The health and wellness industry would have you believe that losing weight and getting fit is a complicated process requiring the latest and greatest magic lotion or complicated smoothie. In truth, good health comes down to a few simple tweaks you can incorporate into your lifestyle which becomes natural daily habits over time.
Here are five healthy habits you can do which will help you lead a healthier and happier life:
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
Our busy lifestyle sees many of us rushing out the door without a healthy breakfast to start the day, and we end up making do with a coffee and a donut as we rush to the office. It’s hardly the breakfast of champions and is not the best strategy for getting through a busy day with a clear mind.
Lack of time is not an excuse as a bowl of nutritious oatmeal with some fresh fruit takes minutes to prepare, and the same goes for a poached egg and a slice of wholemeal toast. Plus, you’ll undoubtedly notice the difference in energy levels and your clarity of mind.
Get an Active Hobby
Slogging it out with the weights at the gym or grinding out a few miles on the treadmill isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Fortunately, there are plenty of other options for maintaining optimum levels of fitness.
Indoor rock climbing puts your entire body through its paces, and a spot of tennis will get the heart pumping while you burn off a few extra calories. You could also try getting back to nature and take a hike with a friend through some of the local national parks.
Many sporting clubs offer indoor sports such as soccer. They are a favorite way of getting some much-needed exercise while also providing the opportunity to meet new people and make some friends.
Use your imagination for finding an active hobby which you can enjoy as there are more options than can be listed here. Don’t forget you can also take your pick from yoga, jogging, boxing, and martial arts. Even a spot of vigorous gardening a few times a week will have a dramatic impact on your health and fitness levels.
Drink Water and Avoid Soda
Your body needs 2 to 3 liters of water every day to function correctly so make sure you keep yourself well hydrated throughout the day.
Avoiding soda is also an excellent idea as these sugary water drinks are full of empty calories. Even getting rid of the soda drink from the dinner table every night can do good things for reducing your weekly calorie intake.
Positive Friends
Health and fitness aren’t all about body weight and how fast you can run, as your mental health also plays a big part in how you feel every day. Human beings are social animals and being alone for extended lengths of time isn’t good for our health. We all need a circle of friends who are positive, uplifting and are supportive of our goals.
Regularly engage with your circle of friends by going out to lunch, having a games night, or enjoy an afternoon barbecue at the park. And no, social media doesn’t count because you need face-to-face time if your social life is going to have any impact on your health.
Take 10K Steps a Day
Even the cheapest fitness trackers have a step-counting feature. Make it your goal to take at least 10,000 steps or more every day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, and park further away than usual from the office every morning.
If time permits, instead of emailing or messaging your co-workers get out of your chair and walk over to their cubicle or office. If you still come up short by home-time, do a couple of laps around the block.
You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, nor do you have to sacrifice hours out of every day at the gym. By incorporating a few simple habits such as the ones discussed above, you can dramatically improve your health, fitness, and outlook on life.