Have you ever met people who are rarely sick and look happy all the time? Have you ever wondered how they do it? Although becoming healthy might be seeming something impossible for you to achieve, it doesn’t have to be hard. You can have this type of outlook on life too! A few small tweaks to your daily routine is all you need to become a healthy, happy person.
Everyone is different, but when it comes to healthy habits, people in good shape seem to adapt some similar practices. It’s all about daily habits. One piece of chocolate cake won't make you fat, just like eating one salad won't instantly make you buff - it's what we choose to do every day that adds up and gets us closer to a healthier life.
If you don't know where to start, keep reading for some tips from the healthiest ones.
- Exercise
By now you probably know that sitting all day can kill you. And that’s because humans were made to move, not stay still. The problem is, due to our modern lifestyle, we’re moving less and less.
Exercise and physical activity are not only good for you, they also boost your brainpower. Physical activity can be a fun way to spend time, a chance to unwind, to be outdoors, to get social or to simply do something that makes you happy.
This may sound crazy to some, but healthy people actually enjoy exercising. The secret is to find a physical activity you enjoy and doing it every day. If you hate going to the gym, don’t go. Find something you like doing instead. It’s important to find something you love, that way fitness will never feel like a chore, especially on those days where the last thing you want to do is get moving.
Why not yoga for instance? It can lower blood pressure, increase strength and flexibility, and improve posture. Yoga can even help with treating mild anxiety and depression.
Consider exercising with a committed friend or involve your family. Set a goal of at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. All movement counts, not just exercise. Whether it’s taking daily walks on a trail near your house, swimming laps in a pool, riding your bike or playing a few games of hoops each week.
Of course, if you want to lose weight you may need more exercise or at a higher intensity. You can increase time and intensity gradually.
- Eat healthy
A nutritious, well-balanced diet is the foundation of good health. You should consume high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals every day. Healthy people avoid processed foods, saturated fats, alcohol and smoking.
They also drink at least six glasses of water a day. It helps to better control their appetite and avoid chronic dehydration.
When it comes to snacking, healthy people choose to eat snacks like raw almonds, vegetables, fruits, and nuts rather than potato chips and processed snack foods.
Consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables is essential. While 3 to 5 portions a day is the ideal, 2 is an easy minimum to strive for if your diet is less than colourful.
Healthy people also add superfoods to their diet. Supplements of spirulina, turmeric and chlorella are becoming a staple on healthy people’s diet. Take a look at our blog to learn more about the amazing benefits of these super foods which can make your journey to a healthier you so much easy.
Eating right isn’t just about what you eat, it’s also about how much. Keeping portions under control is crucial to keeping weight at bay. Your body will let you know when it’s had enough to eat to nourish you. Healthy people are attuned to their body’s messages and stop eating once their hunger is satisfied.
They also fill their dishes with a variety of colours – greens, reds and yellows will help you craft a nutrient-rich meal that will help fuel your body better for your workouts, muscle recovery, and weight loss.
Eating in this manner helps you maintain your body’s everyday functions, promotes optimal body weight and can assist in disease prevention.
- Have enough sleep
Healthy people not only exercise every day and eat healthy but they make sure to get the sleep they need.
Sleep is vital for good health and well-being. It is an important factor in your own safety, and the safety of others, for example while driving or in the workplace.
Sleep is when most of the anabolic or growth hormones are produced and regeneration occurs. It is imperative to vital daily function. Not having enough or quality sleep makes a person more irritable and not able to concentrate. It also impacts your immune system, weight, and risk for diseases.
Those who suffer from lack of sleep and sleep disorders are less productive, spend more on health care, and have an increased likelihood of accidents compared to healthy people.
Some people function great on six hours a night, others on eight. Know your body and make sure to plan accordingly. Also try to stick to a regular bed and wake time.
- Surround with healthy people
You should think about the people you’re spending time with the same way you think about what you eat, sleep and how you’re exercising.
Are they people that inspire you to be healthier and a better person? Do they provide you with motivation to achieve your goals? Do they empower you to make the changes you need to succeed?
We are constantly surrounded by people - be it co-workers, friends, or family members. However, we rarely stop and ask ourselves what kind of effect the people we are surrounded by have on us, our wellbeing and even health.
Healthy people tend to participate in healthy behaviours with people who share their sentiments.
Having good friends has several benefits for your health. A strong social support network can be critical in helping you through the stress of rough times. They can also be healthy “enablers” in your life. Family and friends can encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits.
It is important to evaluate all your relationships, who do you spend a lot of time with, and how each one of these relationships is affecting you. Then, invest your time in those people who matter most to you and can help you participate in a healthy lifestyle.
- Stay positive and optimistic
We all go through stressful, difficult, and unfulfilling times in life sometimes. However, part of being healthy is maintaining a balanced psyche and understanding that your attitude directly affects your mind.
Healthy people are more optimistic than unhealthy people. They don’t waste time and energy complaining about life. If they think they need to make any changes to their lifestyle, they just do it.
Numerous studies have shown that optimistic thinking leads to a positive attitude and that people with positive mental attitudes live longer happier healthier lives.
Pessimism can be really bad for your health. There are higher rates of depression in people who pessimistically attribute their failures to personal deficits. Optimists, however, see failure as a learning experience and believe they can do better in the future.
At the end of the day, these basic 5 principles, when adhered to it will produce drastic improvements and changes in your health for the better. Remember that when it comes to your health it is all about evaluating your day-to-day habits, and improving them one at a time. These habits will compound and ultimately sculpt a stronger and healthier you.
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