If you want to make some changes to your lifestyle to become healthy but want to prioritise habits that are going to stick, we’re here with 5 examples that are realistic and won’t just happen in the new year! We’ve covered all sorts of things here, from your physical health, nutrition, mental health and sleep cycle. Most of these things are either very affordable or will cost you nothing but they can make a huge difference in how you feel.
Eating More Fruit and Veg
First up, a great healthy habit is to eat more fruit and vegetables. Often, guidance when it comes to nutrition is about restricting and cutting out lots of foods; however, we’re much more focused on adding positive foods to your diet, as often this results in people consuming less of the unhealthier foods. Fruit and vegetables are packed full of vitamins and minerals, which help to support all elements of your health, from your immune system to muscle recovery and helping cells and organs to do their job. By adding them to your diet, you’ll feel revitalised in so many ways!
So, when you’re next heading to the supermarket, pick up a variety of different fruits and vegetables, ideally all different colours. Different coloured fruits and vegetables tend to contain different nutrients so it’s important to eat a colourful diet. For example, red fruit contains beta-carotene, yellow contains vitamin C, purple contains anthocyanins and green fruit and vegetables contain folate. These are just a few examples, so when you’re eating a variety of different coloured fruits and vegetables throughout the week, you’ll be fueling your body with everything it needs.
In terms of ways to consume more fruits and vegetables, especially if you don’t particularly like the taste on their own, we have plenty of inspiration. In the morning, you could have a delicious smoothie, gain the health benefits of using a juicer, or top your oats with some berries. In terms of snacks, you could have crunchy vegetables with dips like hummus and tzatziki, or maybe apple slices with peanut butter. With your other meals, try to eat a variety and find out how you enjoy eating them. This might be roasted vegetables, for example, carrots and parsnips, or roasted Mediterranean vegetables! You could always bulk cook veggies on a Sunday and then you’ll have them ready for the rest of the week. Maybe try cooking your veggies in a new way, taking inspiration from turkish recipes for something different!
Rather than focusing on cutting anything out of your diet, you should put effort into eating more fruit and vegetables, and you’ll naturally be eating healthier and fueling your body with the valuable vitamins that it needs!
Move Your Body Once A Day
Next up, you should aim to move your body at least once a day. Again, people often force unrealistic ideas of exercise, but the main thing you should focus on is setting some time aside each day to move your body. This will look different for everyone; however, a great place to start is by walking for at least 30 minutes a day. This could be getting off public transport a stop early and walking a bit extra or maybe going out for a lunchtime walk. From here, perhaps you build and start doing one home fitness class a week using videos on YouTube, maybe beginners yoga or a bodyweight upper body workout. For other people, they will go to the gym five days a week and then walk on the weekends.
Everyone’s body and ability are different; however, as long as you’re moving your body, you’ll be doing something positive. Being physically active is so important for many elements of your mind and body, including improving brain health, managing weight, reducing the risk of disease and strengthening bones and muscles. Start small, build up and the best piece of advice is to do something you love, as this is the best way to ensure you’re going to stick to your healthy habit! This could be a dance class, a countryside walk, going swimming with a friend, hula hooping or trying out a new sport you’ve always wanted to do! Staying healthy and active isn’t restricted to spending hours on a treadmill, that’s for sure. So, take your time finding exercise you enjoy and moving your body once a day will soon become something you look forward to!
Prioritising Your Oral Health
One area of our health that is often neglected is our oral health; however, it’s such an important part of our health. Poor oral health can impact so many areas of our lives, from our confidence if tooth decay or tooth loss is an issue to poor breath, difficulty chewing and a lack of confidence in smiling. Overall, oral health should be a priority, so there are a few things you can be doing. Firstly, book a dentist appointment. Whether you visit a dentist in Milton Keynes, Mayfair or Manchester, making the effort to go and see your dentist is so worth it.
If you have any symptoms of an issue, such as bleeding or pain, then you should absolutely visit your dentist ASAP. However, many dental issues don’t have any symptoms to begin with, if at all, so seeing your dentist every 6 months helps them identify symptomless issues quickly and rectify them, making it less invasive and cheaper for you. Your dentist can also give you personalised advice on your oral health. This takes us nicely to our next point, which is making sure you’re brushing twice a day for two minutes with an electric toothbrush, flossing and using mouthwash. It’s so easy to let our oral health take a back seat, but this is your sign to start making it a priority!
Final Thoughts
We hope we’ve shown you that creating healthier habits doesn’t need to mean a complete overhaul of your lifestyle, but small changes do make a big difference and they add up. Plus, making smaller changes that last is so much more beneficial than making big changes that only last a few weeks or months. No matter your budget, you should be able to incorporate some of these things into your routine. If you find change overwhelming, we’d recommend starting with one thing at a time. When that feels normal and natural, then consider making other additions to your routine, and you won’t feel the need to go backwards in terms of your healthy habits. These are simple yet effective things that can make a big difference to your health and consequently how you feel, so give them a go and we’re sure that you will soon feel the benefits!
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