6 Useful Ways to Incorporate Healthy Habits in Your Routine
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Including healthy habits in your routine could be very challenging at first. However, these habits will become part of your life with consistent effort and motivation. Whether you’re changing old habits or adopting new ones, it’s essential to monitor your progress and do your best to turn them into lifelong habits. Some people tend to lose their motivation along the way, but with the proper practices, your chances of success may increase significantly
Tracking Your Habits
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Adopting a healthy lifestyle is important for your wellbeing. But, you need to track your progress to keep up your motivation. For this purpose, experts recommend using visual aids, such as a wall calendar. In fact, some people indicated that this method helped them to overcome many life challenges. You can place a wall calendar in a visible spot in your home, jot down the number of drinks you take every week and the days you meditate or do cardio activities. A clearly visible calendar will often attract your attention, making you fully aware of your practices. It will also encourage you to maintain these habits. After all, no one would want to see this calendar blank and bleak.
The Earlier the Better
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Morning is the best time of the day to perform health-related activities. Whether you want to practice meditation, do stretches, planks or pushups, your chances of success will increase enormously if you develop the habit of doing them first thing in the morning. With busy work schedules and increasing social or family obligations, you might feel extremely stressed at the end of the day. This may discourage you from maintaining your healthy habits. Multiple studies affirmed that individuals who meditate, exercise or practice other healthy activities first thing in the morning tend to stick to those habits more than those who meditate or work out later in the day.
Waking Up Earlier
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Getting up at least half-an-hour earlier every day can make a huge difference. If you often feel anxious, distracted, and less connected, either with yourself or the world around you, you’d want to start your day with positive energy, waking up early and meditating for longer periods. In addition to meditation, you may want to wake up earlier to stretch, exercise, do pushups, go for a short walk or perform other activities that can make you feel happy and healthy. Research suggests that early risers are more likely to be consistent, productive, proactive, successful and happy. So, if you struggle to devote enough time for your healthy habits, consider setting your alarm 30-60 minutes earlier every day.
Avoiding Unhealthy Foods
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If you’re going to cut or reduce your intake of certain foods, it’s best to opt for amazing alternatives. This is important to avoid obsessing over those unhealthy foods you used to consume. If you’re a meat lover, it won’t be easy for you to remove red meat from your diet. But, other tasty foods, such as smoked salmon with cream cheese, will probably make up for your feeling of loss. Additionally, if you want to avoid sugary cookies, you’ll have to keep on hand tasty healthy snacks. Those alternatives must be accessible, enjoyable and affordable. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t force yourself to eat foods you don’t like just because they’re healthy.
Keeping Yourself Well-Hydrated
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Statistics suggest that most Americans suffer from dehydration. Most people tend to overlook their body’s need for water. That’s why you should keep refillable water bottles in different places like your fridge, office or car. Drinking sufficient amounts of water can positively affect your physical and mental well-being. If you keep water bottles in your fridge, you’ll remember that you need to drink every time you open the door to get something. Refillable water bottles have many advantages. While you’re able to quantify your hydration, these bottles might also motivate you to drink more amounts, compared to drinking from a glass.
Limiting Your Cell-Phone Use
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Every one of us deserves to enjoy some phone-free time every day. Putting your phone aside even for a few minutes can lead to mental as well as emotional clarity. You can opt for phone-free activities or phone-free zones. According to research, those who designate their bedrooms as phone-free zones tend to sleep better than those who don’t. You don’t have to answer each text immediately. Some people will understand that you’ll send them a reply when it’s more convenient for you. Moreover, sending a reply when you have plenty of time at hand is a great way to improve your communication. That’s because you’ll avoid sending hastily typed answers or knee-jerk responses.
Tell us, have you adopted any healthy habits lately?