Healthy Habit To Try This Year

 

A healthy habit is any activity or behaviour that has a positive impact on your physical, emotional or mental well-being. People often view healthy habits as being strictly physical but there are heaps of small behaviours you can introduce into your life that will benefit you in all areas.

Now more than ever, people need motivation. It can be hard to stay motivated and establish a healthy routine when we’re having to stay inside and socially distance.

Don’t worry though, I’ve got your back. These  healthy habits will help you feel better, more confident and more energetic in no time, despite the challenging circumstances. Remember: look

after yourself and if you need a break, take it!

1.    Get some fresh air every day

I mentioned this on Twitter but whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has stripped us of many of our liberties, one thing it’s pushed me to do more is get some fresh air.

Due to working from home and limiting contact as much as possible, I’ve felt hemmed in quite often these past 10 months. However, I’ve been going on lots of walks since the outbreak to get some fresh air and for a change of scenery and it’s been fantastic.

It’s incredible how beneficial getting fresh air can be for you. It helps clear your mind and if you go for a walk, you get some physical activity in too. If you’re feeling down or need a pick-me-up, I’d encourage to go outside for fresh air. You’ll come back feeling much calmer.

2. Drink at least 2 litres of water a day

You should be drinking 2 litres of water a day as a minimum. Drinking water has a heap of health benefits, from staying hydrated and reducing headaches to improving memory and preventing kidney stones, you’ve got to be hitting that 2-litre target.

If you struggle with your water intake, here’s one great method that I picked up when I was bad at drinking lots of water. I made sure I had at least 500ml of water with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then one more glass in the day. If I finished breakfast and hadn’t drunk the entire cup, I forced myself to down it. This can feel quite hard but it was to ensure I got into good water drinking habits.

Now, I always have at least 2 litres of water a day. I make sure I have a glass with every meal and throughout the day. There are also some cool apps that remind you to drink water throughout the day so you hit your 2-litre target, such as Daily Water Tracker Reminder, Hydro Coach and Water Drink Reminder.

3. Take a break from social media

Another healthy habit to introduce is taking a break from social media. Whether it’s for an evening, a few days or a few weeks, getting away from social media can do so much good for your mental health.

Whilst social media is great for keeping in touch with people and seeing what they’re getting up to, people usually only post the great aspects of their life. There’s also a hell of a lot of people that use Photoshop and face-tuning apps, which presents us with unrealistic beauty standards. This can make us feel very negative about ourselves.

So, if you’re getting caught up with social media or your mental health has taken a hit, take a break. Even if it’s just for a couple of days, it’ll really help. If you don’t want to take a total break, reducing your social media intake to half an hour a day, for instance, could also do a lot for your mental health.

4. Eat a healthy breakfast

Eating healthily throughout the entire day is obviously a smart move but having a healthy breakfast is particularly important. Fuelling your body the right way in the morning sets you up for greatness for the day ahead. Having a healthy breakfast will help you stay fuller for longer and more energised.

If I wake up feeling tired for work, when I have a balanced breakfast, it really helps me concentrate during the day. It also means your body gets all the nutrients it needs and can help reduce feelings of hunger throughout the day, meaning you reduce your calorie intake.

5. Remove toxic people from your life

Cutting out toxic people from your life is hugely important for your mental and emotional well-being. If people constantly make you feel bad or pull you down, you need to cut them out of your life. Some people don’t want to see you thrive or don’t have your best interests at heart, so it’s important to stay away from them.