Let's be honest. How many times have you told yourself, "This month I'm going to start eating healthier" or "This week I'm going to work out every day?" How many times have you bought a bunch of healthy snacks, just to find yourself still eating junk food? How many times have you bought yourself some new workout gear, and then ended up taking a nap in it instead? If you're anything like me, "being healthy" never lasts very long. It always seems like too much work, but luckily I've come across 11 small tips to help improve your health and lifestyle.
1. Start every morning with a cold glass of water.
Everyone knows that drinking water is good for the body. Not only does it help detox your body and keep your skin youthful, it also helps speed up your metabolism. It works by lowering the temperature of your body, in turn causing your body to burn more calories while returning to a normal temperature. This tip is great for people in a hurry because it only takes a couple of seconds to do.
2. Stretch before getting started with your day.
Typically, when you wake up in the morning, your muscles will feel stiff and tight, which is why so many people will do a quick stretch before they get up and start their day. Stretching in the morning actually has a lot of benefits such as releasing stress on the muscles, improving your posture, and improving your range of motion. It's also a great energy boost!
3. Eat a balanced breakfast.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, or so it's said. However, it's important to make sure that your breakfast is balanced and nutritious. Oftentimes people opt for eggs, bacon, and pancakes, but lack any fruits, vegetables, or healthy grains. A better option for a well-rounded and filling breakfast would be peanut butter on toast with banana slices or avocado toast with an egg.
4. Get your body moving.
Too often, we find ourselves sitting in one place for long periods of time (especially for work or school purposes). When our bodies aren't moving, it slows down our metabolism and can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer, as well as a loss of bone mass. To combat this from happening, it's important to get our bodies moving by doing some form of cardio. Simply walking for 30 minutes a day or running for 20 minutes a day can help to reduce the risk of disease and keep your heart healthy.
5. Take care of your skin.
Your skin is the largest organ you have, and therefore is one of the most important things to take care of. Keeping your skin clean, protected, and moisturized is beneficial for fighting against acne, skin discoloration, and skin cancer. In order to properly take care of your skin, it is suggested that you invest in a good sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), as well as a good cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer. A helpful tip: applying cocoa oil before going to bed will moisturize your skin all night.
6. Get outdoors often!
With so many jobs requiring access to computers and technology, it's no wonder that we don't get outside very often. However, being outdoors is extremely beneficial to your health. By spending time outdoors and absorbing vitamin D from the sunshine, our bones become stronger and healthier. Being outdoors also combats diseases such as depression, boosts your creativity and can improve your productivity.
7. Make attainable goals.
Making attainable goals does not necessarily affect your physical health, but it's extremely important to your mental health. When you make goals that are realistic and achievable and then you accomplish those goals, your body produces hormones that make you feel happy and satisfied. These hormones are addicting in a sense because they make you feel successful and satisfied. However, if you set unattainable goals for yourself, the opposite will happen and oftentimes you end up being harder on yourself and beating yourself up for nothing. By making goals that are achievable, you can avoid the negative feelings and keep yourself positive.
8. Spend more time with friends and family.
Of course, the majority of people already do this, but many people don't recognize the health benefits that come along with family and friends time. Spending time with your family and friends can alleviate stress, decrease a sense of loneliness, improve longevity, and encourage laughter (which is just good for the soul).
9. Say no to midnight snacks.
As tempting as it may be to have a slice of pizza at midnight, it is actually not very good for your body. Some research has even suggested that you should try not to eat anything for two hours prior to going to sleep. However, if you really feel desperate for a midnight snack, choose nuts and berries or fruit rather than chips. By eating a more nutritious snack, you can eat a larger portion of food and feel more full before heading to bed.
10. Relax your mind before you sleep.
Before going to bed, it's always good to prepare yourself for sleep. If not, you risk having a restless night and waking up groggy. A few things that can help relax your mind before bed are taking a shower or bubble bath, applying lavender and chamomile lotion, or meditating for a few minutes before lying down.
11. Get plenty of sleep.
I think we can all agree that sleep is a wonderful thing, but most people don't get enough of it. Many people will settle for 4 to 5 hours of sleep, when a healthier amount of sleep is actually 7 to 8 hours. Getting enough sleep is important for sharpening your focus, allowing your brain to rest, and even improving your creativity. By sleeping less than 7 hours, you are more apt to feel depressed, have older-looking skin, and even gain weight.
