There are so many different ways to make lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes are important because different actions can influence your life in different, positive ways. By making little changes, you are able to create habits that will only benefit you and leave long-lasting effects on your mind and well-being. Whether you have hit a fitness plateau or are ready to get back on track with your New Year’s goals, there are many little changes you can make to your lifestyle in order to start seeing a difference again! Check out the list we have compiled below to live a better lifestyle!
Drink More Water
Did you know that health experts recommend drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day? Are you reaching that goal? One of the easiest ways to make a difference in your lifestyle is to drink more water. Water carries nutrients to your body and comes with many benefits, such as regulating body temperature, maximizing physical activity, and flushing out toxins out of your body. Some ways to drink more water include starting your day with a glass of water, setting reminders on your phone, and keeping a reusable water bottle around! And if you don’t like the taste of water, try flavoring your water with cut-up fruit like strawberries or lemons!
Take a Walk & Get Moving
Physical activity doesn’t have to be hard! One easy way to get moving is by going on daily walks! Walking is good for your mind and body. Not only can walking energize you, but it can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. Try to get up and walk to your nearest grocery store when running errands or take a walk in your local park when the weather starts to get warmer. Don’t like walking outside? No problem! Take a walk on a treadmill at your local gym and enjoy the same benefits! Plug in your earbuds, listen to your favorite music or podcast, and get moving!
Make Your Bed
Did you know that it takes less than 5 minutes to make your bed? That’s only 0.35% of your day! It’s so easy to push the task of making your bed every morning, but it’s also so easy to make your bed. Not only will it instantly make your bedroom look much better instantly, but there are many other benefits to making your bed. These benefits include increased productivity, increased overall mood, and can even help you adopt better everyday habits. When you wake up in the morning, try making your bed as soon as you get up. This will get you in the habit of making your bed each morning!
Eat Breakfast
We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Making sure we are energized throughout our busy days is crucial. Eating breakfast can kickstart your metabolism, reduce brain bog, and get you ready for your day. Get up 15 minutes earlier and get started with breakfast or meal-prep your breakfast the night before to save time in the morning. Along with this, make sure to eat what appeals to you! Looking for some healthy breakfast ideas? We love breakfast burritos, overnight oats, avocado toast, and baked oatmeal!
Put on Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen daily is a must! Not many realize how important wearing sunscreen is. Even on cloudy, Winter days, our skin can be vulnerable to catching the sun’s harmful UV rays. Sunscreen allows us to protect our skin, reduces any risks of sunburn and skin cancer, and restrains from any signs of aging. An SPF of 30 and up can make certain that your skin is protected from the sun’s rays. Head over to your local store and pick up facial and body sunscreen that you can easily incorporate into your daily skincare routine.
Stretch Twice a Day
We all know that we should always stretch before and after a workout, but it’s just as important to move our bodies before and after our days as well. We recommend stretching when you wake up and right before bed because there are so many advantages to stretching. Stretching can help improve your posture, reduce body aches, and gets blood flowing to your muscles. As soon as you wake up and when you are getting ready for bed, try to do a quick 2-3 minute stretch. Set reminders and remember to breathe! This is such an easy way to feel better and see differences in your lifestyle.
Put Your Phone Down
Do you ever catch yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media or start your day off in bed on your phone? It’s so easy to check your phone, but it’s time for a digital detox! Putting your phone and social media can be a hard thing to do, but less screen time has its rewards. Increased productivity, improved present-moment awareness, and strengthened social interactions are all great reasons to put the phone down. To put your phone down easily, make sure to get rid of distracting applications, turn off notifications, and utilize built-in screen time limits on your phone.
Head over to CHI-SOCIETY.com to discover the best of Chicago Health & Fitness!