Building healthier habits

Developing healthier habits can really improve your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. According to a study forming a new habit can take anywhere between 18 and 254 days but if you stay committed and have a positive mindset, you can achieve your goal in less time. 

By focusing on healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, restful sleep, stress management, and meaningful connections with others, we can transform our lives and improve our overall health and happiness. 

Eat healthily 

Eating healthily is more about thinking about what you are eating, as opposed to being restrictive. Try to eat a good healthy breakfast every day, this will set your body and brain up to function well and increase your water intake – reducing the levels of toxins in your body will help you feel less sluggish. Snacking and binge eating tend to do little but increase your calorie intake – often providing little or no nutritional value to your body.  

Healthy exercise habits 

Any form of physical exercise will increase blood circulation, burn calories, and maintain heart health. Why not take the stairs instead of the lift or get up and go for a quick stroll every so often around the office. Try adding a little more to your exercise 3 times a week – swimming, aerobics, jogging outside or on a treadmill will add that little extra to your routine. Tracking what you do can be a great way to see how you’re doing improving your time and duration.  

Healthy sleeping habits 

Have a set sleep-wake cycle, it is recommended to get between 6 and 9 hours sleep each night. Avoid caffeine after 3pm, - or at least 6 hours before bedtime. Avoid eating right before bedtime as it can lead to acid reflux and heartburn, and doesn't allow enough time to burn off calories. To prepare for a restful night's sleep, try to unwind before bed by dimming the lights and avoiding screens, which can disrupt your sleep cycle and make it harder to fall asleep. 

Manage stress levels 

Practice yoga or deep breathing exercises when you feel things are getting on top of you. Getting stressed could lead you to fall back on the bad habits that you have been working on stopping. Identify situations that cause you stress and then find ways to work around them – either to avoid them completely or talk through them to see how they can be less stressful.  

Reconnect with yourself and others around you 

Relationships function better when you can take charge of your own life, and this is the same for others around you. Make it a habit to slow your pace of life down, giving you time for the stuff you enjoy – including catching up with friends and family. Sometimes there is nothing better than a good chat and a laugh with someone who you have known for a long time.