Changing Your Habits to Achieve a Healthier Lifestyle
At the beginning of any journey to a healthier lifestyle, it can often feel overwhelming. There may even be times when you’re unsure of the actions to take to remain on this path. Just remember it is ok to feel like this. Everyone has to start at the beginning, so it’s good to ask for help.
To kick start your journey we’ve pulled together a few examples of healthy habits you can try. Think about how you can incorporate these into your new routine. Remember, if you slowly introduce one or two habits, rather than changing everything at once, you’re more likely to maintain them long-term.
Drink Up to 2 Litres of Water a Day
Yes, we all know how important it is to stay hydrated throughout the day to keep our bodies properly functioning. Drinking enough water can support our physical health, improve brain function, improve our skin, and even boost our mood. Although drinking water won’t result in weight loss, it can help manage the desire to snack as some people can confuse thirst with hunger.
Drinking enough water can sometimes be difficult, so try the following to drink small amounts often throughout the day:
- Before you go to sleep, put a glass of water on your bedside table so you can hydrate as soon as you wake up in the morning.
- Always have a bottle of water so you can regularly drink even when you’re on the go.
- Get into the habit of drinking water even when you’re not thirsty.
Regular Movement
Aim to do some form of movement at least once a day; you’ll soon start to see the benefits both physically and mentally. Start small with daily walks; this is an easy way to get regular exercise. Not only is it good for you physically, but also for your mental health. Just 30 minutes of exercise every day is beneficial, so starting small with a daily walk is an easy way to add some exercise into your routine. Think about how you can incorporate more walking into your day; maybe you could walk rather than drive; perhaps use the stairs instead of the lift at work?
Having a goal to reach can help visualize progress, so set yourself a daily or weekly step target. Once you’ve achieved your target, raise it slightly the following week and see what you can achieve. Remember, it’s important to start slow. Take your time and build up to a pace you feel comfortable with before increasing your goal, otherwise, you could injure yourself.
Healthy Eating
Make sure you’re eating enough food at mealtimes to sustain yourself throughout the day. If you eat a balanced and nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner you’re likely to feel fuller for longer.
Feeling satisfied between meals should help you not snack between mealtimes, however, if you are hungry reach for a handful of fruit or raw vegetables instead. Eating fruit can also help with any sweet cravings as they contain natural sugars.
Spread the word, make an announcement and tell your friends and family what it is you are doing. They can help keep you accountable, making you more likely to keep up your efforts. Reduce your alcohol—not suggesting you go cold turkey and cut alcohol out completely. Instead, let’s all work at reducing the volume of alcohol we consume. Bit by bit, we will start to see the result of our actions.
Prepare Fresh Food
After a long day at work, finding the energy to prepare a meal made from scratch can be hard, but persevere as it will be much better in flavour and nutrition than a takeaway or ready meal.
Preparing a meal plan at the beginning of the week is an easy way to ensure you stay organized. Fresh homemade meals are always cheaper than getting a takeaway and are much more satisfying so you’ll feel fuller for longer!
If you’re unsure where to start, take a look at our recipe section at greggwallace.health to choose from a wide range of meals you can prepare at home. Filter our recipes based on time and your level of experience in the kitchen.
Gradually incorporating these simple steps into your daily routine is a great way to make achievable healthier changes to your lifestyle. The key is to implement any changes slowly they’re more likely to become lifelong habits. Try introducing one or two changes each month as this will make it easier to maintain. Slowly but surely, you’ll start to notice a difference in how you feel.
Let us know if you made any of these changes to your lifestyle!
3 Key Takeaways:
- Starting with small, manageable changes and gradually building on them helps in developing lasting habits;
- Consistently setting and adapting goals can boost motivation and track progress; and
- Staying hydrated, moving regularly, and eating healthy are fundamental aspects of a healthier lifestyle.
