Enjoying the best possible health outcomes often means leading the right kind of life – and this, in turn, means building the right habits. By developing routines that work for us, we can slowly nudge our way toward the healthy lives we want to enjoy.
The changes we make don’t have to be enormous. Small improvements can compound over time. If you get into the habit of walking to a store instead of taking the subway, or performing a bar hang every morning before brushing your teeth, then over time the benefits will be substantial. So, which habits are the most effective? Let’s take a look at a few simple changes to make.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Keeping your mind in good working order often means taking a few moments here and there to pay attention to the present moment. You don’t need any formal training to do this: a number of meditation apps now exist that will guide you through the practice.
If you have a hobby that can truly capture and focus your attention, then you might elect to practice that, instead. Playing piano, painting watercolors, and whittling wood can all be enormously therapeutic.
Taking Time Away
If you’re going to give your mind a refresh, you might work the occasional break into your routine. That might mean doing the same thing every day for eight weeks, and then taking a week or so to enjoy a vacation. The destination might be a mountain retreat, where you can enjoy hiking, or the open sea, where you can enjoy a different kind of isolation. If you have the resources, you can find yachts for sale, via which you’ll be able to go on a long cruise whenever the fancy takes you.
Photo by Wendy Wei
Nutrition and Diet
Some of the most valuable habits involve nutrition. Cutting out bad foods in favor of healthy ones is obviously beneficial. If you have cookies and chips in the house, then you might habitually snack on them. Keep nuts and fruit around instead, and you might end up eating better. Getting into the habit of preparing your meals at the weekend, and then enjoying them as the week unfolds, can be transformative.
Physical Activity
Another important pillar of a healthy lifestyle is regular exercise. Ideally, this should take several different forms, to reduce the risk of injury. You might go for short walks throughout the week, visit the gym on given days, and take time out at the weekend to go on a longer hike.
By making your chosen form of exercise a habit, you’ll be much likelier to stick with it. That typically means finding a form of exercise that you really enjoy.
Sleep Hygiene
If you don’t get enough sleep, then you’ll suffer cognitive decline, loss of concentration, and an increased risk of developing cancer – among other things. To give yourself the best possible chance of enjoying quality, undisturbed sleep, you might take sleep hygiene seriously. Keep your bedtime consistent, avoid screens in the evening, and don’t be tempted to sleep in.
Photo by ALINA MATVEYCHEVA
Hydration
It’s also worth drinking water to the exclusion of just about everything else. Stop buying soda, and your body will thank you in the long run. You might even set reminders so that you remember to drink water at regular intervals. Even if you can just incorporate one or two of the tips we’ve suggested, the health benefits might be substantial. Take it slow, and build your habits gradually.
Enjoying the best possible health outcomes often means leading the right kind of life – and this, in turn, means building the right habits. By developing routines that work for us, we can slowly nudge our way toward the healthy lives we want to enjoy.
The changes we make don’t have to be enormous. Small improvements can compound over time. If you get into the habit of walking to a store instead of taking the subway, or performing a bar hang every morning before brushing your teeth, then over time the benefits will be substantial. So, which habits are the most effective? Let’s take a look at a few simple changes to make.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Keeping your mind in good working order often means taking a few moments here and there to pay attention to the present moment. You don’t need any formal training to do this: a number of meditation apps now exist that will guide you through the practice.
If you have a hobby that can truly capture and focus your attention, then you might elect to practice that, instead. Playing piano, painting watercolors, and whittling wood can all be enormously therapeutic.
Taking Time Away
If you’re going to give your mind a refresh, you might work the occasional break into your routine. That might mean doing the same thing every day for eight weeks, and then taking a week or so to enjoy a vacation. The destination might be a mountain retreat, where you can enjoy hiking, or the open sea, where you can enjoy a different kind of isolation. If you have the resources, you can find yachts for sale, via which you’ll be able to go on a long cruise whenever the fancy takes you.
Nutrition and Diet
Some of the most valuable habits involve nutrition. Cutting out bad foods in favor of healthy ones is obviously beneficial. If you have cookies and chips in the house, then you might habitually snack on them. Keep nuts and fruit around instead, and you might end up eating better. Getting into the habit of preparing your meals at the weekend, and then enjoying them as the week unfolds, can be transformative.
Physical Activity
Another important pillar of a healthy lifestyle is regular exercise. Ideally, this should take several different forms, to reduce the risk of injury. You might go for short walks throughout the week, visit the gym on given days, and take time out at the weekend to go on a longer hike.
By making your chosen form of exercise a habit, you’ll be much likelier to stick with it. That typically means finding a form of exercise that you really enjoy.
Sleep Hygiene
If you don’t get enough sleep, then you’ll suffer cognitive decline, loss of concentration, and an increased risk of developing cancer – among other things. To give yourself the best possible chance of enjoying quality, undisturbed sleep, you might take sleep hygiene seriously. Keep your bedtime consistent, avoid screens in the evening, and don’t be tempted to sleep in.
Hydration
It’s also worth drinking water to the exclusion of just about everything else. Stop buying soda, and your body will thank you in the long run. You might even set reminders so that you remember to drink water at regular intervals. Even if you can just incorporate one or two of the tips we’ve suggested, the health benefits might be substantial. Take it slow, and build your habits gradually.
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