Ten Life Hacks for a Healthy Lifestyle
Most of us want to live a healthy lifestyle. But when we think about what a healthy lifestyle means, we think it takes too much time, energy, and money. We might get overwhelmed with the hundreds of diets and fitness trends. Few complex problems have easy solutions, but we might just be able to help you live a more relaxed and healthier life. We came up with solutions below that have helped some transition to a healthy lifestyle, so they might work for you!
- Sweat right after you wake up and then shower.
I sleep in my workout clothes. This saves my mind from talking me out of exercising in the morning. I roll out of bed and go to the gym immediately or start running on the trails outside my apartment. - Meditate or at least don’t forget to breathe.
I often find that when I’m stressed I hold my breath. The consequences are a foggy head, tensed shoulders, and increasing stress. Setting aside as little as five minutes to meditate each day pays off big. It can help by making you feel less stressed and sleep better and by improving your immune function. When a five-minute break is possible, just take a deep breath, hold for four seconds, and SLOWLY exhale--repeat as needed. This immediately helps me feel whatever task at hand is more bearable.
- Meal prep one day a week when you are least busy.
Avoid that debacle of grabbing fast food. Cook chicken breasts, make hard boiled eggs, prepare a big batch of brown rice, chop veggies, and more. You can prep several lunches and dinners at a time this way, using different herbs and add-ons to provide a variety of flavors to each dish! Here is a fabulous two-week clean eating plan with grocery lists. Adjust to your needed calorie intake.
- Drink water.
It is what you are made of! Drinking more water improves muscle energy, controls calorie intake, keeps skin clear, and helps kidneys function well. Don’t buy bottled water. Save the environment, and instead, DIY! Fill a carafe halfway with ice and filtered water. Add freshly cut fruit and herbs, too, (try strawberry and basil, cantaloupe and lime, or blueberry and lavender). Place in the fridge and let the water infuse for 2-12 hours.
- Get sunlight.
A natural mood-booster is waiting just outside the door. Natural sunlight can help anchor your body’s circadian rhythm.
- Eat off a smaller plate.
Do you always feel the need to "clean your plate"? Make it an okay deal by using a smaller plate. Eating off smaller plates helps us reduce our caloric intake. Reducing our calories can help us live a healthy lifestyle!
- Drink lemon water.
Be sure to use fresh-squeezed lemon. Drinking lemon water in the morning will flush toxins from your system, alkalize your body, and maintain your digestive system. It will give you more energy and reduce inflammation.
- Be a label sleuth.
According to Lisa Wells, creator of Cook Eat Paleo, you should be mindful of the ingredients in the food you eat. She advises, “If you’re following a specific diet—Paleo, gluten free, vegan—it can seem like everything in the grocery store has gluten, sugar, or other processed ingredients. That’s why it’s critical to read labels—and assume that any packaged food is guilty until proven innocent.”
- Prioritize sleep.
Turn off technology, make your bedroom comfy and cozy, and set a routine time. You need sleep, so your body can rest and repair. It will increase alertness and productivity during the day. When traveling, it can be tempting to push the limits of your body. It’s important to listen to your body and know your limitations. Give your body time to relax and adjust to the pace of travel to maintain a high energy level.
- Save time and money on cooking.
Meal plans aren’t that hard, and they ensure dinner is one less thing to think about in our crazy, chaotic lives, but if you desire, try meal delivery services. For a list of meal delivery services, visit The Best Meal Kit Delivery Services.
These are just ten life hacks to help you live a healthier lifestyle. For more hacks for a healthy lifestyle, check out 31 Days of Healthy Hacks to Live Your Best Life.