10 Habits of Health That Are Easy to Add to Your Routine
When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, most of us think that it requires a lot of effort to lead a lifestyle that promotes better health. But the truth is that adding a few small healthy habits to our routines is not so difficult and can make a huge difference in our lives. Today, we will talk about those habits of health that are super easy to include in your routine. So you can develop new habits that will help you live a happier, healthier, and more productive life. Want to know how you can do that? Then let’s get started.
1. Have breakfast
The first one from the habits of health could not be any simpler: have breakfast.
Although many of us tend to skip our breakfasts due to our hectic mornings, having breakfast is very important for many reasons. To begin with, breakfast starts your metabolism and gives you the energy to start your day. If you opt for a breakfast that is rich in fiber and proteins, it can keep you full so most likely you won’t overeat yourself later. But that’s not all.
A healthy breakfast can increase your productivity at work as well.
According to studies, those people who don’t skip breakfast take in more minerals and vitamins but less cholesterol and fat. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
If you would like to enjoy these health benefits, all you have to do is to have a healthy breakfast in the morning. If you think you don’t have time for it, prepare your breakfast the night before or simply grab a piece of fruit.
Note: If you are intermittent fasting, remember breakfast can be later in the morning and not right when you wake up. Then it becomes even more crucial to eat a nutrient dense meal to replenish your energy!
Related read: 3 Tiny Habits of Health That You Can Start Today
2. Drink enough water
There is something that many people tend to forget about during the day: to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. The daily recommendation for water intake is about 8 glasses (8-ounce glasses) so this is the amount everyone should aim for (this isn’t an exact measure- pay attention to the color of your urine- it should be clear to light yellow!). Getting enough water is very important because all your cells, tissues, and organs need water to function properly.
Try to remind yourself multiple times a day to drink water. Or if you want you can even set a reminder or download an app to make sure you don’t forget to drink. Many water reminder apps can not only remind you but also track your water intake day by day.
If plain water sounds a little boring, you can put a few slices of lime, orange, strawberry, or other fruit you like in the water to add a little flavor.
Another great idea to keep you hydrated is to place a glass of water on your nightstand. This way right after you wake up you can start your day by drinking water (note: it’s also great for getting your bowels going in the morning!).
Related read: Do I need to filter my water? Best countertop water filter system
3. Start to plan your meals
Nowadays, meal planning is very popular. This is because it has many benefits. First of all, it saves you a lot of time and money. Secondly, it makes it easier to reach your health goals as well. I personally dread the nightly question “what’s for dinner?” So having some type of plan or rhythm can be helpful for both your health and peace of mind.
When you plan your meals, think about what your goals are. Do you want to lose weight? Then reduce sugar and processed foods in your meals. Or do you want to increase your vitamin intake? Add more fruits and veggies into your diet.
Meal planning will help you eat more healthily and give up highly-processed foods.
Related read: Budget Meal Planning Made Easy AND Healthy
4. Eat more greens
Green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients. Plus, they are low in calories. Without any doubt, getting more greens in your diet would be beneficial for your health.
Luckily, there are many amazing recipes that can help you incorporate some leafy greens into your meals, so you can enjoy all the great health benefits of these vegetables.
If you need a little inspiration to get started, here is our previous article about green leafy vegetables.
5. Get adequate sleep
The best habits of health are those that don’t require too much effort but have several benefits for your health. Sleep is also one of these habits.
Having a good night’s sleep will make you wake up in a better mood, increases your productivity, and helps you focus and memorize things. These are the most important benefits in the short term. However, in the long run, you can also decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic disease by getting adequate sleep each night. And what do I mean by adequate sleep? About 7-9 hours per night (whatever leaves you feeling rested).
To avoid sleep deprivation (and the many side effects of it: fatigue, forgetfulness, lack of focus, etc.) develop a habit of getting this amount of sleep every day. You can make it easier by building a better bedtime routine that will prepare your body for sleeping. It may consist of a warm bath, putting away your electronic devices, meditation, reading, or preparing your bedroom. Plus, make sure to go to sleep and wake up near the same time each day.
6. Exercise more
Regular exercise plays a crucial role in a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, you should try to do your best when it comes to exercising. If you have a hectic life and you don’t have time to go to the gym or go for a run, bring out the best from every situation (need ideas? Start a challenge here!). When you are at work and you stand up to make another cup of coffee, walk a little (5 minutes) at the office. If you have a long lunch break, after lunch go outside and take a walk. You can also opt for better alternatives: use the stairs instead of the elevator everywhere you go, walk instead of taking the bus, etc. You will see that all these small changes will add up and they may help you become more fit.
Related read: Maximize Your Exercise Routine with these 10 Exercises to Lose Weight and Stay Fit
7. Put away your phone
Unfortunately, people are checking their emails and social media at a frequency that is bad for their mental health. And it is definitely not healthy to stare at the screen of your phone all day long, especially in the morning when you wake up and when you go to sleep.
Try to do a screen detox and put away all your electronic devices at certain times of the day. Set a time also to put your phone down before bedtime.
By cutting back a little on the screen time, you can increase your technology-free activities. You can go for a walk, read a book, ride a bike or find a new hobby. You can also use this extra time for getting more sleep at night.
Related read: How to Do a Screen Detox or Social Media Detox
8. Learn every day something new
You can keep your brain fit and healthy by learning every day something new. Read a book, sign up for an online course, learn a new language, or start a new hobby (for example, get into gardening, make your perfume at home). It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you enjoy it and it makes you happy.
Related read: The Benefits of Good Reading Habits
9. Practice mindfulness
In today’s world, our minds get distracted quite easily. Therefore, we often lose focus and our thoughts get out of control. Practicing mindfulness can bring you back to the present.
It can significantly improve your physical, emotional, and mental health as well. This is because when you are engaging in an activity that provides mindfulness (for example, meditation, yoga), it releases stress, reduces pain, and boosts your mood as well.
If you would like to know how you can establish a daily mindfulness routine, take a look at our guide on this subject.
10. Go outdoors
Our bodies need vitamin D. By going outside and spending some time in the sunshine, you can increase your vitamin D intake. This vitamin is beneficial for your bones and your heart. Plus, spending some time outdoors can make you feel happier.
You can simply go out to take a walk and enjoy the fresh air in nature. Even if you have only 10 minutes to go outdoors, go for it. It will be good for you.
Related read: 30 Day Challenge Ideas for Building Good Habits
Just get started
I think you’ll agree with me when I say that lack of motivation is the main reason why most of us don’t change our lifestyles to a healthier one. It is easier to say that we don’t have time for new habits, it’s too complicated to change, or we will start to make a few changes in our lives from next month.
However, the truth is that we can easily add a few habits of health to our routines. All we need is to get started with small steps and a mindset shift. Trust me, small changes will add up in the long term.
Which healthy habits do you have? Which would you like to add?
