Is being in good physical shape one of your resolutions for this New Year? These 10 life-changing habits will help you reach that goal.
Undoubtedly one of your main New Year’s resolutions is to achieve the best possible physical shape and improve your health if you are somehow like me.
Without health, we couldn’t achieve any of our other life goals. Therefore, I would say that being fit and healthier is my number one goal this year and all the rest of my life. I haven’t gotten there yet, but I’m not giving up.
To start this new year on the right foot, I have researched and compiled the ten most determining habits for reaching our fitness goals.
It doesn’t matter what the fad diets and healthy life gurus say. There are no magic pills or miracle diets to help you take a shorter path.
Incorporate these ten life-changing habits into your life, and I do not doubt that you will soon start to see the results you want.
1.- Hydration all-day
Yes, I can hear you. I know you have heard this a million times to the point of looking cliché and losing meaning.
However, this constant repetition has a reason. And that is because it is not possible to be too emphatic in the importance of hydration.
But why is it so important to drink enough water?
The simple answer is: every cell in your body needs water to function correctly.
Water is vital to eliminate toxins from the body, transport nutrients to the cells, lubricate the joints, and other endless functions in your body.
Without adequate hydration, it is easier for you to suffer from migraines, fatigue, constipation, joint problems, etc.
Drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning should be a habit you try to acquire.
Also, it is convenient that you take your personalized water container with you throughout the day.
It seems that this is the most effective way so that your activities during the day do not make you forget to stay hydrated.
If you are one of the people who consume a lot of coffee, you must drink more water. This particular detail was something I did not understand.
Coffee has a dehydrating effect; therefore, you should take at least one large glass of water for every cup of coffee you drink.
Because of its crucial importance in the proper functioning of all bodily functions, drinking enough water is one of the 10 Life-Changing Healthy Habits.
2.- Green Smoothies
Are you one of those people who have trouble eating leafy greens and vegetables?
The good news is that you can consume them in smoothies, and I assure you that you will love them.
Leafy greens have plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fibers that boost your health.
Drinking a green smoothie in the morning is one of the 10 Life-Changing Healthy Habits that you should start ASAP.
When you incorporate more leafy greens into your daily intake without realizing it, you significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks, obesity, fatty liver, inflammation, and high blood pressure.
Try starting with a simple smoothie with only five ingredients. You can use:
- Spinach
- Frozen banana
- Frozen berries
- Protein powder of your choice
- Almond milk or water
And you are ready to go!. There you have your first healthy and delicious green smoothie.
As you strengthen the habit of drinking green smoothies, try to incorporate other vegetables such as celery and beets.
Combine the leafy greens and vegetables with fruits such as mango and pineapple (frozen gives your smoothies a better texture).
3.- Meditation
In the lowest moments of my life, I have found a true refuge in meditation.
I cannot explain the peace and tranquility I feel in those 20 minutes a day that I dedicate to my meditation practice.
Are you skeptical about meditation?
I suggest you give it a try and don’t give up, because eventually, you will see the positive results it has in your life.
Some scientific studies have established a relationship between meditation and its beneficial effects on people suffering from stress, depression, anxiety, and even physical diseases such as fibromyalgia.
If you have no idea how to start meditating, you can search for some guided meditation videos.
You can find good meditation videos for beginners on Youtube or use applications like Calm and follow their instructions.
4.- Meal prep
We arrive at the inevitable part of the food.
And of course, we cannot deny that our health is directly affected by everything we consume.
To optimize your consumption of healthy foods and make sure you don’t blindly trust in willpower, Meal Prep is one of the most competent activities.
Meal Prep is one of those healthy habits that change your life completely.
I will not detail how to do it here because otherwise, this post would become endless.
However, there is a lot of material on the Internet today where you can find how to prepare your meals in advance.
You can learn how to conserve food, how long they can last, the best and worst meals to refrigerate and freeze, and other essential aspects.
If you organize yourself, you achieve your goals much more quickly, like everything in life.
And Meal Prep is an organizational technique that allows you to achieve your nutrition goals effectively.
5.- Consume low-calorie dinners
One of the 10 Life-Changing Healthy Habits that have helped me most with my gut issues is eating low-calorie dinners.
If you are a person of poor digestion like me, your stomach will thank you for low-calorie dinners, which mainly contain a small portion of protein, cooked vegetables, and salads with healthy dressings.
If you have no digestion problems and are at a healthy weight, you can consume complex carbohydrates such as quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, or beans.
The key is to take care of the quantity and quality of food you consume before bed.
Remember that night is when you are preparing to rest and do not need too much fuel.
6.- Conscious Eating
I know that this concept is not new, but in the same way, I want to share with you the Life-Changing Healthy Habit I recently learned called Conscious Eating.
Some time ago, I realized that I had a harmful pattern of behavior when it came to food.
In addition to not making meal prep, I had a bad habit of turning on the TV when I cooked and used not to be completely aware of what I was doing.
After cooking, I watched TV or my cell phone while eating. Big mistake!
Outcome? I didn’t take care of the quality of my meals or the portions I consumed.
In a nutshell: I don’t cook or sit down to eat anymore with any electronic device turned on.
Nowadays, I am much more careful, and I focus on the sacred process of preparing and eating my food.
When I eat, I thank God for having the food on my plate, and I ask for wisdom to eat only healthy foods in the right amount.
7.- Quantity and quality of rest
Try to have the best quality of rest you can, and your health will thank you forever.
We already know that adequate rest helps you prevent diseases such as cancer and heart attack, reduces stress, and allows the body to repair itself, among many other benefits.
You could not miss adequate rest in this list of 10 Life-Changing Healthy Habits for all these reasons.
Best practices to achieve the best possible sleep:
- Disconnect from your electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime
- Avoid caffeine at least 6 hours before bedtime
- Try to have a quiet, dark bedroom with the right temperature
- Stick to a regular sleep schedule every night
8.- Walking or doing some type of exercise
Yes, I know. Physical activity is a thorny issue for many but is not negotiable.
As much as some of us would like to skip sweat and discomfort, moving our body at least half an hour a day is one of the biggest favors we can do to our health.
It is a fact that physical exercise is essential to have a better life quality and extend your lifetime.
Some of the most important benefits of exercise for health are:
- Strengthen your muscles and bones
- Increase the energy level
- Reduces the risk of chronic diseases
- It can help in brain health and memory
- Effective to lose weight
- It can help to have better sleep quality
Are you not the type that loves gyms? Me neither!
Still, you can always take a little walk in the park, walk around your neighborhood, or buy an elliptical machine with which you can exercise at home.
Nature walks are even more beneficial activities not only for physical but also for mental health.
Walking on the beach or mountains is priceless and proves that the best things in life are free.
9.- Self-care at home:
Practicing self-care at home is one of the Life-Changing Healthy Habits you should adopt.
There are many small non-expensive activities you can do at home to pamper and take care of yourself.
For example, you can spend time on weekends, putting on face masks, preparing healthy snacks, learning how to cut your hair yourself, or doing stretching exercises.
You do not need to spend money on expensive Spas. Self-care is something you can do effectively at home with small acts of love for yourself.
When you learn to give love to yourself, you increase your self-worth and emotional health.
10.- Take breaks to connect with your spiritual side
Pause regularly to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and find a balance with your spiritual life.
Human beings have spiritual needs that they also need to meet.
Whether you believe in God or not, keeping in tune with your spiritual side is one of the 10 Life-Changing Healthy Habits that will help you maintain a healthy balance in your life.
How do you connect with your spirituality?
It is simpler than you think. Establish a unique spiritual practice that makes sense to you, whether it has to do with prayers, meditations, or crystals.
I am not talking about religions but about discovering your spiritual path.
It is crucial to establish your belief system. To achieve that, you can be inspired by watching religious documentaries or reading a book that introduces you to the subject.
The little moments you dedicate to connecting with your spiritual side are invaluable to balancing your life and better health.
Bonus: Take probiotics for better intestinal health, cleanse your body of toxins, and boost your immune system. Your skin will look more radiant, and you will feel more energetic.
Summarizing
The health you enjoy right now has a lot to do with your little daily habits; therefore, you must become aware of them in the first place.
You don’t need to adopt all of these 10 Life-Changing Healthy Habits if some of them don’t resonate with you. However, it would be good to find what works best for you.
Always remember that a fulfilling existence results from knowing how to balance your physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Some of us have had a hard time realizing it, but fortunately, every day is a blank page to start adopting the best habits for our lives. It is complicated to achieve but not impossible.
Did you like this post? What is the most difficult challenge you have had to face in terms of your health?.