It can be hard to always think about making healthy choices. As busy as we are with work, school, family, and friends, things like drinking enough water and keeping to a sleeping schedule can seem like a lot to remember. That’s where habits come in! All of us have lots of habits, things we do without thinking, that we don’t even realize we have. If you have a specific routine that you follow when you wake up or before you go to bed, you have habits.
While forming habits takes some commitment and dedication, they are a great way to make healthy choices every day. It can seem daunting at first, but when a healthy choice activity becomes a habit it becomes easier and easier to make that choice or do that activity every day because you don’t have to think about it each time.
Here are five healthy habits we should all try to get into, and some tips for achieving them:
1. Drinking enough water. Water intake is so important, but most people don’t get all the water they need each day. Keeping track of each glass of water you drink (whether on paper or with an app) is an easy way to realize how much – or how little – water you are drinking and also tracking your progress if you’re trying to improve.
2. Getting enough sleep. Getting enough sleep is hard, but sticking to a schedule and trying to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day makes it easier to fall asleep and avoid waking up tired. Remember to turn off electronics and try some destressing activities before bed to make getting enough sleep even easier.
3. Do some stretches. Stretching not only increases your flexibility but also leads to better posture and fewer aches and pains – all great reason to spend some time each day doing some stretches. This is especially important if you are exercising each day, since stretching while your muscles are warmed up from working out increases the benefits!
4. Read something. Reading is a great way to de-stress at the end of a long day, whether it’s a magazine article or the latest bestseller. It’s also a great workout for your brain – reading regularly has been shown to increase both memory function and vocabulary.
5. Take care of your skin. Yes, this means wearing sunscreen (especially on your face) every day, not just when you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside. Even a low SPF sunscreen will go a long way toward protecting your skin and avoiding the risks of skin cancer down the road.
Making healthy choices doesn’t have to be hard! These are just a few easy things you can do each day to live a healthier lifestyle.