Wellness habits for a healthy and happy life

A happy and healthy life is most people’s main goals. But with our demanding and busy lives we can easily be overwhelmed and end up putting our health and happiness on the side.

In this blog post I will share with you simple habits to cultivate for a healthier and happier life.

1. Start your day off right

Before going to bed, slightly let your curtains open so in the morning you can let the natural light come in. If you can’t, choose a soft alarm so you won’t wake up abruptly and start your day in a hurry.
Take some minutes to sit on your bed, look at your surroundings and stretch

2. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning

Drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up will help rehydrate your body but also help you feel more energized and awake AND then drink your coffee or tea if you want.

3. Prioritize a high protein breakfast. Avoid sugar

The first meal of your day is really important. Eating a high protein breakfast instead of a high carbohydrate one will help regulate your blood sugar and avoid craving for more carb foods. 
Overall avoid eating high glycemic index foods during the day. 

4. Try cold water at the end of each shower

Taking a cold shower might sound unpleasant for some of us but instead of taking a full cold shower you can at the end of each of your showers lower the temperature and blast yourself with cold water for a few seconds.

Cold water has many benefits such as:

• Improving circulation
• Boosting your immunity
• Enhance your energy

5. Use a fitness tracker to track your steps

With the increase of working from home, a lot of us don’t have enough physical activity. Using a fitness tracker app to track your steps is a simple way to make sure you walk 10 000 steps per day which has been adopted as the benchmark goal.

6. Eat real food

It doesn’t matter the diet you follow, make sure the base includes real food like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, eggs etc. Avoid ultra processed foods like sodas, fast foods, pizza, cookies.

7. Exercises everyday

Find some physical activities you enjoy and exercise everyday for at least 10 minutes whether it’s by walking, yoga, cardio and don’t forget to stretch your body.

8. Eat more veggies

Half of your plate should be veggies. Vegetables are a must to give your body the vitamins, antioxidants and minerals it needs. They also help keep you feeling full longer.

9. Fill your home with plants

Having plants in your home or office is a great way to purify the air but it also reduces stress, boosts your mood and creativity.

10. Spend time outside

Yes, go get your vitamin D ! Spending time outside helps with depression symptoms, stress and anxiety. It will also help you reach your physical activity goal.

11. Cultivate a positive mindset

Mindset is everything ! You can’t never go wrong by cultivating a positive mindset. It’s important to learn how to acknowledge your thoughts and emotions and to be more optimistic and look for solutions even during hardships.

12. Make time for yourself

To be able to help others you should first make yourself a priority by taking care of your physical but also mental health.

13. Practice mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is a great way to stop rushing and to just slow down to be in the present.
There are many ways to practice mindfulness in your daily life.

14. Do more things that you love

It’s essential for a healthy balanced life that you reserve some time everyday to do things YOU personally enjoy. You don’t have to work or be productive every minute of the day, you have the right to do things just for the fun of it.

15. Socialize with other people

We, as humans, need to socialize with each other. I know it’s not something easy for everyone but we can all do a step at a time. Keep in touch with your friends and family or you can even engage in group activities to meet new people that enjoy the same things as you.

16. Journal

Take a few minutes each day to write down what’s on your mind. Journaling has a lot of benefits that can help you improve your life.

Keep in mind: Don’t rush. Going for a healthier and happier life is not a race, take it one step at a time and enjoy the journey while learning and creating better habits for yourself. Remember you can’t force yourself to be happy at all times.