Getting healthy is a priority for almost anyone but it can be really tough to make permanent and sustainable changes to your lifestyle. In a culture surrounded by fad diets and unrealistic standards, it’s easy to decide to give up when you don’t see immediate progress. Here are six healthy habits that can help you make permanent changes.
1. Take Vitamins
Getting the right balance of vitamins can really change your health and help lead to better habits. If you can naturally build your energy level, you’ll be more likely to get more active and incorporate other healthy changes. If you don’t care about taking a lot of pills, you can try a Thrive patch to get what you need more easily.
2. Drink More Water
Water can truly transform your health and lifestyle. There are numerous health benefits to increasing your water intake. Replacing sugary soda, juice, or energy drinks with this super hydrating alternative will decrease your calorie intake, help make you feel full longer, increase your energy and brain function and give you softer skin. Although it is difficult to exclude all of your usual drinks at once, even making small changes at a time can make a difference. Begin by replacing one drink a day with water and gradually increase this over time. There are also many apps and water bottles that can help you track your intake and set goals for yourself.
3. Sleep
Lack of sleep can affect your energy, mental performance and even change how your body reacts to insulin. It is imperative that you get enough hours of rest each day to get your body functioning at its best. It’s easy to stay up too late or skip sleep without realizing it. It can be beneficial to track your current rest periods to get a good idea of where you can make improvements. Set up some reminders on your phone to make sure you notice when it’s time to start winding down for bedtime. If you can, avoid screen time for an hour or two before bed to help prepare your body to relax and shut down.
4. Eat Protein
Protein is one of the keys to attaining a healthy metabolism. It will also help you feel fuller for longer, help decrease cravings for snacks, and lower blood sugar and blood pressure. When you eat a meal, start by eating your protein portion first. This will make you less likely to overeat. You can also incorporate more protein into your snacking by choosing cheese, nuts, or Greek yogurt. Having a protein shake at breakfast time or as a filler during the day is also a convenient way to increase your intake.
5. Take The Long Way
Often people think they just don’t have time to block out time to exercise every day. Increase your activity level much more easily by choosing to park further away from the store, walking across the building instead of visiting a nearby restroom, or investing in an under-desk elliptical to sneak in more movement naturally. The more physical activity you can incorporate, the more energy you’ll have and the easier it will be to build on your progress.
6. Lower Stress
Stress can wreak havoc on every aspect of your life. It can lead to physical issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Your mental health can also be severely affected by the tension and anxiety in your life. Remember to take breaks, even if they are quick, to give yourself time to relax or practice stress-relief techniques. A short, brisk walk or just stopping to take a few deep breaths can quickly lower your stress level without taking up a lot of time.
Making lasting changes is the key to a healthier life. You’re more likely to stick with habits that you can integrate easily rather than trying to make lots of big changes at once. Incorporate these easy changes to get yourself on the track to a permanent transformation.
Tags: habits, health, healthy, healthy habits, Healthy Lifestyle
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