Change is hard.
So here we are. It’s mid February and swimsuit season is way closer than any of us is comfortable admitting. Sure we started the year eating Whole 30 and going to the gym everyday, but change is hard! Falling back into your old ways doesn’t make you a failure, it just means you probably bit off more than you could chew. So here are some easy changes you can make that will help you become a healthier person.
1. Take it one step at a time.
You don’t have to do everything at once. I know the feeling of wanting to change everything right now! Of wanting to just start being that new person who goes to yoga and drinks a green smoothie everyday. But for some people, it’s just not realistic.
It doesn’t mean you don’t have any self control or that you’ll never be successful. When you’re on a journey to become a healthier person, patience is everything. So be patient with your body and mind, and take your time! Its not a race.
2. Move more.
Gym memberships are awesome and everything, but they’re not a requirement in order to become a healthier person. Simply finding ways to move a little more every day will improve your health drastically. Walking is a fantastic exercise that can help strengthen bones, improve balance, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
So get moving. Go for a walk at lunch. Walk to a coworker’s office instead of emailing them. Do sit ups, push ups, lunges, and/or squats during TV commercials. Find a yoga or fitness channel you like on YouTube and do short routines in the morning.
There are so many easy ways to add more movement to your day. Even 30 mins can show you vast improvement.
3. Drink More Water
About 60% of the human body is composed of water. It helps facilitated every action and reaction inside of you. So when you aren’t getting enough water, you’re not operating at your best. But drinking more water is a very quick and easy way to become a healthier person.
Try drinking a full glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning. Drinking water as soon as you wake up has been shown to boost your metabolism, flush toxins from your body, and gets your brain moving. Drinking a glass of water 30-45 mins before a meal can help you feel fuller and aid in digestion.
Don’t like water? That’s fine! You can snazz it up with fresh fruit inside and infuser bottle, Mio water flavoring, or even tea. All of these options can help you ingest more water without ingesting unnecessary calories and chemicals.
4. Get More Sleep
I know that Netflix has some amazing shows on and you like your time to yourself after the kids go to sleep, but going to be earlier is extremely important. The average adult needs between 7-9 hours of sleep every night to remain healthy. The average American adult gets around 6 hours of sleep a night. So if you’re one of those people who like to challenge themselves to see how few hours of sleep they can operator on, it’s time to change.
5. Make Smart Substitutions
It can be very overwhelming to start developing new, healthy habits. Just the thought of NOT being able to eat a Big Mac makes most of us REALLY want a Big Mac. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can become a healthier person just by subbing out some not so awesome choices.
Addicted to soda? Try low calorie water flavoring. Crystal Lite and Mio offer delicious flavors without all the sugar and calories of standard soda. Love potato chips? Try baked chips, or even veggie straws. You still get that satisfying, savory crunch without all the oil and calories. Love your daily Starbucks? Try getting your vanilla latte with skim milk and sugar free vanilla. We cover some of these options in our post on meal prepping.
Trying to become a healthier person doesn’t mean you need to give up all the food you love and slave away at the gym for two hours a day everyday! You can significantly improve your life by just making some of these small changes.
