It’s hard to train yourself to form healthier lifestyle habits. If you’ve been leading a sedentary lifestyle then it might seem impossible to convince your body and mind to both make a change. Every time you attempt to eat healthily or go for a run, you might find yourself slipping back into old habits very quickly. If you’re low on self-esteem, confidence, and energy then a healthy lifestyle might seem like an unachievable goal. However, as we’ll discuss in this article, the key is to take baby steps. These suggestions should give you guidance and inspiration if you’re trying to form healthier habits in your life.
Ease into a fitness routine
The first habit you need to form is a commitment to regular exercise. Keeping your body moving on a daily basis is so important to your physical and psychological health. It’s not just an activity reserved for people who want to lose weight. Cardiovascular exercise keeps your heart and mind healthy, as well.
You need to find some form of fitness routine that works for you, even if you’re not bothered about becoming a world-class athlete. Just ease yourself into something that you enjoy. If you don’t fancy joining a gym with lots of other people then you could start running around the block with some headphones; it’s a relaxing way to start exercising. Start off by doing 2000 steps a day and then slowly work your way up to 10000 steps; that’s a good daily amount. In the beginning, you don’t have to push yourself too hard. If you want exercise to become a habit then you have to ease yourself into a new lifestyle.
Make sure that you keep things interesting. Doing the same exercise every day can become boring very quickly. If you become bored of the gym then start running in your local park. If running in the park becomes dull then get yourself a treadmill at home.
If you lose interest in exercising alone then you could join a local sports club or even a karate class to keep things exciting. There are so many ways to exercise that it’s easy to mix things up and keep your routine interesting. At the end of the day, all that matters is you stay physically active. If you can maintain a daily exercise routine of some kind then you’ll have formed a healthy habit.
Create nourishing and sustainable meals
Many people struggle to eat healthily. In theory, it should be simple; eat your greens and you’ll be healthy, right? Well, as you might have realised after unsuccessful dieting attempts, it’s a little harder than that. You have to think about the sustenance your body needs. It’s important to get all the protein, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, and other nutrients that will ensure you maintain a good level of physical and mental wellbeing.
A balanced diet is the answer, so forget “fad diets” that try to get you to drop weight quickly because you won’t be able to sustain that kind of diet in the long-term. Calories and carbohydrates aren’t evil. You just need to avoid empty calories and make sure that you’re filling yourself up with nourishing meals that are benefiting your body. Overeating anything is bad for you, so moderation is the answer.
But if you’re going to fill yourself up with food then you should be filling yourself up with healthy food. Don’t deny your body the sustenance it needs; eating nothing but salads will get old quickly. You’ll start craving the food you’re missing. Try to cook lots of home-cooked meals because they’re much healthier and more nourishing than processed meals containing additives.
Get yourself lots of veggies, fruit, beans, and other natural ingredients that you can mix together to create healthy meals. If you’re craving sugar then satisfy that itch with a banana or some strawberries. Find healthier ways to sustain a balanced diet in the long-run. If you just try to avoid all food then you’ll quickly slip back into old habits as your body becomes hungrier. Your goal isn’t to lose weight quickly; it’s to achieve a permanent healthy weight level, even if that’s a gradual process.
Cut down on unhealthy behaviour
As we’ll discuss throughout this article, moderation is essential in life. It’s impossible to live a life that’s 100% healthy, but you should be aiming to avoid excess. Anything is unhealthy if it’s over-consumed. You just need to focus on aspects of your behaviour that might be damaging your health in the long-term. Do you drink one too many glasses of wine every night?
Do you still smoke regularly? Whether you’re heavily reliant on these substances or not, forming healthy lifestyle habits is also about avoiding unhealthy lifestyle habits. You might want to talk to friends, family, or even specialists if you’re struggling to let go of unhealthy behaviour. It’ll benefit your health in the present and the future. You also need to learn to spot bad patterns of behaviour so that you can protect your wellbeing if other unhealthy habits form in the future.
Get help
Having support from others can really make a difference when you’re trying to train yourself to form healthier lifestyle habits. You might have already attempted to follow some of the pieces of advice in this article, but the problem was that you didn’t have the determination to succeed. For instance, if you get tired on a run then it’s easy to stop and go home. But if you get help from family members and friends then it’s easier to train yourself to stick to a healthy routine. If you’re running with a buddy then you have to match each other’s pace. They’ll be able to encourage you to keep going if you’re slacking, and you can do the same if they’re slacking.
Support is a two-way street, but it’s easier to adopt a healthier lifestyle if you go on the journey with other people. Tell your loved ones that you want to make a serious change; you might find that they’re keen to join in. It’s better to live healthily as a family; that way, you’ll be able to ensure that unhealthy snacks and other temptations aren’t always in your face at home.
Of course, if you’re really struggling to form healthier habits in your life then you might want to consider professional help. There are plenty of options out there if you want to make a positive change to your lifestyle. You might want to get help from a life coach so that you can maintain improvements to your physical and mental wellbeing. This would help you to develop some fixed and achievable goals so that you can overcome your insecurities and confidently progress onwards. Training yourself to maintain a better lifestyle is all about having motivation and believing that you can succeed. It’s about overcoming the initial hurdles you’ll face and turning healthy forms of behaviour into long-term habits. Getting help from friends, family, and professionals is important; it’ll give you the support network and confidence you need to succeed. You don’t have to face new challenges on your own.
Set yourself a bedtime
You’re not a child anymore, but it could be hugely beneficial to set yourself a bedtime if you struggle to get enough sleep. You probably have to get up early for work every morning, but that might not mean you go to bed early. Many people are sleep-deprived because they don’t view a good night’s rest as a top priority in today’s busy world. But sleeping well is one of the most vital elements of a healthy lifestyle. If your body doesn’t get enough rest then it affects your wellbeing on so many levels. Low energy levels are only one side-effect after a bad night’s sleep. It can weaken your immune system, your metabolism, your muscle repair, and even your mental health. Essentially, other healthy habits you’ve formed might not make much of a difference to your overall wellbeing if you’re sleeping badly. You need to train yourself to stick to a strict bedtime schedule so that you get enough sleep before your morning alarm rings.
Take Care Of Your Teeth
Your teeth are very important. Damaging or losing your teeth could really knock your confidence in your smile. Taking care of your teeth is essential.
There are several ways that you can do this. Firstly, go for a regular check-up with a dentist such as https://www.chelmsforddental.com.au/. A dentist will be able to spot the early warning signs of problems with your teeth.
Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time. This will help fight plaque and tooth decay.
Finally, avoid eating or drinking anything that is high in sugar.
Prioritise a healthy and happy mental state
Making a big change to your lifestyle in many different ways can take its toll on your mental state. If you were used to overindulging in junk food or spending hours on the sofa without moving then you might feel as if you’re missing out on the simple joys. But it’s important to not completely deny yourself any fun or relaxation. When discussing healthy meals earlier, the priorities were moderation and balance; that goes for all aspects of life.
You’re allowed to watch TV or eat chocolate from time to time, but you need to avoid doing so in excess. You could develop relaxing habits that are much better for your physical and mental wellbeing. For example, you could start meditating for 10 minutes every evening to replace the junk food you used to consume to combat stress and anxiety.
There are healthier ways to protect your mental health; it’s time to start giving your mind the attention it deserves. It’s okay to struggle, at first. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t get healthy habits to stick because low mental health and self-esteem will affect your physical health, too. In turn, you’ll find it even harder to form healthier lifestyle habits in the long-run. Don’t let yourself be overcome with negative thoughts.
Remind yourself that it’s a journey. Every small victory should give you encouragement. If you manage to cut down your alcohol consumption to one glass a week, for example, then that’s an achievement of which you should be proud. If you manage to run for 2 minutes longer than usual then that’s a big improvement, too.
Every small victory, in a way, is a big victory. Start complimenting yourself when you do well. When it comes to a better lifestyle, your mental health is just as important as your physical health.
