5 Daily Habits You Can Immediately Adopt For More Energy And A Better Mood
It can feel difficult to juggle everything on your plate, let alone commit to a list of healthy habits every day to improve your life. But it really doesn't take much work to change your habits for the better.
You might think you have to spend hours every day meal prepping, working out, and making green juices for yourself to be healthy. That's not what sustainable health looks like. It's actually much simpler than you might think. I've been a health and fitness coach for almost a decade, and I've helped hundreds of women reclaim their health and rewrite their life. Getting healthy and losing excess weight is about so much more than how you look—it significantly affects just about every aspect of your life, from your relationships to your self-confidence to your career. And the good news is, it doesn't take much to improve your health every day!
My best recommendation is to start adding one habit for a week or two, and then stack one more on top of it. Take it gradually and remember that consistency is everything. Once you lock in one new habit, you can start to incorporate another. Even better if you can combine a couple habits into one (for example, go outside with your friends and take a break from electronics). Here are five daily habits you can adopt ASAP to help you feel clear-headed, healthy, and happy.
#1: Take a Walk Outside
Being outside is healing in so many ways. The sun is our greatest source of energy and informs our biological clock, which regulates your sleep/wake cycle. Additionally, being out in nature is a huge stress reliever that can give you some perspective on life and manage everyday anxiety. That's because the sun boosts levels of serotonin and testosterone in your body. Serotonin has been dubbed the happy chemical, and testosterone helps with mood and muscle growth.
No matter where you live, there's some nature for you to experience, whether it's a hiking trail, a park, or a beach. If you simply take 10-15 minutes out of your morning or evening to spend some time outside every single day, you'll see how drastically your life improves in every way.
#2: Turn Off All Electronics for a Period of Time
We're all addicted to our phones, our laptops, and the TV. It has become the way of the modern world, and yet sometimes we don't even really realize how much we're glued to screens. Chances are you spend multiple hours a day on screens, and this is likely affecting your sleep/wake cycle and stress levels.
Take at least 30 minutes a day where you don't touch electronics at all. Take a nice, relaxing bath, read a book, or take a walk without your phone. Don't underestimate how important it is for your health to be away from electronics for a period of time every day. It will help you clear your mind, focus on the things that really matter, and get some much-needed sunlight.
Take at least 30 minutes a day where you don't touch electronics at all.
#3: Drink 100 Ounces of Water
Staying hydrated is an important part of your health, yet most Americans are perpetually dehydrated, leaving them irritable, tired, and out of balance. Furthermore, far too many Americans are drinking soda and juice rather than water throughout the day. This leads to excess calorie intake and disrupted blood sugar levels, and it can eventually lead to excess weight gain.
Aim for 100 ounces of purified water every day. It will feel like a lot at first and you may feel like you have to run to the bathroom every few minutes, but your bladder will adjust and you'll reap the benefits of daily hydration. Drinking enough water helps you concentrate better, balance your hormones, and have clarity of mind. I always suggest my clients drink a liter of water when they first wake up in the morning to get a jump start on the day.
#4: Spend Quality Time with Someone You Love
When we think about health and wellness, we immediately think of diet and exercise. While these are certainly crucial elements to your health, they only paint part of the picture. Your relationships play an immense role in your life, which is why a common denominator of so many blue zones in the world is a strong community of family and friends that they regularly spend time with.
Intentionally make time every day to spend with the people you love, whether it's your spouse, boyfriend, children, or close friends. It has a bigger impact on your mental wellness and overall health than you might think. This is the perfect time of day to give up the electronics and perhaps even go outside together.
Drinking enough water helps you concentrate better, balance your hormones, and have clarity of mind.
#5: Cook a Meal for Yourself
Most of your meals should be made at home for a variety of reasons. You can control what ingredients are in your meal as well as the portion, and you develop a healthy relationship with your food. There should be at least one meal every day that you can cook for yourself (of course there will be exceptions if you're traveling or something comes up), and this is the perfect time to ensure you're eating enough lean protein and consuming enough fiber.
Cooking for yourself regularly allows you to learn more about the foods you're putting in your body and get acquainted with different flavor combinations. It might be difficult to get into this habit at first, but it will make a huge difference in the long run. Learn to make the foods you love and feed your loved ones in the process. This will bring you clarity of mind, better moods, and better health overall.