We all have something that we’d like to change about ourselves or about our life. For some people, it’s finding a better job. For some people, it’s losing weight. For others, it’s figuring out how to eliminate stress.
Making big changes can be difficult. Fortunately, there are some small, simple things you can do that can completely change your life for the better.
Ready to learn how? Here are seven simple yet life-changing habits that you can start doing today.
Set a Routine for Yourself
One way to improve your overall health and wellbeing is to create a daily routine — specifically, a morning routine.
Go to bed at the same time each night so you can wake up at the same time each morning. Eat a healthy breakfast, relax with your morning cup of tea or coffee, and read the news headlines so you know what happened in the world while you slept.
If you like to work out or meditate, both are great ways to kick off your day. Try waking up a bit earlier so you have time to work them into your morning routine.
If you can kick off your morning with good, healthy habits, you’ll start your day on the right foot, each and every day.
Unplug
For most people, completely unplugging from social media, the internet, and TV media is not realistic. But it is helpful to limit how much time you spend looking at screens.
Make a point to shut your devices off at least once a day. Unplugging from the world, even if for only an hour or two, can reduce anxiety and stress. It can also free up time to do things that improve your mind and body (like exercise and meditation).
(And no, those unplugged hours cannot coincide with the hours you sleep!)
Drink More Water, Eat More Veggies
Everyone knows that the body needs water to function. Without water, your organs won’t function properly and your body and brain will never be able to perform at their optimal levels.
The easiest and healthiest habit you can adopt right now is to drink more water.
It’s also important to eat a healthy, balanced diet — and that means eating lots of fruits and vegetables. But we’re not talking about an extra serving of mashed potatoes or eating a bigger salad smothered in dressing. RAW fruits and vegetables are what the body really needs.
Eating raw fruits and veggies will give you more energy, reduce your risk of heart disease, and improve digestion. They’re also an excellent source of nutrients, which we all need.
Move Your Body at Least Once an Hour
Have you heard the phrase “Sitting is the new smoking?”
While that may seem like a bit of stretch, it is true that sitting for long periods of time is bad for your health. It can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, weight gain, back pain, and other dangerous health conditions.
But sitting doesn’t just affect your physical health. Long periods without movement can have a negative effect on your mental health, as well.
To keep your blood flowing (and prevent blood clots in your legs), get up and move at least once each hour. Stretch your body. Walk down the hallway in your office. Walk up a flight of stairs in your home.
It goes without saying that it’s important to incorporate some exercise into your daily routine as well. Something as simple as a ten-minute walk can have huge health benefits to both your body and mind.
Even small amounts of movement can make a big difference!
Forget About Multitasking
Are you so busy at work or at home that you pride yourself on being a great multi-tasker? It’s time to put that idea aside.
Sure, there may be times when you need to juggle between two important tasks. But you’ll be more productive and efficient if you focus on one task at a time.
Instead of multitasking, make a list of everything you need to accomplish in a day. Tackle that list one item at a time.
If a particular item causes you trouble for any reason, just skip it and move onto the next one. You can always come back to it when everything else is done.
Contact a Friend or Family Member Every Single Day
Having strong personal relationships is key to maintaining good mental health.
Find a few minutes each day to call or text a friend or loved one. The more healthy, positive relationships you can cultivate, the better you’ll feel.
Learn to Think Positively
Sometimes, just the act of thinking positively can put you in a better mood. Thinking positive thoughts creates a healthier mindset, which can help you to become more confident and more productive.
There will always be coworkers, projects, or societal issues that you’ll have a negative view of. That’s normal. We’re not suggesting you walk through life as if everything is perfect and the world is one big fairytale — it’s not.
But thinking positively, especially about yourself, can have a huge effect on how you make your way through the world.
Stop with the negative self-talk. Stop telling yourself that you’re not smart enough to get that job, not skinny enough to wear those jeans, or not attractive enough to get that second date.
You can do all of those things!
Sometimes just thinking you can do something can make it happen.
In Summary
Start each day with a healthy morning routine. Eat more water, drink more veggies, exercise, and move more.
Unplug from your devices as much as you can. Forget about multitasking and start practicing self-care and positive self-talk.
And when it comes to your relationships, reach out to a friend or loved one at least once each day, if only for a few minutes. After all, as you start to see big improvements in your life from making these small changes, you’ll want someone to share the good news with!
Author Bio:
Caitlin Sinclair is the Property Manager at The Charlie, a luxury apartment community in Santa Ana, CA.
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