These days, more than ever, we need ways to get healthier right now. ASAP. Higher stress levels, distressing news and media, things changing all around us, and more can distract us from taking care of ourselves.
Being on a health journey is exactly that. A journey. There is always something you can do to improve your health and your lifestyle no matter where you are on your journey. Here are 20 ways to get healthier right now.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither were you. Pick one or two favorites that speak to you and print the list so you can add on when you’re ready!
Baby steps is the key to creating a healthy lifestyle that works for you.
20 Ways To Get Healthier Right Now
1.Drink Enough Water
Water affects more than you know within the body. From energy levels, to sleep quality. The amount each individual needs can depend on many factors like food, outside temperatures, and activity levels. But, a whopping 75% of people are chronically dehydrated! Imagine how energetic you’d be if you were getting enough!!
Read more: How much water should you drink every day?
2.Make a Meal Plan
Believe it or not, planning ahead and prepping your meals is the true key to your success. While the grocery stores have many healthy options in their ready made section, nothing beats being prepared!
Read More: Get my tips for meal prepping and why you need to be planning your meals
3. Kick The Soft Drinks
Sugar is nasty stuff. Artificial sweeteners are even worse! That also means diet soda is not even remotely healthier or easier on your body than the real stuff.
Personally when I get a soda craving I mix half a glass with one of my favorite natural juices and top it off with some sparkling water. You still get the fizz, and it’s cold and sweet, but there’s actually some health value to it and it counts towards your water intake!
4.Get Moving
You can take this however you will….get in 10k steps, walk instead of drive, exercise for 30 min. While a proper exercise session is of course preferable, any movement is the real message here. Whatever you’re currently doing for movement, take it one step up.
5.Turn The Electronics Off Early
Computers, phones, and tablets, OH MY! There’s nothing wrong with a little screen time but being glued to it on a constant basis has been scientifically proven to be bad for your health. In fact, being in front of your electronics less than 30 minutes before you go to bed can interfere with your quality of sleep.
6.Go To Bed A Little Earlier
The percentage of people that are sleep deprived is really quite shocking. Nearly half the population (exact numbers vary depending on which study you read) doesn’t get enough sleep on a regular basis.
Maybe you spend a little too much time playing games on your phone while laying in bed. Or, maybe you’re a sleep deprived mom, like me. I’m averaging 4-5 hours of sleep a night thanks to my night dwelling creature little angel.
Whatever you reason, head to bed a little earlier. 30 minutes, an hour, whatever it takes.
7. Eat an extra serving of fresh vegetables
“I don’t need more vegetables” said no person ever! Eating the full rainbow of fruits and vegetables can give you the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals needed to keep us healthy. One serving = 1 cup. Eat up!!
8. Spend some time in the fresh air
It’s nothing new, this concept of getting outside. But how easy it is to forget (for those of us who don’t have dogs reminding us they want a walk) when you’re stuck inside working. Make a conscious effort to get outside for just 20-30 minutes a day and you’d be amazed at what happens to your stress level.
Also, being outside in the sun (without sunscreen) gives your body the chance to increase Vitamin D levels in the body. Vitamin D is a very necessary nutrient for all sorts of bodily functions including a good immune system, so go outside and get some sunshine!
9. Think more positively
The power of the mind is an incredible thing. But also a trainable thing. Yes trainable. The art of letting go.
Watch yourself throughout the day and notice how many little things your brain immediately jumps to the negative. Like when someone cuts you off in traffic (JERK!!), or when something little just doesn’t go your way (Pity Party!!).
When that person cuts you off in traffic, say a little prayer for their safety. Someone else may not be as quick on the brakes as you are. When something doesn’t go your way, I’ve personally noticed it’s usually for the best even though I may not see it at the time. Tell yourself it’s ok and find another solution. I bet what you find is even better!
*Quick story – one time not long ago, life happened one morning and I was running about 15 minutes late for work. When I was nearly there I got stuck in traffic for a very fresh, very major accident accident involving fatalities. Emergency crews had not made it to the scene yet. What if I had been on time? I might have been involved in that, and I’m so grateful life intervened that morning, even though it looked to be a pretty crappy morning.
10.Take a minute to appreciate something small
This may sound a bit like a cliche but I guarantee it will make you love every day of your life. As you go about your day, be mindful of the little things. The smell of coffee, a nice crisp breeze, someone quirky and predictable in your life doing something they do every day… one of your kids maybe, or a coworker, your pets’ habits. Nothing big. Just small.
These little things create a comfortable space for you. So even if you’re having a rough day these things are there to give you some good. Just pick one little thing every day and by the end of a week you have 7. By the end of the month, 30.
11.Take your vitamins
This is probably the easiest on the list for the journey to get healthier. It only takes 5 seconds. Just as a large number of people are dehydrated, just as many, or even more, aren’t getting proper nutrition. And while meal planning and clean eating really are the best way to fix that, sometimes you need a little extra. Sometimes, your day takes an unplanned turn and your eating plan takes a turn too. A good multi vitamin can help keep you on track.
Emphasis on GOOD QUALITY multi vitamins! The cheapest synthetic ones are not usually well absorbed by the body. This is my favorite brand that my family and I take. Affordable, naturally sourced, and good clean vitamins. They even have time release ones that help increase your absorption!
12.Have a glass of wine
…Or any fermented beverage for that matter. So the message behind this one is two fold…
- Do what you need to in order to relax – That may be a glass of wine, or a hot bath, taking a nice walk, or a good book, meditation, or a reasonable size of comfort food. Do what makes you happy
- Fermented foods are great for health and digestion – while the process wine goes through these days is really not the best for health like it once was, one glass of wine a day still has some benefits. Have a beer, or kombucha. Pickles, saurkraut, and so many more! It’s good for the digestion!
13. Sit up straight
Sitting up straight means so much more than good posture! It can also mean improved digestion and circulation, less back pain, better muscle health, an easier time breathing, improved concentration, and more! So do as your mother said, and sit up straight!!
14. Stretch out/Do Some Yoga
There’s an old philosophy I was taught in yoga teacher training that goes something like this…”you’re only as old as your spine is flexible”. I love that.
With the “sitting pandemic” that is sweeping the world right, it is more important than ever to stretch the body out. It will take care of back pain, poor posture, general energy, stress relief, help you sleep better, and so much more.
15. Laugh at yourself
It is really important not to take yourself so seriously! There’s a time and a place for everything. A time for seriousness and no mistakes (for instance, the work place), and a time to lighten up.
It’s ok if that embarrassing incident takes you a little time to laugh about, but the important thing is that you learn to find humor in the stupid mistakes we make. And remember that everyone does stupid stuff. No one is perfect.
16. Stop Making Comparisons
Some comparisons are motivating, and some can be quite toxic. One of my favorite quotes is “Don’t compare your beginning with someone else’s middle”. Get healthier now by simply focusing on your own goals, and your own progress. As long as you are working to make progress, you’re doing a good job! If watching a certain person makes your feel insecure, then stop looking to them to compare your progress. Only follow people that motivate you.
17. Eat more good fat
This one really deserves it’s own post but here’s the short version…
You may have noticed the trend of trying the Keto diet by now. The basis of eating a very low carb diet but adding in TONS of good fats…or just bacon wrapped everything. Most people are stating that good fats help keep you full. And while that is true and when done right people lose a good amount of weight, and fast, good fats do so much more.
The body cannot make mono- and poly-un saturated fats, but they are necessary for our health. We MUST get them from food. These fats help lower harmful cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation, heart disease, and stroke! Read more from Harvard Medical School
18. Eat Slowly
What would you say if I told you that wolfing your food down could actually be why people have trouble losing weight or have poor digestion?
It’s true. Eating slowly helps your body absorb more nutrients from your food, can help you stay more hydrated, and keep you from overeating. It can also help with any post meal indigestion.
19. Listen To Peaceful Music
Have you heard of a Japanese Scientist named Masuru Emoto? His work is absolutely fascinating. He is best known for his research on how water responds to specific energies. He exposed water to all kinds of things….emotions, locations, thoughts, and music. Afterwards he would freeze the water and then photograph the crystals
The positive items created incredible, beautiful, and symmetrical crystals. The negative items formed ugly blobs that were not symmetrical, not well formed, and very scattered.
It makes you really think on the fact that your body is primarily water and we process ALL these various energies. It is important to turn off the rock and metal music sometimes and listen to something peaceful instead.
20. Keep Your Expectations Realistic
Do you find yourself making goals and then feeling discouraged because you don’t reach them? I know I’m guilty of that sometimes. You can get healthier and be more successful if you break your goals into smaller more manageable goals and keep your expectations realistic.
For instance. You want to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks. Does it happen for some people? Yes it does. Is it healthy to do something like that? Not exactly. 1-2 pounds a week is a much healthier and attainable goal to make permanent lifestyle changes.
Some of these tips you may already practice, and that is awesome!! Pick one or two, or even three that speak to you and try them for a few weeks. It takes 3 weeks to make something a habit. Print the list and when those weeks are up, pick another couple. Baby steps is the key to making a healthy lifestyle that works for you. Get healthier right now!!!
Tell me: Which ones are you going to try to get healthier?