5 Wellness Habits Everyone Should Have
July 18, 2019
It’s safe to say that we all want to be healthier. But it can be tough to develop good wellness habits in the midst of our all too busy lifestyles. Habits are just that, habits. And good or bad, a behavior takes some time to become a habit – behavior experts tell us you must repeat something for at least 30 days in a row for it to become a habit. Don’t feel pressured or let anxiety overwhelm you. As you read through the list, perhaps one suggestion will stand out to you as the habit you can focus on first. Then, once you’ve mastered that one, you can move on to another. The most important thing to remember? There’s no wrong place to start when it comes to upgrading your health.
Work on your Mobility
If you’re someone who sits hunched over your desk all day and let’s face it, most of us do, then you’ve probably got some stiffness in your shoulders, neck, and hips for starters. Humans were not meant to sit for long periods of time, our bodies are designed to be upright and moving (think of the early nomadic hunter/gatherers who walked for long periods every day). There is a way to undo the damage from sitting all day. Take time to move. Not only is it important to move every day, but it’s also important to move well. When we move well, our bodies perform well, we feel awesome, and we decrease our risk of injury and illness. What does “moving well” mean, exactly? A mobility workout or a yoga class are great places to start. If you’re pressed for time Google “15-minute stretching exercises” and pick from a vast variety of Youtube how-to videos on the topic.
Add probiotics to your diet
This is the hottest topic in the wellness world right now. And for good reason—the bacteria in your gut affect everything, from your immune system and digestion to even mood and mental state. Eating lots of probiotics help keep the microbiomes in your gut strong. This is particularly important if you’re not someone who eats a lot of raw or cultured foods.
Pop a probiotic supplement or add more probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut or miso to your diet, It’s a good habit to adopt even if you don’t have digestive problems. They are a lot of studies that tell us how depression and lack of proper gut bacteria are related so if an overall better mood is a byproduct of increased probiotics, that’s reason enough to keep this wellness habit up!
Stay hydrated
This one is always at the top of the list if you ask any doctor, personal trainer or health/wellness professional and there’s a reason for that. It’s super important! While the exact amount of water we need on a daily basis is still under debate, the fact that you should stay hydrated should be your number one health priority for a lengthy list of reasons. Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to work properly. Your body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste, lubricate your joints, digest your food and hydrates your skin and muscles. If you do one thing for yourself every day it should be to stay hydrated so you can function at your best.
Cook one meal for yourself every day
This can be a tough one. We’re all working so hard, juggling a million things. But, whether you’re just cooking for yourself or are feeding an entire family, do to try cook one meal a day—even if it’s just scrambled eggs. The perks to home cooking are twofold. By cooking for yourself, you’re not only more aware of what’s in your food—which is usually healthier than eating out—but you’re also carving out a bit of time where you’re taking care of yourself. Look at it as taking some time for a little extra self-care, and we all could use some of that!
Floss your teeth
Flossing is this really under-the-radar, hugely important thing you can do for your health and well-being, and the easiest one to skip. But, we shouldn’t and here’s why: We get so much bacteria in and around our teeth and gums, and it can just become a hotbed of inflammation which directly affects the heart and the brain. It’s scary to think that problems in your mouth can affect the health of your heart but they are connected. You want to minimize inflammation in your body in general, and practicing good dental hygiene is one really affordable and fast way to do that.
So, pick a healthy habit to start with. Make a plan that includes small, reasonable goals and specific actions you’ll take to move toward it, stick with it, think about how good it will feel to have that new healthy habit, and most importantly, be patient with yourself.
