10 Good Habits for Good Health

Simple habits and small changes in one’s life can actually make a big impact on your overall health and well being. To create a habit, it takes consistency over a period of time so that the action becomes integrated into your lifestyle rather than “just something you do” for a short period of time. The rule of 21/90 is a common standard for developing and maintaining a habit. You consistently stick to the desired goal for 21 days to make a habit and continue for another 90 days to establish it as a habit. 

Below are 10 good habits to help you maintain good health. Beginning with movement. Our bodies are like rubber bands. If we don’t use them as intended, they will get all dry rotted!

• Exercise

We all know that physical exercise is good for our health, but many people find it challenging to stick to a routine. When you establish exercise as a habit, it becomes a part of your lifestyle and a natural thing to do on a daily basis.

• Stretch daily

When you stretch, you focus on your muscles as well as your breathing. Stretching is a good habit to establish because it greatly improves your flexibility, making you less prone to injury and more likely to feel strong in your body. If you have a tight back, for example, here you can learn how to stretch your abs correctly in order to relax and ease your back muscles.

• Quit cigarette smoking

Smoking is a bad habit and a very easy one to fall into and get stuck there. While it is challenging to give up smoking once your body has become addicted to the nicotine, there are lots of programs available to help you quit smoking. It is healthier for your lungs and your entire body to develop a non-smoking habit.

• Walk regularly

Regular daily movement is so much better for us than living sedentary lifestyles. Incorporate short walks into your daily routine such as a morning or evening walk, a post lunch break stroll, or a few short laps around the parking lot before getting into your car at the end of the work day. You can also choose to walk to work or wherever you need to go rather than taking your car or public transport. This will help create a new habit while still acting as your form of transportation.

And if we don’t feed our bodies healthy food, we start to rot from the inside out.

• Reduce alcohol consumption

Alcohol consumption contributes to inflammation in your body and also impacts your health in a variety of ways. Excessive or chronic alcohol abuse can lead to liver damage among other health problems. If you enjoy a cocktail at the end of the day, start getting into the habit of only one drink early in the evening. Drinking too close to bedtime can have adverse effects on your sleep which leads to other health problems. For example, you can set a goal for only having one or two drinks on Friday night or on the weekends and replace your daily evening drink with a walk instead. Engaging in light physical activity will produce the same relaxing effect as alcohol but it is a much healthier alternative. If you have become dependent on alcohol and need assistance, you may want to consider rehab treatment in luxurious surroundings to help you detoxify your body while minimizing stress in a comfortable environment.

• Reduce salt intake

Reducing salt intake for adults can help to reduce blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease so it is a great dietary habit to adopt. If you are a person who craves salty foods, try healthier alternatives such as sauerkraut as a salad topping or a pickle rather than chips or crackers. 

• Cut out processed/sugary foods

Processed and sugary foods are often just empty calories and can cause all sorts of health issues, such as high levels of inflammation in your body, obesity, and depression. Create eating habits that focus on whole foods which nourish your body. You will start to notice a shift in how you feel, your energy levels, and all over improvement in your health. Healthy unprocessed food does taste delicious and you can experiment with food combinations and a variety of spices to find natural flavors that you enjoy.  

• Eat a healthy breakfast

Breakfast helps boost your energy and productivity for the rest of your day and starts your blood sugar at healthy levels. Especially if you are someone who needs a good substantial breakfast in the morning, make it a habit to consistently eat a healthy and nourishing meal. Have fun with healthy breakfast options like gourmet breakfast bowls with vegetables and eggs, chia seed pudding, healthy breakfast bars, or smoothies.

It is a well accepted fact that we are what eat, therefore, if you want a healthy body you need to feed it healthy things. Changing dietary habits can be difficult because our bodies become addicted to all of the unhealthy foods. You may consider incorporating dietary supplements that promote healthy digestion into your morning routine to assist your body as your transition to a healthier diet. To see if such supplements would be suitable for you, check out these Activated You reviews for more information about these types of products.

Happy Horses! The philosophy is this: A rested horse is a happy horse. And a happy horse is a fast horse. Here is the message: If you want to be the most effective and productive version of yourself, you must be properly rested. All too often, we get so caught up in the daily grind that we quite literally forget the importance of resting our bodies and our minds.

• Improve stress management

Proper stress management can make a huge difference in both your physical and mental health. Consider trying new stress management techniques such as CBD vape pens, meditation, breathing exercises, free writing, moments of gratitude, positive thinking, movement, art, or music. Experimenting with different activities to help you relax and reduce your stress levels will help you find the perfect combination that works for you. 

• Get a good night’s sleep

Quality sleep every night gives your body the proper time to rest and recover. Healthy sleeping habits and adequate hours of sleep are crucial for good health. Make it a habit to have a consistent and reasonable bed time, eliminate distractions that could disrupt your sleep, and get the rest you need.

Many factors such as daily stress, the food you eat, and the bedroom environment can affect the quality of your sleep. Learn about stress management and avoid consuming foods and beverages that may keep you up at night. Create a bedroom environment that is conducive to rest and sleep. If you have done everything and still cannot get quality sleep at night, you may want to consult your healthcare provider. Millions of people suffer from sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy.

People with sleep apnea experience episodes of breathing pauses (or apnea) several times during sleep. They usually need continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to keep their airways open during sleep. This treatment makes use of a CPAP machine and a nasal or full-face CPAP mask to provide a steady stream of pressurized air to prevent apnea episodes.

Doctors may also prescribe sleep medication for sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders. Apart from medicines and medical devices, a complete treatment may include behavioral therapy and lifestyle adjustments. 

While there are many ways to improve and take care of your health, these 10 tips are just a few basic good habits that you can adopt on your journey to living your best life. Also be sure to listen to your mind and body, for they will let you know when something is lacking or needs changes. Now is as a good a day as any to start making any necessary changes to improve your health.

Do you have any tips that are helpful for improving your mind, body, and overall health?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

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