When you’ve been engaging in the same lifestyle habits for several years, it can seem easy to switch to a more positive lifestyle. The truth is that it is not as easy as you think. Taking small steps to change your lifestyle habits is the only way to be successful, especially when you are changing your eating habits at the same time.
Some of the most damaging lifestyle habits are the ones that you don’t even realize you’re participating in. These habits may include the following:
• Excesive drinking
• Smoke
• Use recreational drugs
• Engaging in risky sexual behaviors
• Allow stress to enter your life
• Poor time management and balance between work, family and recreation.
Living a healthier lifestyle has been proven to promote a strong immune system, a longer life expectancy, a lower risk of life-threatening diseases, and an overall healthy body and mind. These are some of the most important ways to start turning your bad lifestyle habits into positive lifestyle changes.
Exercise
Physical activity is a staple for leading a healthier lifestyle. Many people do not want to exercise or do any type of physical activity. Not only does exercise increase the production of endorphins, which promotes happiness and satisfaction, but it also makes you feel better mentally and increases your level of confidence. If this is true, why have all the excuses in the book been used to stop exercising? Some of the biggest complaints or concerns about not exercising include:
1. There is no time
2. No power
3. Too much work to do
4. Too many family commitments
5. Too expensive to join a gym
6. Don’t feel comfortable exercising in front of people in better shape than them.
7. You are not comfortable using the equipment.
Well, these can all be valid reasons, but if you lack confidence or don’t have the money to pay for a membership, then no problem. There are many simple exercises that you do every day that can help you lose weight and fight fat. Exercising doesn’t have to be a full gym workout. Smaller activities can provide as much benefit as breaking your butt at the gym. Some examples include:
1. Take a walk at a slower pace
2. Walking your pet or a neighbor’s pet
3. Riding a bike instead of driving
4. Do household chores like gardening, cleaning the house, and mowing the lawn.
All of these are a great start to get your system up and running. Start out slow instead of hitting a gym with all your might. If you are significantly overweight or obese, it is best to start slowly and work your way up to the gym. To maximize your results, you should participate in a gym workout 2-3 times a week or do some form of physical exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.
Stay active
An active lifestyle generally results in a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity is extremely important to maintaining our fitness level, although it can be easily ignored. The good news is that exercising doesn’t necessarily mean hitting a gym or hiring a personal trainer. Instead of going to the gym, think of other ways to introduce more physical activity into your regular routine. Take the stairs instead of taking the escalator or elevator. Instead of driving to work, walk to work. Even something as simple as keeping up with daily tasks can give you enough exercise to help improve your overall health. It only takes 30 minutes a day to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Some simple tips for staying active include:
• Join sports teams
• Turn off the television and find more physical things that you like, like gardening.
• Take a walk during your lunch break.
• Get on with your daily tasks, like cleaning and scrubbing the house.
These small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference towards a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. One very important thing to remember is not to make all of these changes at once. Make a long-term plan with short-term goals that you know you can easily meet and work into your daily routine over time.
Take a break from the internet
Try to stay away from all kinds of technology that you can several times a week. Sitting down to surf the Internet keeps you from getting up and moving. Instead of chatting with people online, playing games, or engaging in social media, switch it up 2-3 times a week by going out and doing something fun with your family and / or friends. Go for a walk, play with your kids, have a cookout, take a spa day, or do whatever else you find enjoyable that doesn’t involve using modern technology. This will not only keep you active, but will also improve your social skills.
Change to a healthier lifestyle
The word “lifestyle” means lifestyle or routine. Living a healthier lifestyle is not limited to changing your diet, exercising, or adopting positive social skills. Your habits and hobbies should also be healthy. Some of the ways you can do this include:
• Avoid drinking excessively
• Stop taking recreational drugs
• Smoking a lot
• Get enough sleep
• Start thinking more positively
• Avoid stress and anything that causes you anxiety.
Dieting and exercising are not the only answer to a healthier lifestyle. Avoid smoking cigarettes and avoid using drugs and alcohol. Stress levels vary from person to person. These stressors can come from a variety of factors:
1. Family
2. Financial
3. Personnel
4. Problems with colleagues
5. Work-related stress
The most important step in fighting stress is identifying these stressors and then taking steps to eliminate them from your life. Once you have identified these stressors, you can begin to work on the underlying causes. One of the most beneficial ways to help you identify these stressors is to write in a stress journal. Things to keep in mind in your journal should include:
• What caused your stress
• How you felt emotionally and physically
• A detailed description of the environment you were in and who you were with
• Your personal reactions to the situation
• What did you do to feel better?
Once you have clearly identified your stress triggers, you should try to change your situation by altering or avoiding. Once you have done this, start working to change your reactions by accepting and adapting. Be sure to make time for fun and relaxation.
Sleep is one of the most crucial and important things you can change to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sleep is extremely important for many reasons.
1. Sleep regenerates, replenishes and energizes your body and mind.
2. Sleep increases your ability to think more clearly and react appropriately when stressful situations arise.
3. Sleep helps give you the energy and motivation to participate in the many aspects of your life that you enjoy.
