Spring is just around the corner and with it comes all of the fun outdoor activities! To me, the most important thing, like ever, is health. It is the foundation for everything else in life – your ability to work, have fun, be a good friend, a good partner, and contribute to society in general. Healthy habits are the first set of building blocks to a wonderful life.
When we have our health, it’s easy to take it for granted, and when we don’t, we remember how valuable it actually is. Think of all of the times you have been sick and how badly you just want to be better. I can’t stand feeling weak, under the weather, or even having a stuffy nose. But those “hard times,” remind me to take care of myself whether I’m feeling well or not.
I’ve built a lifestyle on top of healthy habits. There are a few things I try to do every day as a part of my routine to stay healthy. Even on busy days or slightly hungover days, these are pretty much non-negotiable (my exceptions are travel and special occasions).
Eat a nutritious breakfast.
First start by making sure you’re actually eating breakfast. If you wake up in the morning with no time or no appetite, it’s time to adjust. You may need to wake up 20 to 30 minutes earlier to make time and to build up that appetite. I used to skip breakfast due to being up super early for work. Then I slowly started to eat a breakfast consisting of a granola bar and sugary coffee.
I’ve finally made it to full power, where I give myself enough time to have a nutritious breakfast. There are a ton of variations of a “healthy breakfast,” so find something that works for you!
Tips:
- Include fruit and protein.
- Put something in your belly before coffee.
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Get quality sleep.
I frequently write about quality sleep but only because I love it so much. It didn’t used to be so important to me and I viewed sleep as an interruption to my day. When I was younger, I wanted more time for fun, more time to get things done, so I slept very little. This left me bloated and groggy.
I started prioritizing sleep when I realized the impact it had on my health, which I never thought much of. Sleep is important for muscle repair, collagen building, and all kinds of things that keep me looking and feeling good.
Tips:
- Stop screen time 1 hour before bed.
- Make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet.
- Try to go to bed at the same time every night.
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Move the body.
My other favorite! Even when I’m feeling lazy, moving my body is non negotiable. Movement almost always snaps me out of my laziness and I feel amazing afterwards. I have seriously never once in my life regretted a walk, a workout, or pilates session.
Tips:
- Set a timer every hour or so as a reminder to stand up or take a quick lap around the office.
- Go for a walk in the morning, or at lunch, or after dinner.
- Join a gym or a workout class with a friend. It makes stepping out of your comfort zone a little less scary.
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Stay hydrated.
Water is everything!! I cannot tell you how many of my coworkers complain of headaches then realize they haven’t had any water the entire workday. I know we’re all busy, but not too busy to literally pick up a glass of water and drink from it. If you start anywhere with building healthy habits, I’d put this at number 1.
Tips:
- Always have a glass of water at your desk or somewhere easily accessible. If anything, you’ll sip it out of habit or just because it’s there.
- Bring a large water bottle to work and make it a goal to finish it by the end of the workday.
- Drink 1 glass of water right when you wake up while you’re doing your skincare routine.
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Sun on skin.
I know the weather impacts our emotional well being. Seasonal depression is a real thing and sunshine is a natural medicine for it. Sun straight onto the skin boosts vitamin D levels for bone health and improves mood, which in turn can be motivational.
Tips:
- Drive with your windows down if the weather allows it. Or open your window at work if you have one.
- Schedule 5 minutes, just 5 minutes, to walk down your street or around your block, with your face exposed, even if it’s freezing.
- If you’re in an extremely gray or overcast climate, I still recommend getting outside under the sky! If you’re in non stop rain, treat yourself to a light therapy lamp and take vitamin D supplements.
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If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the idea of beginning to take care of your health, choose just one habit from above and commit to it for 30 days. Not only will it actually help your health, it will also help build confidence and trust in yourself. From there, you can add on other healthy habits to do daily.
Healthy habits shouldn’t feel like a punishment, but instead a celebration of all that you can do. We owe it to ourselves to be healthy and to take care of our able bodies. Not everyone is lucky enough to be in good health, so don’t forget to take care of it! <3
