Living a healthy lifestyle can be a chore at times. But with these 10 amazing healthy lifestyle hacks, you can easily improve and live a better quality of life.
10 healthy lifestyle hacks
A healthy lifestyle should be simple and uncomplicated.
So we have compiled a list of 10 amazing lifestyle hacks that are simple and easy to implement. Applying some, or all, of these suggestions, will definitely improve your life.
Start the day with water
It’s always a good idea to start the day with good hydration. And water is the perfect liquid that can do just that.
Drinking water first thing in the morning not only refreshes our bodies. But it also flushes out toxins that our bodies accumulate after a night of rest and restoration.
To make things interesting, you can add sea salt to your water.
Adding a pinch or two of sea salt to your water will increase your body’s ability to absorb water, allowing you to stay hydrated for longer. Because of the mineral content of sodium and potassium in sea salt, it will also reduce water retention or bloating.
You could also try adding lemon to your water. To give your immune system a healthy boost, mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice into 1 glass of water.
Remember to stay hydrated as you go about your day. And know that water is always a great choice.
Soak in the morning sun
Soaking in the sun is another excellent way to begin your day. Take a few minutes in the morning sun before the hustle and bustle of the day take over.
Exposing your eyes to the sun’s rays in the morning stimulates the brain. It tells the body that it’s time to wake up and function properly.
Furthermore, the early morning sun stimulates the release of cortisol in our bodies, which promotes wakefulness. It is also necessary for the immune system, as well as for regulating the body’s stress response and metabolism.
Take the stairs
When you find it hard to find a solid block of time to exercise, taking the stairs is a great alternative.
Opting for the stairs instead of using the elevator can add up and contribute to your daily requirement of 30 minutes of daily physical activity. Now, isn’t that nice?
In addition to being a good alternative to exercise, taking the stairs also helps to:
- improve the amount of good cholesterol in the blood,
- improve muscle strength, particularly in the legs and abs,
- increases flexibility, particularly in the hips and knees,
- contribute to weight loss and maintaining an ideal weight, and
- build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
Walk
Take advantage of every opportunity to go for a walk.
Is the computer taking its time loading? Walk in place. Are you awaiting a report from a coworker? Take a stroll down your office corridor. Have you finished your lunch? Walk a few blocks for a few minutes. And so on.
Walking for even a few minutes is always a good idea. Walking is also regarded as an exercise. It is a low-impact physical activity that can be done anytime, anywhere. And it’s certainly a lot better than sitting in your office chair. Or couch.
When you take the time to walk, you will gain the following benefits:
- Improve your mood,
- increases flexibility,
- good for the heart,
- increases metabolism,
- reduces joint pain,
- clears the mind,
- enhances creativity and other cognitive functions,
- boosts your immune system, and
- helps with longevity.
Better yet, do some jumping jacks
Do some jumping jacks to energize yourself and get your heart rate up whenever you have a spare moment at work.
Jumping jacks, like walking, do not require any special training, equipment, or gym clothes for that matter.
Although it may seem like child play, jumping jacks are actually a full-body workout. That promotes cardiovascular fitness and bone strength.
So go ahead and do a few quick jumps; it may also help bring back good childhood memories.
Regular exercise
When you do find time, it’s always a good idea to stick to a regular exercise routine.
According to the World Health Organization, 3.5 hours of exercise per week is beneficial to the body. This should equate to at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.
So make an effort to set aside this amount of time for physical activity. Because it is one of the most important things you can do for your health.
Doing regular exercises provides a number of benefits, namely improving your cognitive functions, improving your immune system, strengthening bones and muscles, increasing flexibility, and helping to lose weight or maintain your ideal weight.
Add a few more servings of vegetables
Increase your vegetable servings for a healthy diet. Steamed broccoli, for example, is a good side dish, and carrot sticks or cucumber salad are good for snacks.
If you don’t like vegetables. Start small and choose vegetables that appeal to you; there are many vegetables available to explore.
Play around by adding cheese, nuts, or raisins to them. Be creative with your dips.
You just need to train your palate to like the taste and texture of vegetables, and pretty soon you will grow to love them. And your body will certainly thank you for it.
Portion control
Another healthy diet hack is to practice portion control. And you can accomplish this by eating on a smaller plate. So you can easily reduce your carbohydrate and calorie intake.
You can also practice Hara Hachi bu as an alternative. Where you stop eating when you are no longer hungry rather than when you are full.
This eating habit originated in Okinawa, Japan, where residents are known for their longevity and low rates of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
Limiting your meal to the amount your body requires will provide you with the following benefits:
- less binge eating,
- relief from stomach issues such as indigestion,
- healthy Glucose and Fat Levels,
- an increase in satiety, and
- minimizing food waste.
Limit sugary drinks
Too much sugar in our diet causes weight gain, fatigue, acne, and an increased risk of developing fatty liver, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
All of which are unappealing and even bothersome. So, for a healthy lifestyle, it is important to avoid or limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks.
A good hack you can try is to substitute plain water for soda or other sugary drinks.
We all know the amount of sugar added to a can of soda. Other refreshing beverages like blended iced coffee and milk tea. Including “healthy” drinks such as fruit drinks and fruit juices also have high sugar content.
As such, sticking to water when you’re thirsty reduces a significant portion of your daily sugar intake, leading to a healthier you.
Regular sleep-wake routine
Another hack for a healthy lifestyle is to maintain a regular sleeping schedule. That is, aim to have 7-9 hours of sleep. And to sleep and wake up at about the same time every day. Yes, even on weekends.
A consistent sleep schedule will aid in the promotion of a healthy circadian rhythm. Which is important for your immune system, metabolism, and digestion.
A regular sleep pattern will also result in better sleep quality, with the brain and body fully rested and restored. As a result, cognitive function and productivity are improved throughout the day.
Summary
To summarize, living a healthy lifestyle has become increasingly difficult due to the hectic pace of our lives and the abundance of food options and convenience available to us.
However, with the help of the 10 amazing hacks listed below, living a healthy lifestyle can be so much simpler and easier to implement.
- Start the day with water.
- Soak in the morning sun.
- Take the stairs.
- Walk.
- Better yet, do some jumping jacks.
- Regular exercise.
- Add a few more servings of vegetables.
- Portion control.
- Limit sugary drinks. And
- Have a regular sleep-wake routine.
Implementing any combination, or better yet, all of these hacks will definitely result in a better and healthier you.
Please share your thoughts or ideas about 10 Amazing Healthy Lifestyle Hacks For You in the comments below. And if you liked this article, you might be interested as well in these articles:
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Outside reference/s:
Cortisol
What Is Your Circadian Rhythm and Why Is It Important?
Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman: “You Will Feel The Benefits Immediately”
