Small Steps For a Healthier Lifestyle
By Randi Morse
The idea of changing your entire routine to become healthier is extremely overwhelming. Who has time to make a home-cooked dinner every night, or to get an hour of exercise once a day? And the idea of getting rid of all of your favorite foods at the same time is terrifying. The good news is that you don't have to make huge changes to make a huge impact on your health. Making a few small changes at a time can go a long way toward a healthier you. Here are some great small changes that you can make.
Stop skipping meals - Skipping meals is not good for your body and promotes overeating. Make sure you have three regular meals a day, preferably around the same time.
Change breakfast - By eating a healthy breakfast you're putting yourself in a great position to be healthier all day long.
Use the stairs - By avoiding the elevator and using the stairs you're getting in some great cardio!
Park farther away - Again, the idea of parking farther away from your destination is that you're making yourself move just a little bit more than you usually do, which is great for your circulatory system and your muscles.
Small swaps - Making little, healthy swaps is a great way to change your lifestyle. Switch to olive oil from butter, try having baked foods instead of fried foods, and you can even swap out fruit for candy.
Get outside - Getting fresh air a few times a day helps to promote productivity and gives you a refreshed feeling.
Get extra sleep - If you find that you're feeling tired, try heading to bed 10 minutes earlier each day for a week and see if that helps you feel more rested during the day.
Decompress - Decompressing allows your body to get rid of the stress that could be causing mental or physical health issues. Allow yourself 10 minutes a day to meditate, pray, or just breathe slowly and deeply.
Watch your snacks - Snacking out of boredom is a bad habit to get into. Make sure that you're truly hungry before you snack and try to keep healthy snacking options around your house.
Drink water - I know, I know, you hear "drink more water" all the time, but that's because it truly is important. Your body needs water for many different reasons. Drink more water!
Try making two of these changes this week and see how you feel. Then make two more changes a week or two later. Over time you'll find yourself living a healthier lifestyle without having to deal with the intimidating idea of making huge changes.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Monrovia, Calif.