10 Habits For a Happy Healthy Lifestyle
Some things in life can’t be controlled, so focus on what can you can control.
Below is a list of things we can control.
You don’t need me to tell that healthy eating and exercise will improve your life, so I won’t.
A healthy lifestyle isn’t just our diet, or how we exercise, it’s everyday practices that can improve our wellbeing.
If your anything like me you’re aware that ones health is in your hands, and one sizes doesn’t fit all. This is your journey, so incorporate what works for you and what doesn’t work.
1: Cook Home Meals As Much as Possible:
Cooking home meals ensures you know what ingredients are going into your meals.
Try meal prepping a few meals for the next 3-4 days and freeze them.
2: Practice Portion Control:
Whilst home-cooked meals are essential towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle, becoming aware of your portion sizes allows you to reach your goals, whether your goals are-loosing weight, maintaining your weight, or increasing your weight, your portion sizes will vary, so write your goals down.
3: Exercise Daily:
Don’t complicate physical activity. Going for a walk in nature or 10 minutes a day, can improve your oxygen levels and mental wellbeing. It can be a 5 minute online class or a quick yoga session. Move your body as regularly as you can, it will propel you towards a more holistic lifestyle.
4: Gratitude Affirmations:
Have you ever been around a person whom complains about everything, or a person whom doesn’t appreciate anything you do? Well I was one of those negative Nancy’s.
Gratitude can shift ones perspective from negative to positive within moments.
For example, most recently I’d complain about having to go to the gym, not being aware of the fact that I’ve have a healthy strong body, that gets to go to the gym.
The practice is best upon awaking in the morning and before you go to bed.
5: Mindfulness Meditation:
I’ve written a post about mindfulness mediation, and the effects it can have on your brain after 8 weeks of regular practice, see post. The benefits have been a total game changer for my mental health and overall wellbeing. It helps me regulate my emotions, it’s improved my workouts-due to breath work, and increases lung capacity, also it helps maintain focus during workouts or studying, and gives a sense of calmness and relaxation.
6: Listen to Relaxing Music:
This can be any music that brightens your mood and puts you in a positive, calm headspace. It can be solfeggio frequencies, Jazz, classical opera, whatever makes your heart smile.
7: Journaling:
My top benefits are organising your thoughts, relieves stress, set and achieve your goals.
Writing out your thoughts can seem daunting, so try starting with what you’re grateful for, or writing down your goals. As it’s been scientifically proven that people whom write their goals down, achieve them. Practice daily or as regular as possible.
8: Stay Hydrated:
I know what your gonna say, ‘drink eight glasses of water per day. Why is drinking water such a big deal? Because the human adult body is made up of about 70% of water. Water gives you energy, helps maintain healthy skin complexion, and can prevent headaches, since your brain is mostly made up of water, flushes out toxins, help promote weight loss, to name but a few benefits. Start slow, aim to drink 1 litre of water a day, then increase to 1.5 and so on within the following weeks. Bring a steel bottle with you to work, or keep some bottles near your desk. Take small throughout the day, or jug it down when you realise its 3pm, and you’ve hardly drank any water for the day, ‘oh wait I’m telling on myself’.
9: Develop a Positive Attitude And Learn To Let Go Of The Past:
As humans beings we feel pain, letting go of pain and past hurts can take time or even years, so be gentle with yourself.
I still struggle with this, so use some of the above tips to help you in your healing journey, i.e points 3,4,5 and 7.
Forgiveness can be a sensitive topic, and ones actions can cause years of deep pain and anger, so I’ll say this, we cannot go back, nor forward, all we have is right now, this present moment, ask yourself what will make me happier today? What can I do to improve my mood, and cleanse my energy?
We have the Power to Heal our minds and body with our thoughts.
Also create some distance between those whom have inflicted you emotionally or physically, this allows you to focus on what’s in your control.
Seek professional help or talk therapy, as a professional can help guide you throughout your thought process.
Remember pain is like a scar, it will heal in time. Making it through difficult seasons make us become stronger versions of ourselves, and be more wiser, also more empathetic towards others because of your past experiences.
10: Dance and Laugh As Much As Possible:
If you’re a book worm like me, you might tend to forget to take a daily dose of your laughing medicine.
Laughter is truly medicine to the soul and the body. Laughing releases the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Laughter boosts the immune system, and gives one a sense of humour, which creates a positive, fun energetic environment.
Trust me if you’re having a bad day, put on your favourite comedy show. Your body will soon relax and lighten any load of anger or frustrations.
The sound of music is not only good for the soul, but also the heart. It improves the condition of your heart and lungs, and is a full body workout. Dance has mental benefits such as lifting your mood and easing anxiety.
So if you want to live a long happy healthy lifestyle, try practicing the above tips.
In closing, learn to lighten the load by laughing more, and grooving to the sound of music.