6 Ways to Jumpstart a Healthy Change in Your Life
We all want to be healthier. In fact, you’ve probably tried in the past. Maybe you made a New Year’s resolution to burn 1,000 calories a day, or you resigned yourself to a paleo diet until you reached your goal weight.
Unfortunately, it’s easier to make resolutions than it is to stick to them.
To make your new healthy lifestyle permanent, don’t shoot for the stars. Instead, start making small tweaks to your routine that you can actually sustain.
Are you looking for inspiration to get started on the path towards a healthier you? Choose one (or a few!) of these six ways to start feeling a little better each day.
#1 Drink More Water
You know it’s important to drink water. But it’s easy to pass on the H20 in favor of coffee, sports drinks, and other beverages that boost your energy in noticeable ways.
However, dehydration can be linked to numerous negative side effects, including:
- Headaches
- Stress
- Vertigo
- Lightheadedness
- Constipation
Do you experience any of these symptoms on a regular basis? It’s possible that all you need to do is drink more water. Try out the following tips:
- Drink a cup of water first thing in the morning before your coffee or tea. For bonus points, drink hot water, which may help get your digestive tract flowing.
- Bring an insulated water bottle with you as you go about your day. Make sure it’s empty by the time you return home!
- Set a alarm on your phone to remind you to drink water throughout the day, it can be hard to remember when you’re caught up in work.
#2 Set a Realistic Movement Goal
Exercise isn’t just good for your waistline—physical activities from running to yoga and beyond can actually benefit your mental health.
If you’ve spent most of the past month on the couch, no one expects you to start running marathons. Instead, set a realistic goal for the number of minutes you’ll move each day. As little as 20 minutes of dancing, walking, or yoga can have a beneficial effect.
As you get more physically fit, increase your activity time and difficulty to see the best results.
#3 Find the Right Diet
Is a keto diet right for you? Or should you eat seasonally?
Different bodies need different nutrients, but the staples of any effective diet are the same:
- Avoid highly processed foods like sugary sodas, bakery items, and white bread or pasta
- Eat a variety of different foods—every color of the rainbow: present and accounted for!
- Incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into your routine
You’ll know you’ve found the right nutritional plan when it’s easy to maintain consistency—no more late-night snacking or insatiable cravings!
#4 Hack Your Sleep
Insufficient sleep takes a serious long-term toll on your health. If you’re not getting seven to nine hours per night, it’s important to find a way to catch more Z’s.
What can you do? Try out the following:
- Set a consistent bedtime
- Avoid caffeine three hours before bedtime
- Turn off your screens at least one hour before bed
- Use snoring mouth guards to quiet disruptive snores (yours or your partner’s)
- Try aromatherapy with lavender essential oil to help you relax
- Install blackout curtains to block out all light
#5 Try a Superfood Supplement
If you don’t feel like you have the energy to make huge lifestyle adjustments, call in some all-natural help!
Healthy, plant-based ingredients can easily be added to smoothies or teas. Whether your goal is getting better sleep, improving mental clarity, or reducing fatigue, there are specially formulated supplements that can help with exactly what you’re looking for.
Do a little research on which vitamins, herbs, other natural resources can help with your particular complaint. Hopefully, they’ll give you the energy you need to begin making other changes, too.
#6 Check Your Posture
If you feel stressed, tired, and sore, it may be because of your sitting position.
As you read this, check your head position. Is it in line with your spine or thrust forward? If it’s forward, are your neck muscles tense from the weight of your skull? Are your shoulders bunched up to your ears to help carry the load?
All of this physical tension can impact your emotional well-being, too.
Luckily, there’s an easier solution than keeping constant tabs on your posture and alignment. Instead, try out ergonomic furniture and effortlessly achieve better alignment.
To Cement Change, Consistency is Key
Which of the above six changes would most easily fit in with your current routine?
While we recommend adopting all six over time, it’s important to start small and maintain consistency. Once you’ve succeeded in making a single change, you’ll begin to develop a sense of momentum that can propel you into the next change, and the next, until you’re living your absolute best life.
As you start to feel better, you may even feel motivated to set more ambitious goals and level up your health. Once you’re on the right path, the sky’s the limit!