It’s been said that optimum health is a journey taken one step, one habit and one day at a time. You can become a healthier, happier person by just changing a few habits. I’ve always believed that most of us know what we need to change, we just never get around to doing it.
Good health is no accident; it’s a result of consistent healthy habits. Developing healthy habits now will ensure that you not only live long but live well.
There can be nothing better for me than to offer advice to help others ensure their on going physical and emotional health. But as I say to my clients on to frequent a basis, I can lead you to the water but I can’t make you drink it.
Today I’ve realised that in reality there are many people out there who don’t know what the steps to a healthy lifestyle are. I was talking to a young man who has had to this point a hard life. He has found all the ways not to live. He has discovered gambling and alcohol, and has fought against addiction to both. A fight he is now winning.
He was recently diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and acid reflux. This has made him want to learn about healthy living. He is on a journey now where he is desperate to learn as much as he can, in as many areas as he can. He will grow so fast and I have no doubts his health will improve dramatically. I also know that he will teach what he learns, being someone that wants to give so much back. He will come a shining example, of someone that got things so wrong, but found the answers, and turned it all around. I can’t wait to see him blossom.
Working with him has re-motivated me to once and for all complete my ‘Healthy Lifestyle Living eBook Series’ the ultimate health, fitness, stress management and personal development writing, that I started many years ago. He has shown me that there is still so many people who don’t have the answers to how to live a healthy lifestyle. So I am stepping up my work on this once again, and hope to bring you news soon.
Every one of us has dreams that we are striving to reach and milestones we wish achieve. For him it is to make up for his lost years and contribute to the world we live in, to me it’s making the difference and helping people like him in every way I can.
So here I just want to give a few very easy but vitally important steps that you all need to follow. Not just to ensure you are living a healthy lifestyle but that you are getting yourselves to peak performance.
So to you James, and all my readers these are the steps to a healthy lifestyle that I suggest you incorporate into your day to day living.
Exercise every day
Daily exercise is definitely vital to a healthy lifestyle. Your body thrives on movement. We are made to move. You don’t need to be a fitness fanatic or a Olympian athlete to stay healthy, but you do need to keep moving. You should aim to be doing between 30 to 45 minutes a day. My recommendation is to start off with walking. Start slow, but overtime build up your speed. But also your muscles need to be used so my personal choice is weight training, which I know anyone can do, whatever your age, and the benefits are awesome.
Never Miss Breakfast
Including breakfast in your daily routine is a great habit for living a healthy lifestyle. You are starving your body for between 6 to 8 hours while you’re asleep, so you now need to refuel it first thing in the morning. If you want to be full of energy, and living at peak then feed yourself before you get going. This is by far the most important meal of the day and you are robbing yourself every time you miss out on it. And people I’m not talking about a cup of coffee. My favourite choice is a bowl of porridge and a couple of slices of wholemeal toast. Simple and quick, but extremely nutritious.
Get enough sleep
Your mind and body need time to recharge and replenish. So sleep is an essential requirement for a healthy lifestyle. Get a good night’s rest makes sure you don’t feel out of balance , as I’m sure many of you have felt the opposite. After a night or two of too little sleep you feel totally out of sync and your performance crashes. So make it a habit to get a good 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
Breathe Deeply Often
You may have to breathe 24/7 but I know you never think about the process. You just let it happen automatically. And too many of you allow shallow breathing to be your norm., Well this is no good for you. Shallow breathing deprives the brain, blood and cells of oxygen, affecting concentration and can make you tired, cranky and stressed. By focusing your mind at times during the day on deep breathing not only will you be filling your body with more oxygen you will also be relaxing your mind and strengthening your body. This is rarely mentioned as part of healthy lifestyle living, but I think it’s really important.
Consume Protein
This must be an essential part of any eating plan, and should make up anywhere from 10%-25% of your total calories. Protein lasts a long time in your stomach; and when combined with high-fiber foods helps you feel fuller on fewer calories. Enjoy small portions of nuts, low-fat dairy, beans, lean meat, poultry, or fish.
Drink plenty of water
Too often people don’t drink enough fluids and become dehydrated which isn’t good for their health. Drinking enough water is a key to maintaining health. You have to make drinking water a daily habit. Water is absolutely vital to good health. Next to air, water is the most essential element to our survival. The body cannot work without it, just as a car cannot run without fuel and oil.
Eat Well
Good nutrition is critical to a healthy lifestyle. A good diet is central to overall good health, Our diet affects our entire well-being. Our diet, more than any other factor, has the biggest influence on our health. When it comes to a healthy diet, balance is the key to getting it right. This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right quantities, and eating the right amount of food and drink to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
Manage Stress
We’ll never live in a world that’s completely stress-free, but we can learn to navigate our stress-filled world with ease so that we live with stress, not under it. You need to manage stress effectively through stress management techniques! … You can take control of yourself and realize that you are in charge never again letting stress get the better of you.
So there you have it 8 steps to a healthy lifestyle. So now you’ve read them put them into action today.
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