Healthy habits to live by

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How many people go through their daily life practically reliving the same day over and over? Now how many are living that same day to the best of their ability? Because of the way society is constructed, many of us are stuck in the same old routine never straying from what we know and what we’re comfortable with. What would happen if you were to branch out of your structure? What would happen if you raised the minimum required effort of your day to day life? To achieve greatness one needs to get out of their comfort zone and do something different as why would anything change if you don’t change as well. Here are some habits to help kick start breaking down some of those bad habits and building new ones in their place.

 

A great first place to look when trying to develop new habits is your sleep schedule. After all, you do it for about a third of your total life anyways. Although some people are natural early birds and others are night owls, there is one that in most cases is better to get into the habit of. If you guessed early bird, you’re probably already on the right track. Studies have shown that there are various positive health effects associated with waking up early like; better sleep, better mental health, and improved cognitive function. Scientific mumbo jumbo aside, how many times have you not woken up early enough and had to skip breakfast? Maybe you were stuck in traffic and were late to work or school. Let’s talk time zones. If you live on the West coast you’re as far back in the past as anyone metaphorically. If you’re waking up at seven in the morning on the West coast, the stock market has already been open for half an hour meaning the business world is already on the go. If you can manage to shift your schedule to wake up early, you’ll already be ahead of 94 percent of the population. This might not be the easiest habit to change, and so here are some pro tips to help transition yourself to be that early riser that you’ve always dreamed of. You could start by soft launching your new schedule, getting up and sleeping earlier by 15 minutes everyday. Next if you’re someone who enjoys exercising, try doing your exercise when you wake up. It’s a good way to get motivated to get out of bed and jumpstart your day. This might not be for everyone, but it certainly is a good starting point for someone who’s trying to build healthier habits.

The next key habit that most of us struggle with is our diet. Granted this one can be a little expensive and may not be a super attainable option if you’re on a stricter budget. So much of the food that we consume, whether it’s fast food like McDonald’s or even the food you find on the shelves at your local grocery store, is heavily processed. Much of the typical food we buy is high in calories while lacking many of the essential nutrients that our body needs. Unfortunately these less nutritious meals are cheaper than buying the less processed organic foods and so you’re kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place if your wallet is light. Luckily for you, here are some tips to try and eat a little bit healthier on a budget. First one and this sounds like a no brainer but drink more water. It costs nothing and it’s readily available almost anywhere, especially when you first wake up as oftentimes we wake up very dehydrated from not consuming any liquids for up to eight hours. When grocery shopping, it’s essential to look at the nutritional facts on the back of the products. There is a daily value percentage section on the label that tells you how much of your recommended daily intake of the given ingredient you should be consuming. It also tells you macro nutritional facts like; calories, caffeine, sugar, and protein. Fruit and veggies will also be your best friend. They’re relatively cheap to buy, just make sure they’re fresh and not pre packaged!

 

If you’re not already doing some form of daily exercise you’re falling behind. AT one point working out at the gym was a more niche thing that a small percentage of people actually did consistently. Today with social media all around us and people trying to show off their healthy lifestyle whether it’s a front or not, the gym has become trendy and more people are finding themselves taking it seriously. If the gym isn’t for you there are tons of other ways to get your daily exercise in. Some good alternatives to weight lifting could be; going for a scenic run, doing calisthenics (body weight workouts) at home, or even going for bike rides! No matter what your preferences are, there’s always time in the day to get some level of exercise in even if it’s just a walk with your headphones on.

 

Another good habit to get into is practicing mindfulness and gratitude. It’s easy to get caught up in the go go go of our lives and overlook some of the small things that could really make a big difference. Have you ever mediated? I’m not just talking about sitting with crossed legs with your eyes closed and humming. Actual meditation requires you enter a deep, almost sleep-like state of your mind, where you let the stresses in front of you fade away and find mental clarity. Meditating is very helpful grounding yourself, and it is recommended to do before or after a busy day. In addition it’s helpful to practice gratitude which can be done while meditating or could just be something you keep in mind as you go throughout your day. It’s easy to get down on life and let the negatives get to your head without appreciating the beauty in front of you. A good idea to try is to practice making a list of things that you’re grateful for at the end of the day as well as a short list of positives that occurred. In addition, “cutting strings” before bed can be a useful tactic for retaining positive energy and letting the not so good vibes of the day fade into the abyss.

Lastly as far as the core habits go, is journaling. Journaling works similar to meditation in the sense that it’s essentially grounding your thoughts when you put the pen to paper. To take it a step further, add goal setting to your journaling. Studies have shown that goals are up to 42 percent more likely to come true when put into writing. Writing down your thoughts at the end of the day is helpful; because it provides a look into what your mindset is at the time of writing. It also provides a tangible reflection where you can see your growth as you’ve progressed through the days. Couple that with goals and you’ll be building a healthy mindset at a rate you didn’t even know was possible. When putting all these pieces together you’ll be ahead of 99 percent of people. Which of these habits do you already have? What do you think is the most important habit to contribute to a healthier, happier lifestyle?

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