Tips for Improving Your Health Habit
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Guest post by: Brad Krause
When you want to make changes or improvements to an area of your life, do you jump into the deep end feet-first with an all-or-nothing attitude? Only to find yourself drowning a short time later, unable to maintain the changes you desire?
If this sounds like you, you are not alone. This is an all-too-common scenario for many!
So what can you do? Is it possible to make long-lasting changes that won’t leave you feeling deprived or zapped of energy?
When you know your lifestyle or eating habits could use a few healthy upgrades, there’s no question that it can be hard to know where to start.
However, change may be easier than you think.
A few small adjustments to your current routine or eating habits might be the ticket to big results rather than overhauling your entire life. If you’re wondering how to get started, read on for practical steps you can take to improve your daily health habits.
Define your goals
Start by defining your goals and what you’d like to achieve. The more specific your goals are, the more likely you are to reach them.
Try not to use vague health goals like ‘get fit’ or ‘feel better.’ Instead, identify an actionable area to direct your focus. For example, if you’re struggling with low energy or burnout, your goal could be to get home from work by a specific time each day so that you have more time to rest and relax.
If you’ve noticed that you feel winded walking up a flight of stairs, your goal might be to start a fitness routine with a cardiovascular focus. Consider using a fitness app to give your workouts a boost and help you stick to your program.
Just remember that the more focused your goals are, the more likely you are able to achieve them.
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All of this information led him to develop the diet known as the grain brain diet.
Take baby steps
When you’re motivated to make improvements to your health, it can be tempting to try several things all at once, hoping that one of them will work. But this strategy often backfires.
When we try to make too many changes all at once or completely change the way we do everything, that’s typically a recipe for disaster. We may be able to stick to our new healthier routine for a short time, but it’s less likely to become sustainable.
Instead of making changes to everything, try one small change that you can manage and see if it helps. If not, try something else. Incremental adjustments to your daily habits are more likely to help you succeed than several sweeping changes made all at once.
For example, if you struggle to keep your sweet tooth in check, you don’t have to go cold turkey on sugar or start fasting to make a difference.
Instead, try having one or two designated treat days per week. This can also make the sugary sweets that you do enjoy feel more special. Or, consider replacing one go-to dessert with a healthier alternative so that you’re working with your body’s cravings rather than trying to eliminate them.
Also, it may be worth considering that cravings actually mean something! Cravings are our body’s way of communicating that it may be missing a certain nutrient or vitamin, or that our gut microflora may be out of whack. If you’d like to know what your cravings are telling you, make an appointment to see Kelly at HappiHuman.com today.
Improve Your Sleep Hygiene
Sleep is just as important to the mind and body as any other health habit. Yet, according to the CDC, one in three Americans don’t get enough of it.
If you’re not happy with the quality of your sleep, start by adjusting one thing you can control. For example, eliminate screen time before bed or reduce your caffeine consumption, then see how your sleep is affected. Using a sleep tracker or listening to some relaxing sounds through quality headphones or earbuds may also help.
There are many different causes of sleep deprivation, so talk to your doctor or naturopath if you continue to struggle. You may also want to consult a nutritionist for help making sure your dietary choices support optimal sleep.
Nurture your relationships
Maintaining supportive relationships can improve both your mental and physical health. Social accountability will also help with any changes to your health habits that you’re trying to make. For example, it’s usually easier (and more fun) to stick with a workout routine when you have a buddy to sweat it out with.
If you find that your social life is flagging, or if you’re in a new place without close friendships or a community, consider joining a class as a way to meet people. Local newspapers, neighbourhood message boards, or personal networking apps can be helpful.
While it’s hard to break bad habits, creating small positive changes to your daily habits will add up over time.
Good health means something different to everyone, so start by defining what it means to you. By using a gradual approach that prioritizes quality sleep, human connection, and quality foods, you’ll be on the road to better health and well-being in no time.
Healthy Nutritional Habits
Looking to develop healthy nutritional habits but don’t know where to start? Changing your eating habits can be even more daunting than making changes to your lifestyle.
But one-on-one sessions with Kelly at HappiHuman can help. Kelly specializes in neuronutrition. She’ll help you uncover your nutritional goals, discover barriers that may be holding you back, and support your journey to long-term health!
Questions or comments? Let us know what you think by dropping us a line or commenting below.
About the author:
After spending most of his time in a corporate setting and neglecting his own self-care for too long, Brad embraced his calling and decided to become a full-time life coach. He now spends the rest of his life helping people get a better foothold on their wellness above all else.
[Medical Disclaimer]
All information contained in this document is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent health problems. For all serious health issues, please contact a medical or nutrition practitioner. The information provided is based on the best knowledge of the author at the time of writing, and we do not assume liability for the information, be it direct or indirect, consequential, special exemplary, or other damages. In all circumstances, it is always wise to consult your physician before changing your diet, taking supplements, or starting any exercise or health program.