In this blog, we will be talking about healthy habits you can add to your daily life in order to become a healthier you. These habits don’t have to be extreme or immediately life-altering. Instead, their purpose is to help you develop yourself daily and lead to an overall increased quality of life. Habits can range from different topics such as eating, drinking, sleeping, exercising, and other activities. We will be discussing some of them. Note that these are suggestions that you can take into consideration, but you know your body best as well as what works for you. The following material will include healthy habits that you can incorporate into your daily life in order to improve your overall well-being.
Drink Water: While it sounds rather simple, drinking enough water throughout the day is one of the most important things you can do for your body.” Water makes solutes available for cellular reactions, regulates body temperature, maintains blood volume, transports nutrients, and is involved with digestion, absorption, and excretion” (Mahan & Raymond, 2017). Some have found it helpful to drink water first thing in the morning. You can go with what works best for you.
Take a Walk: The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week. One of the simplest activities you can do is take a walk and this can be done anywhere. For example, if you have enough space in your residence, you can walk down the hallways and/or up and down the steps. Instead of taking the elevator, you can take the steps if you are able. You can even take a walk around your neighborhood! Park further away in the parking lot when going to work, grocery shopping, running errands, etc. These are all different ways you can get more walking done in your daily schedule.
Meal Prep: When you meal prep, you may be less likely to buy foods that are not healthy for you. When people go grocery shopping without a list and/or in a state of hunger, they tend to go for quick meals like fast foods or processed foods that can easily be baked in the oven or heated up in the microwave. With things planned out in advance, you are more likely to stick to what is written on your grocery list. It may also lower the chances of you skipping a meal. Have a look at our blog for some meal prep ideas: Meal Prepping: Easy Meals to Create for the Week.
Journaling: As we’ve talked about before, mental health is also an important aspect of life. There is no specific thing you have to write about–you can write whatever feels right to you. Journaling can help to manage anxiety and relieve stress if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed. If you read past entries, it can even help you to remember happy memories. For more ways to relieve stress, take a look at our blog Release Stress and Build Your Resilience.
Sleep: Rest is important for the body. It helps to energize and refresh us so that we are better able to do our tasks during the day. We will be going into more detail on this topic in next week’s blog.
Overall, these habits sound simple but that’s the main reason why they may often be overlooked. Take some time to see if there is anything you may be able to add to your schedule. Be sure to consult your doctor should you have any questions or concerns.
Mahan, L. K., & Raymond, J. L. (2017). Krause’s Food & the Nutrition Care Process (14th ed.). Elsevier.
Feature Photo by Dakota Corbin on Unsplash
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Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN
Transformational Speaker, Breakthrough Coach, Nutritionist-Dietitian
Blessing Bolomope, Student Intern
B.S. Nutrition & Food Science – Dietetics
University of Maryland, College Park | 2020