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Here are 9 healthy lifestyle changes you can make to your routine to really improve your wellness.
Whenever we think of getting fit or working on our health, we think of making big commitments and changes to our lifestyle.
Changes that are often so daunting (like going to the gym 5 times a week) that we don’t even get started.
And if by some miracle we do get started, said changes don’t last a long time.
The reason?
People jump straight to drastic measures to see changes in their health, which is like sending a kid straight to grade 5.
Making significant improvements to your health doesn’t always require a complete lifestyle overhaul.
It’s the small changes that can lead to the most profound effects, mainly because they are easier to be consistent with even when you’re not in the zone to work on your health.
Whenever I am in a physical rut or just looking to relaunch my health routine, I start by making small changes to my lifestyle and then just stick with them until I’m ready for bigger changes.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with many such habits, and 9 of them are the absolute winners when it comes to improving your health.
These are small changes that anyone can make to their routine life to see significant results in their health and wellness.
If you’re looking to boost your health long-term with the help of simple lifestyle changes, then read on.
9 Healthy Changes To Make To Your Lifestyle
1. Start Your Day with Lemon Water
We all know the importance of staying hydrated, but adding a slice of lemon to your morning glass of water can take your hydration game to the next level.
Lemon water is an old-school yet powerful drink to kickstart your metabolism, flush out toxins, and boost your immune system.
It’s also a refreshing and flavorful alternative to plain water that can make you more likely to reach for that glass first thing in the morning.
Just squeeze half a lemon into a glass of warm or room-temperature water, and sip it slowly as you wake up.
Related post: 10 Essential Things To Do Before 8 AM To Master Your Mornings
2. Incorporate More Movement into Your Day
You don’t need to spend hours at the gym to improve your physical health.
Small bursts of movement throughout your day can be just as effective, if not more so.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk during phone calls, and do a 5-minute stretch every hour to stay active.
Do your house chores with enthusiasm, walk to work and the grocery store when you have the time for it, and avoid sitting in a place for too long.
I’d also recommend starting your day with a quick 10 or 20-minute workout (plenty of those on YouTube) and going for walks in the evening.
Daily movements like these will add up by improving your circulation, keeping stress at bay, and keeping your muscles engaged.
Over time, you’ll notice a good difference in your energy levels and overall fitness!
3. Practice Mindful Eating
In today’s world, it’s very easy to eat on the go or while distracted by screens.
But none of that is the right way to eat. Not for your health, not for your mental health, or definitely not for your relationship with food.
Food is the primary reason we work so hard in our lives. It’s not respectful to consume it in a hurry or with a distracted mind.
If you can get yourself to slow down and truly savor your food, then half your gut and health issues will disappear.
And that’s what mindful eating is all about.
It involves paying attention to what you’re eating, savoring each bite, and listening to your body’s hunger and fullness cues.
By doing this, you’re more likely to make healthier food choices, enjoy your meals more, and prevent overeating.
Also add a more satisfying and positive relationship with food to the list, which is the top benefit of mindful eating.
Important: 9 Bad Eating Habits You Need To Change Right Now
4. Add More Greens To Every Meal
Greens are nutritional powerhouses packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
But people see them as this all-or-nothing commodity, which just doesn’t make sense.
Who says you have to eat green food only when you’re on a ‘clean’ diet?
Instead of consuming only green or healthy stuff, just add a handful of leafy greens to each meal. You’ll boost your nutrient intake without much effort.
Toss some spinach into your morning smoothie, make an omelet with green veggies, and top your avocado toast with a handful of arugula, baby spinach, or microgreens.
You can eat green wraps, add a side salad to your meals, and mix kale or spinach into your dinner stir-fry and pasta sauces.
Have kale chips as snacks sometimes, eat green hummus, and opt for green toppings on your pizza
If you prefer to drink your greens, make a green juice with ingredients like kale, cucumber, celery, and green apples.
It’s a quick and easy way to pack in a lot of greens, especially between meals.
Such small additions will get you closer to your daily vegetable intake.
Results? Better gut health, clear skin, and happier mood.
5. Take A Daily Probiotic
Your gut health plays a crucial role in your overall well-being, affecting everything from digestion to immunity to mental health.
It’s super duper important to take care of your gut health if you want to aim for a happy lifestyle.
But how do you do that without quitting every freaking good-tasting thing on this earth?
By drinking a daily probiotic!
Probiotics are live microorganisms that help maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut.
They are called “good bacteria” and can improve digestion, reduce bloating, and enhance your immune response.
Look for a high-quality probiotic supplement, or add probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut to your diet.
Take your probiotics only after your meals as they require food to act on to work properly.
I take one bottle of Yakult Probiotics after breakfast and one after dinner. Love love love the taste and how good my tummy feels afterwards.
Must read: 8 Healthy Food Habits For A Beautiful Lifestyle
6. Prioritize Your Sleep
Sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice when life gets busy, but it’s an important aspect of good health (and beauty, too).
Instead of getting by on minimum sleep, make it a priority to get 7-8 hours of quality rest each night.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine to unwind properly.
Take a warm shower, sip some herbal tea that helps you relax, and read a cozy book in bed or tune into some soft music.
Keep your bedroom cool and dark, and try to go to bed at the same time every night.
Your worries, work commitments, and other troubles can wait.
But regular sleep is something that would give you the energy and recharge that you need to breeze through your routine life.
So, prioritize it, and do it right without fail, every single night.
7. Switch To Whole Grains
Switching to whole grains is the best change you could make in your diet.
Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat bread are packed with fiber.
They are good for digestion (which means good gut health), keep you feeling full longer, and can even lower your risk of heart disease.
Swap out white rice for brown rice and choose whole-wheat pasta instead of regular pasta. Instead of white bread, opt for multigrain bread.
Any type of grain food that you consume can be found in whole grain format too.
The difference is simply health-altering. No other way to put it.
A post I recommend: 8 Ways To Practice Body Positivity And Regain Your Confidence
8. Do Deep Breathing Exercises
Stress is a common part of modern life, but how you manage it can make a big difference in your overall health.
I say health, and not just mental health because stress actually affects the whole of your body.
For example, did you know that stress is very commonly linked to problems like bloating and acne?
As a person who struggles with acne problems, I can verify that I do indeed get breakouts when I am super stressed about something.
Deep breathing exercises are a simple yet effective way to calm your mind and reduce stress.
No matter how busy or troubled you are, take a few minutes each day to focus on your breaths.
You can do this to the sound of a 5-minute guided meditation too. Gradually increase the time as it becomes a regular part of your routine.
You don’t want to skip this one, trust me.
9. Plan Your Meals
The. last tip I’ll give you in this post that you can implement right away is to start planning your meals.
Meal planning can save time, reduce stress, and help you make healthier food choices.
You don’t have to be strict with your meal planning, as I think that can be more stressful than helpful.
If weekly meal planning works for you, then you can go ahead and start doing it at the beginning of every new week.
But if you want to keep things light, then just start with daily meal planning.
Plan your breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next day the evening before.
Put the ingredients together in advance and then just follow your meal plan while preparing your food.
Related: How To Plan Your Day: 8 Tips For Effective Daily Planning
These Lifestyle Changes Are Worth Trying
Making these small changes might not seem like much at first, but over time, you will see results.
Please note that these lifestyle changes are not about perfection. They are about progress more than anything else.
Rather than being the best at the health game, these changes will push you to just be better.
Start with one or two changes, and gradually incorporate more into your routine.
Hope you have fun trying out these ideas!
Read next: How To Glow Up In A Day – 8 Unbeatable Hacks
You just discovered 9 healthy lifestyle changes. Got any that you’d like to share? Drop your response in the comment box, or just say hi. I love chatting with my readers!
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