motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.
In today’s world it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You probably start your day like most people. You wake up, have your coffee maybe some breakfast and then endure your long commute to work, be at work for majority of your day and then make the long, traffic filled commute home just to eat dinner and plop yourself on the couch, dreading the next day where you have to wake up and repeat it all over again. It’s somewhat easy to feel almost like a 9-5 drone. The days are long, and the years are fast and before you know it, you’ve been at your job 10, 15, 20 years and you’re not sure where the time has gone. One of my favorite motivating quotes is, “A year from now you will wish you had started today.” I love this quote because it is SO TRUE! No one ever regrets the workouts they do at the gym, or the walk they took on a beautiful day. I compiled a list of healthy habits to incorporate into your daily routine to help you lead a happier, healthier lifestyle. These small habits seem like nothing, but they could be the start of making a change and hopefully the next step into the right direction.
I think it’s best to start in the beginning, such as your day. Then, from there I will incorporate little tid-bits of info to fill the day with healthier changes.
In the morning, now I’m someone that has never been a coffee drinker. I think I drank coffee for a few months in my early twenties, and I honestly have no idea how I even started it but the caffeine in regular coffee used to make me so incredibly jumpy that it forced me to stop drinking it. I didn’t like the way it made me feel and I hated being wired all day. So, for me, I start my day by juicing organic celery in a 16 oz. Glass. Celery juice has amazing benefits! Just to name a few: it lowers inflammation, supports weight loss, helps heal digestion, reduces bloating, fights infections, lowers cholesterol, prevents high blood pressure, it’s healing for acne, and helps eczema and psoriasis. Just drinking organic celery juice in the morning on an empty stomach does all that and more!
After consuming my celery juice, I have to wait about 20-30 minutes until I can eat or drink in order to get the full benefits of the celery juice. So, I will sometimes just eat my breakfast at work. Which usually consists of gluten free oatmeal or a smoothie. Something I will almost never leave my house without is WATER. I have to have a bottle of water with me everywhere I go. I think back when I was so sick with my IBS I would get so dehydrated that water was one of the few things that would make me feel better, so for the past I’d say 10/11 years I have not been out of the house without water. It’s almost like if I forgot my cellphone at home, that’s how detrimental it is for me to have water in my purse. Drinking water throughout the day keeps you hydrated. This is a SUPER EASY healthy habit to incorporate every single day. If you’re lucky enough to have a water cooler at work, bring a bottle and refill it throughout the day. It’s incredible how amazing just drinking water can make you feel. If you hate the taste of plain water, squeeze some lemon or lime juice into it. Most people are not drinking the correct amount of water a day. Years ago, they used to say to drink 6-8 cups of water a day, but over time people realized that not everyone is the same build and while some people could benefit from just 8 cups, some need a lot more than that. There’s a water calculator that calculates how much water you should be consuming a day based on your height, weight and activity. This website I found has the best information for all your water intake needs https://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/water-intake-calculator.php .
Another healthy habit to incorporate is movement. If you’re not ready to take the plunge to join a gym or workout class, start with small easy ways to add extra steps into your day. Don’t chose the parking spot right out front of your work building, park farther away to force yourself to walk more. Also, if you work in a building that has multiple floors, don’t take the elevator. Use the stairs. Use the stairs every single time. If you work on the 20th floor, walk up a few flights and then use the elevator. Another way to add more movement into the day, is to walk on your lunch break. Years ago, I used to be a receptionist for a dermatologist, and I would get a 30-minute lunch break. I used to eat at my desk as soon as the last patient left and then I would walk for 30 minutes outside every day. The only time I wouldn’t walk was if it was freezing or if it was raining. Not only was it great exercise but mentally it was very therapeutic. Walking for me is very relaxing to my mind. I would call my mom or my husband, I would just walk and talk, soak up some vitamin D and then have some water when I got back into the building. If you work in a not so great neighborhood and don’t feel comfortable walking outside, walk up and down the halls of your office building during your break. If you don’t have time split up the walking, do two 15-minute walks one in the morning and one in the afternoon if you have to. But if you spend the majority of your day sitting at a desk, get up and MOVE! If you can’t walk at work no matter what, then walk after dinner around your neighborhood. There is literally no excuse.
Another thing to try to incorporate into your day would be healthy snacking. Sometimes I would find myself coming home from a long day/commute and just laying down and stuffing my face. My lunch was always pretty early in the day so when I got home, I’d be starving. To avoid stuffing your face as soon as you walk in the door, filling yourself up with water and healthy snacking throughout the day can help curb your appetite. Some great snacks are apple slices and peanut butter, carrots or celery sticks with guacamole, any kind of fruit or a handful of nuts. You can graze these snacks throughout the day, or you can have them while watching tv when you get home after a long day.
Lastly, before bed and while winding down to sleep, have a cup of herbal tea. I love extra sleepy time tea before bed. It’s very calming and gets me very relaxed for a nice, restful sleep. Herbal teas are known to reduce inflammation and aid in weight loss. Chamomile tea has been used as a natural remedy to help with anxiety, insomnia, and is sometimes regarded as a mild tranquilizer or sleep inducer.
In conclusion, these are just a few of my daily habits that I’ve incorporated over the years. Do I do this every single day? No, I’m not perfect, but I strive every day to be better than I was the day before and being healthy is always the ultimate goal for me. In case you didn’t read the full post and are just interested in what the 5 healthy habits are, I listed them below:
- Organic Celery Juice- every morning upon waking and waiting at least 20 minutes before consuming any other food or drink.
- Water-ALL DAY EVERY DAY! If you don’t care for the taste of water, add some lemon or lime juice to it.
- Movement- Get up and move. Every. Single. Day. Walk to your car further in the parking lot. Take the stairs. Walk on your lunch break or after dinner with a friend or significant other. Just MOVE.
- Healthy Snacking- This is a tough one, but finding foods that are low in calories, fat, sugar, etc. are great to fill you up and not drag you down. Again, my favorite healthy snacks are carrots or celery sticks with guacamole, apple slices and peanut butter, strawberries, or a handful of nuts.
- Herbal Tea- Chamomile or any herbal tea before bed, is perfect to help wind you down at night, relax your mind and body and help with hydration, weight loss, and inflammation.
These are my Top 5 Healthy Habits, please share with me your healthy habits!
