5 Simple Changes That Have a Huge Impact On Your Health and Wellness
By Sagan MorrowWe all *know* we should be healthier, but actually putting in the effort can be a whole other issue.
Luckily, you don’t have to totally change your lifestyle to be healthy! Instead, focus on fitting health and wellness into your current way of living with these simple tips:
1. ALWAYS PLAN FOR ONE HEALTHY MEAL EVERY DAY.
When 11am rolls around, it’s hard to avoid the office donuts. But if you’re trying to get healthier, you don’t necessarily have to cut donuts out of your life forever. Instead, make sure that you have at least ONE healthy meal every day (think simple: baked fish with rice and roasted vegetables for dinner, perhaps), so that even if you give into delicious fried dough earlier in the day, you’ll still get in plenty of good-for-you nutrients later on.
2. DON’T GET TOO CAUGHT UP IN WHAT’S “GOOD FOR YOU” AND “BAD FOR YOU.”
The world doesn’t exist in black and white, and labelling some foods as “bad” may lead to detrimental mental health issues. Instead, keep it simple: move a little, take some time for yourself, and enjoy foods in as close to their natural state as possible, every day.
3. TRY TO MAKE A POINT OF EATING DARK LEAFY GREENS EVERY DAY.
Dark leafy greens are one of the healthiest foods on the planet! They are packed full of nutrients. Get into the habit of eating some kind of dark leafy green every day—think green smoothies, salads, or soups/casseroles/stews/stir-fries with dark leafy greens, for example—so that even when you are super busy and you start reaching for unhealthy foods, you’ll still get in some powerful nutrients. (Want some green smoothie ideas? Be sure to check out my free e-book, Everything You Wanted to Know About Green Smoothies.)
4. FOCUS ON ENJOYING YOUR FOOD AND YOUR EXERCISE.
If you detest Brussels sprouts (oh wait, that’s me), don’t force yourself to eat them. Find something else (well hello there, broccoli!) that you love and eat that instead. Likewise, if jogging just isn’t your thing, try swimming, or kickboxing, or belly dancing. Feel uncomfortable meditating? Get yourself an adult colouring book instead and go to town. Be creative to find healthy foods and activities that you look forward to every day.
5. CHANGE YOUR MINDSET.
You know what makes exercise a whole lot more enjoyable? Thinking of it as a game! Nowadays there are apps that help you with your running goals by providing you with a story of zombies chasing you, for example.
Life is too short to dread your next healthy meal or your next workout—thinking of it as something you get to do, rather than something you have to do, will help you maintain it and improve your mental health while you’re at it.
What other simple changes have you been making (or planning to make!) that are having a positive impact on your health and wellness? Share them with us below!
