Most of us want to live a healthy life but have no idea how to. Even though our lives may be demanding and stressful, there are some habits you must develop to help you lead a healthier and more productive life.
Remember, there is no shortcut to health. You cannot follow a workout or diet plan for a week and expect yourself to feel or look differently. Instead, consistency and patience are the two most important factors needed to lead a balanced life.
4 Habits for a Healthy Life
Here are some healthy habits that you must include in your every day life:
1. Exercise Every Day
Working out every day is extremely important for a healthy life. The National Cancer Institute states that exercising every day helps manage weight, ensures healthy joints, bones, and muscles, and also reduces the likelihood of one developing diabetes, heart disease, and blood pressure.
HIIT is one of the best workouts for maintaining a healthy weight and challenging your body. HIIT requires you to perform high-intensity workouts for a minute and then rest or slow down for another two minutes. This helps keep your heart engaged while strengthening the muscles in your body and improving your stamina.
2. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Do not underestimate the importance of having breakfast- it helps keep you energetic and satiated so that you do not consume unhealthy snacks during the day. Try to eat protein and fiber for breakfast, such as fruit and yogurt, low-fat milk, bread with almond butter, or whole-grain cereal.
If you skip breakfast, you will end up feeling extremely hungry at lunchtime. This will cause you to eat double your appetite, and you may also end up eating unhealthy meals just because you feel irritated and hungry and do not have the energy to prepare a fulfilling meal for yourself.
3. Stay Hydrated
It is crucial that you drink the recommended amount of water each day to keep your organs, tissues, and cells functional. Over the years, we have been told to consume at least eight glasses of water a day. However, a better guide would be to drink water a couple of times an hour so that you are urinating every 2-4 hours.
Moreover, check your urine color- a light color indicates that your body is hydrated, while a dark yellow color shows that you need to increase your water intake. To help develop the habit of drinking water, use applications to track how much water you are consuming every hour. You can also get smart bottles that indicate the amount of water you need to consume each hour.
4. Sleep Well
When we go to bed, the brain gets rid of the clutter it has picked up during the day while helping our body reset. It restores important nerve functions so that when you wake up, your body is prepared to give you its best.
Lack of sleep causes forgetfulness, fatigue, and drowsiness. Consistently not sleeping well can damage your brain, as well as the muscles in your body. Hence, try sleeping for 7 to 9 hours each night. To help develop this habit, stop using your cell phone and television an hour before bedtime.
So, that was it! These four simple habits can change your life, ensuring you live a longer, healthier one!