We all have things we’d like to change about our routine. It’s just that a lot of the solutions offered to solve our bad habits feel a bit…extreme.
Don’t you wish there was a more chilled way to be a healthier human being? Well, you’re in luck – because there is, and here are some suggestions!
Sleep
Good sleep is at the heart of good health, and so should be a self-improvement priority. But there are several major bad habits which contribute to bad sleep.
Whilst it might be tempting to watch one more episode of The Office before you switch off, or keep talking to your ex-housemate on WhatsApp until one of you passes out, that blue LED light is tricking your brain into thinking it’s day time, and will keep you awake for longer.
Try replacing Netflix with an easy-read novel (no need to go high-brow, it can be Harry Potter for all your tired brain cares), or with a podcast or audiobook.
Other things to avoid before bedtime are big meals (circadian rhythm research suggests eating your last meal of the day before the sun sets, to help your body digest and wind down before bedtime), alcohol, cigarettes or vigorous exercise (although luckily sex is great for sleep!).
Nutrition
Eating well improves your mental and physical health, your skin, hair, teeth and everything in between. We know this. And yet, we still find ourselves ordering pizza or having a second slice of cake more than the suggested RDA.
But mad crash diets are not the answer here. If you need some practical ways to improve your daily diet, there are simpler options than switching to a celery-only meal plan.
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Plan your upcoming meals and make as much as possible in advance. Because we all know that going to the store with an empty stomach is a cheese disaster waiting to happen.
If you’ve found a healthy, quick meal that you love, work it into your weekly routine, then try mixing things up at the weekend. Fill your cupboards with healthy snacks like nuts and dried fruit, so when a sudden urge to chew overcomes you, you’ve got something ready to go.
If you’re not a cook, don’t worry. Check out a recipe box delivery company like HelloFresh, who send you fresh ingredients and instructions. Or, you could try Huel – a nutritional, vegan, powdered food you can blend with fruit and flavours for a meal in a rush.
Smoking
If you’re still smoking in 2019, it’s time to have a word with yourself. It’s terrible for your health, makes you smell bad, ruins your teeth and skin, and contributes to multiple diseases that can kill you. Let’s get real – it’s time to stop.
But nicotine is addictive and trying to quit cold-turkey can be stressful and demoralising if you don’t succeed right away.
So rather than go down the Trainspotting route, maybe give yourself a break and try vape kits, for a sweet-smelling, nicotine-controlled alternative to the foul weed.
Vaping does still carry some health risks, but it is undoubtedly less harmful than smoking cigarettes, and is the most effective first step on a journey towards a smoke-free life.
Exercise
We know, Mum! We need to do more exercise! Seriously though, we do. And yes it’s hard, and sometimes it’s embarrassing, or expensive, or boring, or just not what we want to do during our time off.
But the key to building an exercise routine you can stick to, is finding something active which you genuinely love. And this probably isn’t lifting weights or hitting the treadmill (although it might be).
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Try something different. Check out a boxing class, find a climbing wall, try roller derby, or trapeze, or surfing, or parkour – do it with a friend, have a laugh, and revel in the joy of flinging your limbs around.
If any of that sounds too adventurous, just get a Spotify playlist together and spend 20 minutes a day dancing yourself silly (on your own if needs be) whilst you’re waiting for your healthy meal to warm up in the oven.
Because life is too short to be unhealthy, but it’s too short to be miserable too!
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