This article will walk you through 5 simple habits that can have a great impact on your health and wellness without requiring a huge time commitment or changes to your lifestyle. None of these steps are extreme, and they can be incorporated into your current lifestyle easily, even if you already exercise regularly or eat healthily. If you want to make healthier choices but don’t know where to start, this guide on 5 simple habits for a healthy lifestyle will help you get off on the right foot!
1) Write down your goals
It may seem silly to write down your goals, but studies show that those who put their goals in writing are significantly more likely to reach them. Before you begin working toward a goal, take time to clearly define it and write it down; when you do so, you’re more committed. In fact, one study found that people who had written goals were 50% more likely to achieve them than those who didn’t have written goals. Also include things like deadlines and details about what you need from others in order to reach your goal. Having a tangible plan makes it much easier to actually follow through on your ideas. And once you've reached your goal, don't forget to celebrate! A little reward will help keep you motivated going forward. The next time you set a new goal, consider creating an actual document that outlines all of these things. When we say write it down, we mean just that: physically write out your goals—on paper—and keep them somewhere safe where they can serve as constant reminders of what's important to you.
2) Exercise
You’re probably aware that regular exercise is one of the healthiest habits you can have. By getting your heart rate up on a regular basis, you’ll lower your risk of many cardiovascular diseases (including high blood pressure and stroke), cancer, arthritis, and diabetes. And it won’t just improve your overall fitness—it will also help you feel happier and more relaxed by relieving stress, boosting self-esteem, and improving mood. In addition to keeping you healthy in body and mind, research shows that regular exercise may also extend your life by an average of 3.4 years! No wonder people say walking is man’s best medicine—along with proper diet and sleep, it has been shown to keep us feeling good at any age. So get moving—the extra time you spend doing so will be well worth it. It’s not hard to do, either: according to some estimates, 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (or about 30 minutes per day) should be enough to get results if you’re starting from scratch. That could mean going for a long walk every day or running around your neighborhood every other evening after work. Or try dancing as part of your routine: some experts believe dance workouts are especially effective because they encourage participants to use their whole bodies and engage in fun social activities while still reaping all the benefits of physical activity.
3) Log Everything
One of your habits should be to keep a food log. That way, you can start to understand why you’re consuming what you are. As an added bonus, logging food is a great way to track calorie and macronutrient intake because it forces you to keep up with what you eat on a daily basis. Tracking will also help identify certain trigger foods that may be causing cravings and overeating—because sometimes we forget about everything else if there’s pizza around (don’t look at me like that). Keeping notes helps us gain perspective, but doesn’t make it easy to ignore simple truths about our diet when they come up
4) Get Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep can greatly diminish your productivity and your overall health. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get at least seven hours of sleep per night. When you’re getting enough rest, it makes everything else in life easier. You’ll think more clearly, remember things better, be less prone to injuries, and have an easier time managing stress or dealing with other challenges that come up. Getting enough sleep is also important because lack of sleep has been linked to many chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Getting adequate shut-eye should be part of any healthy lifestyle plan.
5) Wake Up Early
A recent study in The Journal of Neuroscience suggests that waking up early can reduce your risk of depression, protect your memory and sharpen your reasoning skills. If you’re one of those people who would rather stay in bed than listen to bright-eyed and bushy-tailed—you’ll be surprised by how much more productive you feel once you start getting an early start on things. When it comes to health, it seems as though everything is better with sunlight. In fact, studies have shown that spending just 20 minutes outside each day can increase energy levels and improve moods. So before you hit snooze one more time—consider pulling yourself out of bed 15 minutes earlier, so you can spend some time outdoors soaking up vitamin D (yes, it’s true!) while taking in some extra oxygen and enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer.
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