. Attitude and gratitude
They say attitude is everything, if you wake up everyday thinking you are going to have a bad day, you will. Change your attitude and you will change your life.
The Benefits of Gratitude
- Enhances your mood
- Increases your empathy
- Decreases stress
- Fosters hope
- Improves sleep
- Increases your physical and mental health
Start or end your day writing down 3 things that you are grateful for because even on the worse day you can find 3 things to be grateful for. It doesn’t have to be something big, it could be as simple as “enjoyed the perfect sunset”, made a new friend, cuddled with my kids.
Reflection Questions
Reflection questions are another way to help you take stock of your life, goals and changes you would like to make not only this year but in the future. Here are 25 Reflection Questions to ask yourself.
4. Live in the present
Do not worry about the past or the future, live in the present moment. Thinking about the past and worrying about the future can make it difficult for you to enjoy the good things in your life right now, the people, places and things right in front of you.
This is easier said than done and it is one of the hardest things for many people. But learning how to be more mindful and staying present can reduce stress, minimize anxiety and help you appreciate the life you have.
Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises can help you focus on the present and to be more mindful.
5. Sleep
Adults need to get at least 8 hours of sleep a day and children need between 8-16 depending on their age. Sleep helps you rejuvenate and heal. Lack of sleep and sleep deprivation, effects your mind and your body, it can obviously cause fatigue but also affects your memory, focus, can cause irritability and lower your immunity.
Stop scrolling, put the phone away and get some sleep.
Interesting article: 11 Things That Happen When you Do Not Get Enough Sleep.
6. Chocolate
Say yes to chocolate, in moderate amounts chocolate is good for you, especially dark chocolate. The antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to lower blood pressure, improve brain function, boost your mood and can reduce stress.
7. Get Outside Every Day
Fresh air and sunshine are an easy way to improve your overall health and wellness. Not only will you get your daily dose of vitamin D but it you will boost your mood and energy, reduce your stress, lower your heart rate, aid in digestion, clean your lungs and so much more.
8. Stretch
Daily stretching boosts circulation, aids in digestion, can help improve flexibility, and, as a result, the range of motion of your joints.
9. Balance
Did you know that balance it is one of the first things you loose as you age? In fact balance starts to decline in your 40’s and 50’s. Yoga, Tai-chi, Pilates, and strength training are all good ways to improve your balance.
Another thing you can do is balance on one foot, like a flamingo. Try it for a few seconds at a time, maybe while you brush your teeth or standing in line. When you first start gently rest your hand on the sink if you feel unsteady. This is an easy way to retrain your mind and help regain some of your balance.
10. Proper dental hygiene
Keeping your teeth healthy is important not only for your teeth and gums but also for your heart. Poor dental hygiene can cause bacteria from the mouth the enter the bloodstream and cause heart disease or a heart attack.
You need to brush for at least 2 minutes, 2 times a day and you need to brush your, gums, roof of mouth and your tongue. Flossing daily is also important to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
11. Eat More Vegetables & Fruit
Vegetables are nutrient dense food that contain vitamins and minerals and antioxidants. They are considered “superfoods” and are low in calories. Fruits and vegetables are low in fat, salt, and sugar. Eating more fruits and vegetables can help you loose weight, lower cholesterol, boost your immune system, lower blood pressure, lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease.
12. Work life balance
Don’t work your life away. Burning the midnight oil takes a huge toll on your health, relationships and life. Workaholics are at a higher risk for stress related health problems and fatigue. Finding a balance will help you feel better, strengthen your relationships and lower your risk for physical and mental health problems.
13. Develop and maintain good relationships.
Good relations with your friends and family are vital for your well being. Let go of the toxic people in your life that bring you down, hold you back and make you feel badly about yourself and your choices.
Life is short and spending time with people that you enjoy makes your happy, and boosts your mood.
14. Self Checks
Going to the doctor is an important part of our physical and mental health. But in between visits to your doctor(s) for wellness exams, mammograms and skin examinations it is important to do self checks. Check your breasts for changes or lumps, look at your body for moles and spots. If you discover a lump or a new mole or spot make an appointment with your doctor. You are your own best advocate and no one knows your body and it’s changes more than you.
15. Reduce Your Screen Time
Mindless scrolling seems to take up more and more of our time these days and is detrimental to our physical and mental health. It can increase our anxiety, depression, affect sleep and over all well being.
Create screen free zones in your life, like the bedroom, while eating and out with friends and family. Use an app to track your screen time and adjust your time on line if you notice that it is creeping up. Make easy swaps for screen time like reading a book, playing board games, doing crafts, baking, getting outside and simply doing nothing.
There is a whole wide world out there, enjoy it, limit your time online and you will see more, do more and feel better.
Better Health is a Life Long Journey
Living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a lifetime journey. Remember that your goals, health and journey are totally different than your friend or persons that you follow on social media. Small incremental changes to your diet, life and relationships will help you make and create healthy habits that can change your mindset, heal your gut, help you loose weight, gain muscle, may lower your risk of health related illness and in general will help you to fell better and stronger.
What do you do to stay healthy? Please share your health and wellness tips with us.
I hope that you enjoyed my 15 easy tips to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Have a great day friends I will see you tomorrow for Friday Favorites.
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References:
Here’s how WFH impacts your brain and body.
The Impact of Work-From-Home on Sedentary Behaviors and Exercising
Water? How Much Should You Drink?
Why it’s important for you to drink water and stay hydrate
Oral Health: A window to your overall health
Fruits and Vegetable: The Nutrition Source
10 Benefits of Eating Vegetables
This post contains affiliate links, if you purchase something from a link I will earn a small commission. I am also an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission from links on this blog.
Rebecca says
I love this post. Thank you.
Elizabeth says
Thank you for letting me know. I am happy that you enjoyed it.
kim says
Elizabeth this is such a great post. Really needed this reminder at this time of year. i’m going to add it to my weekend post this morning! Now I better get out and walk- even though it’s rainy! xo
Wendy McMonigle says
This was just what I needed today. It’s so essential for us to find balance in our daily lives.
Elizabeth says
Thank you Wendy! Have a wonderful week.