When you're thinking about developing healthier lifestyle choices, the sooner you make positive changes the better! Here's a list of 12 ways to be healthier right now. Implement these ideas immediately, or focus on introducing one each month of the year until you've developed an entire year's worth of healthy habits.
1. Quit Drinking Soda
Soda and other sugary drinks are calorie bombs that can make you feel bloated and tired. They may taste good, but eliminating soda from your diet can help you drop pounds fast!
2. Stay Hydrated with Water
Drinking enough water will help you feel more awake, give your skin an amazing glow, and keep your digestive system working right, just to name a few benefits.
3. Take Vitamins Daily
If you can't get your daily value of every essential vitamin through your diet, taking vitamin supplements each day is super important. Calcium is a good place to start for women because it keeps your bones strong!
4. Get Plenty of Sleep
Without enough sleep your body becomes more susceptible to illness, stress, and injury. Silence your phone at night, do a quick meditation to relax, and get some shut-eye.
5. Exercise Daily
You don't have to spend hours at the gym, but squeezing physical activity of some kind into each day is important to staying fit. You can even do your workouts at home now if you have a Fabletics VIP subscription. Not only do they offer cute clothes to exercise in, but you can take part in their online training programs too!
6. Eat Whole Foods
Our bodies just work better when we eat clean, whole foods like grains, fruits, veggies, and lean protein. No need to make a drastic change in your regular diet, just add more whole foods to the dishes you already love! Cut out the junky snacks and you will feel better right away.
7. Nurture Friendships
Being healthy is not all about being slim and trim. Your mental health matters too! Call, text, or hang out with friends and have meaningful conversations that will give you both the “warm fuzzies” inside.
8. Unplug for an Hour
An hour before bedtime, turn off your phone, TV, and tablet. Getting the light out of your face and the stimulation out of your brain will help you wind down and get ready for sleep mode.
9. Wear an Activity Tracker
Knowing that your steps are being counted is a proven way to get you moving. Whether you are engaging in friendly competition with loved ones or you just love being rewarded with badges, start tracking your activity to encourage yourself to squeeze more movement into each day.
10. Schedule Active Breaks
If you sit at a computer all day for work, try to take a break every hour or so to stretch, walk around, or even do some quick squats or lunges. It will burn a few extra calories and keep you from getting sleepy in the afternoon. Regular activity breaks help to boost endorphins and increase energy levels!
11. Plan Healthy Hang-Outs
Going out for drinks or unhealthy food with friends is an easy way to socialize, but it can wreak havoc on your health. Instead, suggest getting together for a walk, tea, or to try that new vegan place.
12. Buy Cute Workout Clothes
When you buy cute gym clothes, promise yourself you won't wear them anywhere except to your workout. You will want to show off your fun new outfit! Check out Fabletics for an awesome selection of high-quality gear that is great for everyone, regardless of workout style or body type.
These are small steps that can add up to big changes in your health if you put them into practice regularly. Good luck!