A healthy lifestyle can improve your health and wellbeing. It can also reduce your risk of diseases, extend your life and save you money.
However, you have to make it a habit in order to reap its benefits. To start your healthy living journey, here are some tips to follow: 1. Change Your Diet.
1. Change Your Diet
The first step to a healthy lifestyle is changing your diet. This means reducing your portion sizes, eating more fruits and vegetables, avoiding fried foods and drinking more water.
Start by keeping a food journal for a week. This will help you see what areas you can improve on. Then make a list of changes you want to make. Start small and try to stick with it.
It takes time to develop new habits. Remember that it may take an entire season, or even a year, for your new habits to become part of your daily routine.
Plan ahead to avoid roadblocks that can derail your progress, such as weather conditions or a busy schedule. For example, if you plan to walk three days a week but have a scheduling conflict, find an indoor location (such as the mall or a school track) that is safe to use for your walks in case of bad weather.
2. Change Your Exercise Routine
Eating healthy, getting enough exercise and staying hydrated are key for good health. They help prevent chronic diseases and improve your overall health, increasing life longevity. Some of the best healthy living tips include reducing portion sizes, eating more vegetables and fruits, drinking water instead of sugary drinks and exercising regularly.
Incorporating these healthy habits into your lifestyle may seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by changing one thing at a time. You can slowly change your diet, then begin to add in other healthy habits. This way, it isn’t as hard to stick with your new routine.
In addition to incorporating physical activity into your daily life, you can also take up new hobbies that will keep you active. Try hiking on a local trail or going kayaking to get some fresh air while working up a sweat. If you find it difficult to stay motivated, reward yourself for reaching milestones. Just be sure to avoid high-calorie treats, as they can undo the effects of a workout.
3. Get Enough Sleep
Getting good sleep is essential for your health. People who don’t get enough sleep are at risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, mental health problems and even death.
Fortunately, you don’t need to overhaul your entire life to make healthy changes. In fact, it is more effective to begin a healthy lifestyle by changing one or two small habits that you are most likely to adhere to.
For example, start by going to bed earlier than you normally do and try to stick with it for four weeks. Then slowly increase your bedtime each week until you reach the amount of sleep that is recommended for you. Also, limit naps and get plenty of sunshine to keep your circadian rhythm healthy. Lastly, eliminate distractions like TVs and computers from your bedroom to ensure you are getting enough quality sleep each night. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel when you begin to get adequate sleep on a regular basis.
4. Get Rid of Toxins
Many stores, websites and infomercials promote detox products that claim to help your body rid itself of toxins. Juice fasts, colon cleanses and salt baths are just some of the options that are available. However, these detoxifying products are not needed because your body already has its own natural processes that work to get rid of toxins.
Your liver and kidneys are two of the organs in your body that are responsible for getting rid of toxins. They remove toxins from your blood, make bile and break down fats. Your lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract are also responsible for eliminating toxins.
Conclusion:
The first step to a healthier lifestyle is to create healthy habits. Remember why you want to change your habits and use them as motivation when a roadblock comes up. For example, if you’re not sure how to fit a daily walk into your schedule, find an alternative way to stay active, such as going to the mall on days when bad weather prevents you from walking outdoors.