Have you ever wondered what habits you would have to adopt to be healthy and fit for the rest of your life? Is it all about great genetics? Or can it be done with consistent daily habits? Well there's absolutely something genetic about it --- but it's behavioral too! Check out some habits of healthy people to help in the quest of your healthy lifestyle. Just think -- if you live healthy everyday, you will never have to work to “become healthy” ever again!
Morning Hydration
Mornings are not always easy… many people will tell you to jump start your morning with a great workout. But not everyone leaps out of bed, ready to tackle a tough workout. Consider reaching for your water bottle first thing in the morning, before pouring that first cup of coffee. Having a water bottle ready to reach for as soon as you wake up will allow you to drink the water, while you brew the coffee. It's going to be a great day!
Menu Planning
Surviving everything that's thrown at you throughout the day will require optimal nourishment for your body and mind. Meal planning is imperative. Try planning all of your meals for the entire week. Include lots of healthy foods in this plan, but don't forget the foods you love, too! Following the 80/20 Rule (80% healthy and 20% indulgent) will offer you the opportunity to enjoy the foods you love (that may not be the healthiest choices), without depriving yourself, in the hopes of avoiding a binge or “falling off the healthy eating wagon.” Once you have the meal plan, make a grocery list and head to the store. No more skipping breakfast, scrambling for lunch, and defaulting to take-out for dinner. Your meals are planned, your fridge is stocked, and you are ready to take on anything the day has in store for you.
Just MOVE!
Moving throughout the day is key. We hear that sitting is the new smoking. Our bodies need to move! Find the way your body likes to move or what lights you up! Dance, cycle, walk, hike, climb, lift, run, or whatever. Experiment. Then do it! Do what you love. Finding a regular, weekly movement or exercise plan can also help. Just like the meal plan, you will know what you are doing each day. You won't need to think about it or struggle to figure it out. Moving will help you stay fit and energized!
Recover and Rejuvenate
As you're moving through life, listen to your body. Some days you need a break or to take it easy. Deviating from the exercise plan for a gentle workout or an “off-day,” will rejuvenate your body for the next great workout on deck! Or maybe you don't need to take the day off, but your body needs a little extra TLC. Grab your foam roller, stick roller, trigger point ball, and the remote control. Flip on your latest Netflix obsession (Schitt’s Creek comes to mind), and pay some attention to those tight areas in your body. Advanced tip… Keep your preventive maintenance tools in the space where you are most likely to use them. Then they are waiting for you, when you are ready.
SLEEP!!!!
While we are talking about relieving tension, winding down at night for bedtime is so important for a good night’s rest. Logging off and shutting down for the day will allow your mind the opportunity to prepare for sleep. A quick meditation exercise from the Calm app will help you transition from your busy day to a more relaxed and tranquil place.
At the end of the day, all of these habits from healthy people require you to make one thing a priority --- that's YOU! Take some timeless advice from Aristotle -- “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”