True health is multi-dimensional. It’s not just how you feel physically—though that plays a giant part. Health is also your relationship to yourself, social, recognizing your purpose, financial, emotional, and habits and actions.
Let’s be honest, no matter how hard you try to go to the gym every day or eat healthy at every meal, it doesn’t always happen. And even though you try your absolute best to save your hard-earned money, sometimes things pop up.
We know it sounds cliché, but making small changes to your routine can lead to a healthier—and happier—you. So, let’s get started, with a few every-day lifestyle tips to help you create healthy habits.
1. Every day is a new day.
Had a bad day yesterday? Forget about it! Approach today with fresh eyes and no matter what the issue was, move on! You’ll find yourself feeling less stressed and a whole lot happier.
2. Bedtime is a thing.
You might be holding out to watch one more episode or want to read just one more chapter, but get to bed! Seven and eight are the magic numbers when it comes to the amount of sleep you need. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself in the morning.
3. Outside is cool too.
Take a walk around the park. Say “Hi!” to a neighbor. Explore a new place. Whatever gets you out of the house, do it! You’ll get sick less often, your anxiety will go down, and surprisingly enough, it helps better your digestion.
4. Eat at your humble abode.
Cooking at home versus grabbing food on the run gives you more control over ingredients and portion size. Do your wallet—and your fave jeans—a favor and keep it homemade.
5. Grab an apple.
Fruits and veggies can do so many great things for you!
6. Check in with HR.
Chances are, you probably aren’t using some of the benefits you’re working so hard for. Ask your Human Resources team to remind you of things such as flex spending accounts for prescriptions, transit cards, or classes. You’ll be shocked to find some things you didn’t even know you had.
7. Break up with sugar.
Sugar. It’s the evil nemesis in our diet. It has nothing good to offer, no nutrients, no protein, no enzymes. If you want to change your diet, start by cutting off
sugar.
8. Be kind to yourself.
You’re a total rock star! Would you say all the things you say to yourself to other people? Be your biggest fan!
9. Drink more water.
The 8 x 8 rule is easy to remember: Drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water.
10. Angry? Count to 10.
Fired up at something? Hold up, before reacting, take a step back—count to 10. You’d be surprised at how much perspective you can gain in those 10 seconds. Don’t irrationally fire off an email, or confront someone out of sheer anger. First, collect your thoughts.
11. Love the skin you’re in.
Protect your beautiful skin and wear sunblock! Throw on the stylish hat. Wear those divalicious sunglasses. If you wear makeup, try using a foundation with SPF.
12. Enjoy your “me” time.
Don’t forget to take time for yourself. Watch a movie. Take a bath. Read a book. Even if you went through a chaotic day and can’t stop thinking about what you need to get done. Toss it to the side, you’ll go crazy if you don’t take the time to think about yourself.
13. Floss those pearly whites.
Spend time each night flossing. It can make a massive difference in your oral health. And, your dentist will be super proud!
14. Put down the cell phone.
Too much screen time is bad for your eyes and brain. It can impede healthy sleep habits and shortcut strong relationships. Seriously, Instagram can wait until the morning.
There are soooooo many benefits to eating breakfast. Too many to list actually. Let’s just say, there’s a reason they say it’s the most important meal of the day.
16. Embrace constructive criticism.
Let down your defenses a little. If someone is offering you an opportunity to grow, embrace it.
17. M-T-V Cribs.
(Move The Vibes) Turn your house into a home. Deck it out with your favorite furniture and make it you. Tweaking your crib to match your vibes can make a huge difference. First try changing out your lighting, replace those yellow-gloomy lights with some white light.
18. Don’t eat just to eat.
Bored? Go do something! And when we say go do something, don’t go to the fridge or the pantry. Mindless eating can lead to weight gain.
19. Be safe.
Safe driving. Safe drinking. Be aware of your surroundings.
20. Keep the change.
Your change falls on the ground. Don’t just walk away. Pick it up! Put it in a jar. It’s amazing how much money you’ll have by the end of the year.
21. Shop on a full stomach.
Everything looks good when you’re hungry. Shopping on a full stomach helps keep unnecessary purchases out of the cart.
22. Stop weighing yourself daily.
Seriously. The weight will come off! Keep your healthy habits up the number willcome down! The day to day fluctuations can be frustrating and derail your ah-MAZ-ing progress. Try weighing yourself every other week instead.
23 Dr. Internet can’t cure you.
Google is a search engine, not a doctor. If you feel like something’s wrong, see a doctor! Plus, some of the things you’ll find on there could scare you when there’s nothing to be worried about in the first place.
24. Keep it real.
Avoid artificial everything: relationships, food, and plants.
25. Schedule workouts.
Write down your schedule, make checkboxes! Scheduling your workout will help you to prioritize it. Plus, the feeling of checking the box afterward is super rewarding.
26. YouTube can be your friend.
Take the day and learn something new. There’s literally a video for everything nowadays.
27. The Joneses are really fast.
Have a friend who always seems to have the latest “it” item? She’s hard to keep up with. Stop trying.
28. Check your bank and credit card statements regularly.
Some days, we love these. Some days, we remember just how many times we ate out last week. Checking regularly will help you stay away from splurging and prioritize spending.
29. Stand up for yourself.
At work? A restaurant? Something your bestie said? If something is wrong or off, let it out. Be concise. Be firm. And, don’t whine. You’ll thank yourself for speaking up.
30. Say hi!
Not a morning person? Can’t seem to find words to speak in the a-m? Break the habit. Wish a “Good morning!” to everyone you see. At the end of the day, you might even learn something new about someone, or make a friend!
31. Twenty minutes on, 20 minutes off.
Nope, not an ice pack. If you’re someone who looks at the computer screen all day, set a mental timer to look away or get up every 20 minutes. It’s not healthy to look at a screen for too long. Spin around in your chair, or refer to #30 and take a walk around your building. Maybe even try printing to a printer further away—extra steps anyone?
32. Labels, labels, labels.
Read them! All of them! From food to your makeup. Know what’s going on and in your body.
33. Hide the snacks.
Do it. Find all the unhealthy snacks and bring out the chair. Put them high up so you can’t easily reach them. If they’re inconvenient, you might be less likely to grab that bag of M&Ms.
34. It’s okay to be wrong.
This is probably the hardest thing we’ve suggested so far. Sometimes you’re wrong. Learn to admit it—to yourself and out loud. Your relationships will thank you.
35. Be happy with who you are.
No matter what job you have, how much money you make, how your body looks. Be happy with it. If not, make a change! And, along the way, accept yourself.
Start slow and adopt a few at a time. Or, take a stand and make these all a part of your life. Either way, these are 35 health habits everyone should have.
REGULAR TOUCH ESTABLISHES YOUR MIND-BODY CONNECTION AND HAS BEEN PROVEN TO:
