In life, there comes a time when we start to find the urge to make a change to our lifestyle, for the better.
What often makes the “healthy” lifestyle intimidating for people is that there’s this worry that you have to make a ton of drastic changes but all it really takes are a few small changes to your everyday routine.
To live a healthy life, you need to take care of your physical health and your mental health. Here are five tips to begin a healthy lifestyle.
1. Drink more water.
We’re told all the time how important it is to drink water, but I find that many of us still do not drink enough in a day.
Our bodies are made of 60% water and we have to replenish any that is lost every day. Drinking more water can aid in weight loss, flush out toxins and improve metabolism.
One way to tell if you’re hydrated is when your urine is colorless or a light yellow. If it’s a darker hue than that, it is an indicator that you should drink more water.
2. Get enough sleep.
Who doesn’t love sleep?
As much as we may enjoy it, sometimes we don’t get enough of it, which can make you feel tired throughout the day. You can also become irritable and won’t be able to focus.
It’s typically advised that you try to get 8 hours of sleep, but everyone is different and it can range between 6-10 hours depending on the person.
3. Eat breakfast.
It isn’t called the most important meal of the day for no reason!
Eating a healthy and balanced breakfast in the morning can:
- Improve your metabolism
- Help keep your blood sugar levels stable during the day
- Reduce the risk of starving as well as overeating/cravings later in the day
- Give you the fuel your body and mind need to function throughout the day
4. Exercise!
Physical exercise is an essential part of keeping your body healthy.
For some people, exercise might seem like a daunting word where you have to hit the gym every day and spend hours doing rigorous exercise.
However, in a study done at Duke University Medical Center, they found something else. “People only need to walk up to 12 miles per week or for about 125 to 200 minutes per week to improve their heart health,” said the lead author Brian Duscha.
Go for a walk outside, breath in the fresh air and soak up the sun!
5. Snack healthy.
Put down the chips, cookies and candy instead swap it for fruits, veggies and raw nuts.
It’s incredibly tempting to sit back, watch a show, and snack away with some salty and sweet goodies but we often fail to see that our body is our temple.
We need foods that provide nutrients, vitamins and energy because while we may get a sugar rush we will eventually crash but when eating properly the energy we receive from the foods good for us will help throughout the day.
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Bonus tip: Put the amount of love and care you put into taking care of your body, into loving yourself and your life as well! Keep up the positive outlook and let it spread to every aspect of your life.
Image: iStock
Reflect & Refresh 