So you may have started another diet that crashed, or begun a workout regime that fizzled out quicker than a fire in a hailstorm. With frequent false starts or failed dieting attempts, it is easy to become complacent about living a healthier lifestyle. The road to a healthy lifestyle that promotes overall physical and mental wellbeing needn’t be a rocky one. There are small and effective steps you can take each day that will improve your overall health immensely.
Pay attention to hunger and thirst
Often, reaching for a fizzy drink is like second nature. We find ourselves sipping on a cold drink even when we’re not thirsty. It is easy to mistake thirst for hunger, and it is even easier to eat just for the sake of it. Boost your body’s hydration by choosing water every time you think you are hungry.
Although it can be hard to adjust to drinking more water when you prefer something with a bit more flavor, the rewards that adequate water intake will have on your body are innumerable. Drinking enough water will help flush out any toxins, and will help stave off any nasty bugs and illnesses whilst keeping your skin elastic and hydrated to give you that glow from within.
Always hungry? A big mistake many people make is to turn to food when they are feeling peckish, even if they only ate a short while ago. The fact is that most of the time those hunger pangs you feel aren’t even hunger pangs at all, but rather, thirst. If you drink enough water each day, you will find that you are not hungry as often.
Make healthier eating choices
You don’t have to go on a full-scale diet to live a healthy lifestyle – sometimes the smallest efforts make the biggest difference. When you feel like your stomach is calling out for that mid-afternoon snack, reach for some unsalted nuts or fruit instead. Start reducing the amount of sugar in your coffee and tea by one spoon per week. Cutting excess sugar out of your diet will make a huge difference in your overall health and wellbeing. When eating pasta or bread, opt for the whole wheat version as they are much healthier than unrefined carbohydrates.
Start with small exercises
We’ve all heard it before – take the stairs instead of the elevator, take a walk to your post box every morning even if you don’t need to. There’s a reason you keep hearing it! Making a concerted effort to be more active will help you stave off the illnesses and general lack of wellbeing that comes with a sedentary lifestyle.
If you have a dog, it’s time to take it for a walk out more regularly. Ask a friend or family member to take a walk with you every day or play a sport with friends on the weekend instead of hosting a movie marathon.
All these things are small steps towards a healthier you. Taking one small step at a time is a great help towards living an overall healthier lifestyle. Although some of these changes might seem small, when added up they are hugely beneficial to a longer, healthier, and happier life.
