Living in a modern, fast-paced world requires you to be always ready to take on new challenges, whether it be from your children or spouse or from your boss. With the increasing demands of daily life, it is quite easy for people to lose control over their health. However, it is never too late to introduce small changes in your lifestyle and form simple habits to live a healthier and more active way of life.
When talking about implementing healthy habits, you probably think about starting an extensive exercise routine or a strict diet, but, in fact, you can start with something much smaller. Maybe refining your breakfasts will do the trick? You can also try maintaining better sleep hygiene, drinking more water, or meditating to alleviate stress. The list of small changes that you could benefit from goes on and on, so it is up to you to try and decide what works best for you.
Below, we prepared a list of the top five small changes that you can introduce to your routine for a healthier lifestyle, according to science. Check them out and start changing your life for the better!
Eat More Plant-Based Foods and Supplements
The first small change that you can work on to live healthier is to eat more plant-based foods. According to BMJ Open, Americans usually consume over half of their calories from processed foods. It is high time to change this, as eating plenty of plant-based foods can help you to live a longer, healthier, and more active life.
Plant-based foods are full of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, which are essential for a healthy lifestyle. They are also low in calories, so they make you feel full longer, without forcing you to consume too much food. Of course, eating more plant-based foods does not mean that you should have to remove meat from your diet completely. Instead, try to eat higher-quality meats, such as grass-fed beef and meat from pasture-raised animals.
Lastly, you might want to start using dietary supplements, such as cannabidiol oils and tinctures. CBD oils and tinctures have plenty of health benefits. They can provide you with stress relief, promote healthy sleep, and alleviate chronic pain, among other things.
Get Enough Sleep
Not getting enough sleep can lead to numerous health problems, such as weight gain and poor immunity. Getting an extra hour of sleep at night can make a huge difference to your overall health. In fact, researchers from the Sleep Research Society have found that the optimal number of hours of sleep for adults is seven to eight hours every night.
On the other hand, people who get less than six hours of sleep every night are more prone to gain weight and develop health problems. This is why it is crucial for your well-being to get a good night’s sleep, as it can help you to manage your weight and stay healthy for many years to come.
Drink More Water
While this may seem like an obvious change, it is worth emphasizing that drinking more water is a crucial step towards optimal health. In fact, drinking water has a positive effect on every cell in your body. When you drink enough water, it helps you to detoxify, digest food, and flush out toxins.
Drinking eight glasses of water a day is now a staple piece of advice when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. However, this does not necessarily mean you should follow that rule strictly. Science says that it is okay to drink less – or more– water, depending on how thirsty you are. Nevertheless, the old rule is still a great way to get you started!
Meditate to Alleviate Stress
Working nine-to-five, taking care of your children, or studying for your MBA can all be stressful and demanding. In order to keep your sanity and live a healthy lifestyle, you should try meditation. It can have a positive effect on your mental and physical health and even help you to feel happier.
Embark On a Fitness Journey
Getting in shape is one of the hardest challenges that people have to face when it comes to implementing healthy habits. Even if you do not have enough time to exercise every day, you can still incorporate fitness into your lifestyle. There are numerous simple ways to get in shape, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or choosing to walk instead of driving.
Remember that you do not have to start going to the gym, either. Instead, you can try to exercise regularly at home. For example, try to spend thirty minutes every day on your treadmill or do some squats and lunges whenever you have the time.
In Conclusion
Before you decide to introduce one of the habits listed above into your lifestyle, take a moment to think about whether you can really stick to them. If you want to eat more plant-based foods, you should start eating them on a regular basis and not just once in a while, as well as prepare them in a manner that you will find to be appealing. It is also recommended that you start exercising regularly. It might be difficult at first, but it should become easier with time. If you stay consistent and motivated, your lifestyle should change for the better soon enough!