This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Attempting to live a healthy lifestyle may feel overwhelming, especially with how busy day to day life can get before even considering adding healthy habits to the mix. I’ve been hindered in the past by having an “all or nothing” mentality. If I missed my workout in the morning, I would let that set the tone for my day. If I’m not working out today, why eat healthy? Why go to bed early? Why try to be my best today when I’ve already messed up?
However, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Living a healthy lifestyle does not need to mean that you are being as healthy as possible 100% of the time. Having balance is incredibly important to ensure that the habits you enact become long lasting lifestyle changes, instead of just things you do for a month or two while in a “healthy phase.”
That said, I absolutely do not follow everything on the below list every day of my life, but they are core tenets of my lifestyle. So even after a holiday filled with overindulgence or a night out with friends that keeps me awake into the morning hours, I return to these habits because I know from experience that they will make me feel my best and allow me to live the life I want to in the long term.
Here are seven habits to incorporate into your daily life to help you be healthier and feel happier.
1. Drink A LOT of water
I know you’ve heard it before, but that’s just because it’s so dang important! There’s a lot of info out there discussing the proper amount of water to drink a day – some say a half an ounce to an ounce of water per pound of your body weight.
Having a large water bottle is a great way to make reaching this goal a little easier. I find that I drink more water out of cups and bottles with straws – especially when working at my desk throughout the day.
At home I love using my 40oz Stanley Tumbler and I always reach for my 32oz Iron Flask water bottle with a straw top for the gym and on the go!
If plain old water isn’t your vibe, try adding slices of citrus or herbs to jazz it up a bit!
2. Set a consistent sleep schedule
How you sleep at night can make or break your next day. Adults typically need somewhere from 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Further, going to bed and waking up at the same time each night helps maintain your circadian rhythm, which has various health benefits.
If you don’t already have a set bedtime, try setting a nightly alarm on your phone 30 minutes before you want to go to sleep as a cue to start winding down. For the morning, set a recurring alarm for the same time each day and do your best to resist the snooze button!
3. Get outside every day
Getting outside early in the day is a great way to help yourself wake up and improve your circadian rhythm. Being outdoors not only reduces stress and anxiety, but viewing sunlight each day also helps boost your Vitamin D intake, which is a key nutrient for overall health. Even if it’s cloudy or cold out, going outside for about 30 minutes a day has so many benefits!
4. Focus on your green vegetables
It’s no secret that leafy green vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals that protect against disease. Eating a salad for lunch is a great way to ensure you get a good helping of vegetables in each day.
The key is finding a few salad combinations that you enjoy and then rotating through those each week (hint – it’s all about the toppings to leaves ratio – the more toppings the better!!). My all time favorite salad and what I end up having most days is a protein and veggie packed chicken bacon ranch salad.
Quick tip – prep your toppings early in the week to make it easier to throw together your salad come lunchtime.
If I’m in a rush or just want something warm and cozy for lunch that is still packed with nutrients, I always keep my freezer stocked with Daily Harvest bowls that I can simply pop in the microwave. My favorite is the Spinach & Shiitake Grits bowl. I also love their smoothies for a post workout recovery snack with a scoop of protein powder.
If you’ve never heard of Daily Harvest, they are a plant-based meal delivery service that provides a variety of ready-to-eat smoothies, oat and chia bowls, flatbreads, harvest bowls, soups, snacks, and even lattes. Their meals are loaded with diverse fruits and vegetables that make it so easy to eat healthy. If you’re interested in checking out Daily Harvest, you can get a discount on your first box with this link!
5. Find a fitness routine that works for you
Getting consistent movement in has endless benefits. If you don’t already have a specific fitness routine, getting started can be half the battle. Think about what time of day you like to workout and how many days per week you aim to be active and then plan it into your week.
If you’re not feeling like an intense workout when you get to your scheduled activity time, I challenge you to at least go for a walk around the block or do 15 minutes of stretching. A little bit of movement is better than nothing at all!
And remember, the best fitness routine out there is one that you can stick to. So choose movement that you enjoy instead of forcing yourself to do things that you think you “should” do.
6. Make healthy swaps
By no means is it necessary to cut out all yummy treats from your life in order to have a healthy lifestyle. But prioritizing when you want to splurge on those treats can help you in the long run.
On a day to day basis, try swapping out some of your favorite sweet treats for healthier, more nutrient dense alternatives. If ice cream is your weakness, try having Greek yogurt with berries, granola, and a little whip cream. If you love a classic Reese’s cup, try making these chocolate covered peanut butter stuffed dates instead – I promise you’ll still feel like you’re eating candy!
7. Add in key supplements
Each person has different nutrient gaps and you should absolutely consult your doctor if you’re interested in getting bloodwork done to determine which specific nutrients you may benefit from supplementing. Though research suggests that Omega-3 and Vitamin D are two incredibly important nutrients in which many people are lacking.
If you’re interested in adding supplements to your diet, make sure to choose a quality product, as not all supplements are created equal. You can see how different supplement brands rank based on their quality at Labdoor.com.
See the following links for the Omega-3 and Vitamin D supplements that I’ve chosen after my own research.
AG1 is also a great option if you’re interested in adding a more comprehensive profile of vitamins and minerals to your daily routine. AG1 is a multivitamin, probiotic and prebiotic green supplement that supports overall health and the immune system. If you’re interested in getting a one year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase, you can use this link with my AG1 offer code!
Remember that living a healthy lifestyle is not about being perfectly healthy all of the time. But if you do your best each day to incorporate some of the practices above, they will eventually become habits!
SHARE THIS POST:
