Whether you're setting New Year resolutions or just trying to develop healthier lifestyle habits, it's best to start small. Big changes can be great, but it's the little habits we do each day that have the greatest impact on our lifestyles. Here are ten bite-size changes you can make to live the healthy lifestyle you want.
- Start with a healthy breakfast. Beginning each day with a healthy breakfast can set the tone for the rest of your day. It'll not only provide you with maximum energy for your day, but it'll also help you feel confident and accomplished from the beginning.
- Drink plenty of water. Start and end each day with a glass of water. Get yourself a fun water bottle to carry around with you to encourage you to stay hydrated. Proper hydration can provide you with more energy and a faster metabolism.
- Park farther away. Many of us tend to park as close to doors or entryways as possible, no matter where we go. However, parking farther away is a simple change you can make to get more steps in your day. Plus, your car is less likely to be around the chaos of parking lot traffic, which just might boost your mood.
- Take the stairs. We all know that choosing the stairs over the elevator or escalator is better for us—it burns more calories and provides an easy opportunity for physical activity. But you can take it a step further. Jog up and down the stairs a few times for some quick cardio. Do various combinations of lunges while traveling up and down the stairs. Try carrying things for some added weight and an extra challenge.
- Smile! Smiling is so simple, but packs some seriously healthy benefits, such as relieving stress, lowering blood pressure, and boosting our immune system. It can also boost your mood and the mood of others around you.
- Focus on good posture. Taking the time to focus on your posture can have a great impact on your entire day. Not only will it strengthen your back muscles, but it also allows more oxygen to get to your brain and help you feel more confident.
- Remove the temptations. It's really difficult to say no to unhealthy temptations when they surround you throughout the day. By eliminating these distractions, you're helping make the healthy choice the easy choice.
- Eat your veggies. We can't expect health improvements without looking at our nutrition. One simple change is adding or trading in a vegetable with every snack or meal. Starting with one vegetable can help you see real changes in your health.
- Take a walk. Find time in your day—whenever works best for you and your schedule—for a 15-minute walk, even if that means breaking it up into several walks throughout your day. Walking for even a short time can help strengthen your bones and muscles, burn calories, and allow your brain to rejuvenate.
- Give yourself a bedtime. Sleep allows your body the time it needs to rest and recover. Give yourself a hard bedtime to get seven hours of sleep, at which point you want to stay away from snacks and turn off all screens. Getting seven hours of sleep regularly will help you feel more energized and productive during the day, plus a faster metabolism to boot.