Being healthy and fit is about more than just looking great. It means feeling your best every day! A lot of people are discouraged from living healthier lifestyles because they imagine having to commit hours of each day to going to the gym while eat a restrictive diet. In reality, this type of living can be more stressful than beneficial! Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s as simple as building habits that create a healthy lifestyle. You’re probably already leading a healthy lifestyle, but maybe you need to boost your daily regimen. Keep reading for a guide to the best habits to get you healthy and fit for life! Get ready to take on anything and everything!
This is a guest blog as I thought it would be nice for you to hear from other professionals who also preach the same positive health messages as I do. Enjoy!
1. Try Intermittent Fasting
You already understand the importance of eating well every day, and you’re not afraid of trying new foods. Sometimes our bodies hit a wall along our wellness journey and they need an extra boost. Maybe you’re trying to tone your body or feel better? Intermittent fasting might be just what your body has been waiting for. While it can sound scary if you’ve never fasted before, your body already fasts to some degree. Breakfast is technically “break-fast,” so your body already knows what it’s doing when you stop eating overnight.
Fastings is about more than feeling great. Intermittent fasting is shown to remove toxins from the body, help you lose weight, and even slow down the aging process! When you intermittent fast, you cycle between periods of eating and fasting. While some will go 24-hours without food, you don’t have to start that extreme if you don’t think you’re up for it. Start slowly with an approach known as 16:8. This means you eat normally until 7 p.m. then fast until 11 a.m. the next day. Basically, you fast for a 16-hour period and eat normally during the remaining 8 hours.
Will you be hungry? The simple answer is yes, but it’s not as bad as you think. Your body will quickly adjust to the difference, and you’ll feel better in no time! You are free to drink water and tea while fasting, but avoid overeating when resuming your normal meals to promote weight loss. Healthy fasting is an excellent way to boost your overall health when done regularly!
2. Commit to Breathing
You’re practically a breathing expert, but you probably don’t really focus on your breathing throughout the day. Your body is so used to breathing that you don’t even realize the types of breaths you’re taking. Most people naturally take shallow, short breaths. That makes sense. Your body’s taking in just enough oxygen to function, and nothing else. Breathing deeply for just a few minutes a day has some pretty impressive benefits! Not only can deep breathing (known as diaphragmatic breathing) help you relax, but it can also lower your blood pressure and release endorphins! Commit to health by committing to breathing deeply for just 5 to 10 minutes a day!
3. Work Breaks Into Your Work Routine
A lot of us work long office jobs. We’re used to sitting for 8+ hours a day in front of a computer, and we forget to get up and move around. Sitting for long periods has been linked to a number of health concerns like high blood sugar and high blood pressure. You might even develop muscle pain, chronic stiffness, or joint pain.
Your body is designed to be in motion! You can fight this by working breaks into your work routine! If you can, stand up every 20 minutes, even if just to adjust your position. If standing up every 20 minutes won’t work in your office environment, you can still make the most of the breaks you do have. Walk a lap around your office floor, invest in a desk bike, or stretch when you can! For more casual environments, wear your favorite Move U gear to inspire yourself to be active around the clock! Doing these small things in combination with a regular workout routine will help fight the negative effects of a sedentary work environment.
4. Turn off Your Tech
You don’t have to be a social media influencer to feel glued to your phone. Everyone is suffering from social media dependence to some extent in this digital age, and it’s wreaking havoc on our mental states. This digital addiction leads to stress, sleep deprivation, and the dreaded low-confidence. When you’re comparing yourself to all those other people on Instagram, it’s hard to feel confident!
The only solution to save your sanity is to set some boundaries for yourself when it comes to your technology. Put your devices on silent while at work or the gym. Take time each day to unplug from social media. You might discover a new layer of relaxation you didn’t know existed! Read a book, go outside, or have a conversation with a friend in real-life instead of over text! It might feel weird at first, but that’s only because you’re so used to bright screens and scrolling feeds.
Healthy Habits for Life
Being healthy is more about mindset than anything else. As long as you’re committed to leading your best, healthiest life, you can achieve any goal you set your mind to! How will you challenge yourself to be the best version of yourself? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Adopt the 3 habits above to see how your life changes, even if only in small ways at first!