With spring already here for some, and on its way for others, everybody that isn't already involved in exercise as part of their lifestyle is probably feeling the urge to get active. I find the cooler weather can make me feel lethargic and less energetic because I'm cold, and it's easier to curl up in my warm layers with my computer on my lap and not do anything. But spring...spring is another thing all together. Spring puts a spring in my step, makes me feel energized, happy, more confident and ambitious to tackle problems I maybe didn't feel the need to in the winter.
When the weather breaks, and the sun is out and it's warm, the snow is melting and you know spring is around the corner, that's when I kick myself into gear to get outside, and to get healthier in all areas of my lifesyle. I start to work out more, get outside more, exercise outside more, drink more water, and eat better, all because spring has arrived. I know others must feel the same way too about this, which is why I made a post about easy ways to get healtheir and fit this year.
Get Enough Sleep
I know I don't perform as well after a while if I haven't had enough sleep, yet am working all day and then again until I go to bed. If you find it difficult to get enough sleep over night, then try a nap during the day, it can re-energize to get through the day. The body will sacrifice anything to get enough sleep, which is why you should work on going to bed earlier to get the right amount of sleep for your body, so you can wake up and feel refreshed and ready to start your day.
Get Outside More
All you need is 30 minutes of sun everyday to get all the vitamin D your body needs. So if you only get about 2 minutes, maybe try walking a block to get to your next errend, or eat outside,or go for a walk to get your 30 minutes.
Drink More Water
The sun has a way of sucking out the moisture from your body, not to mention what our own bodies use up in day. It's one of the easiest things to do. To make it easier on yourself, write down how much you drink in a day (be honest), and you will know how much more you need. A great way to add more water, and also curb your stomach is to drink a glass of water before each meal, or snack. Also, if you find you are hungry, try drinking some water, sometimes when your hungry, your really just dehydrated. Since the weather is warming up, you're more likely to take this piece of advice into practice: drink cold water not warm. You will burn more calories this way, because your body has to burn more calories to warm the water up.
Get Active
Exercise more than what you are doing right now. If you're anything like me, you will find this easier to do, for the simple reasons that its warmer outside, and you feel more motivated to do so. Even if you go to the gym consistently, take the expression "hit two birds with one stone" and combine it in some way with being outside. It doesn't have to be much. It could be a quick run, or a walk, or yoga, whatever, but this way it makes it even easier to get healthier when your getting more than one at once. And don't forget to take some water with you. Now that's a trifecta.
Eat Better
I'm sure you knew that it was going to be on this post somewhere. Eat healthier. That means try to buy, incorporate more fruits and vegetables, and healthy nuts, and things into your diet. Your body will thank you. Just remember to ease into it. If your body is accustomed to a sugary, salty, junk food type diet, abandoning that completely for most people will put them into withdrawal, as the body craves what it has become accustomed to. So just add more healthy, good food, and eat a little less junk in each meal, and you can adapt your body to a healthy lifestyle. It takes time though to adapt.
Take It Easy
Relax. Don't take every little thing so seriously in life. Instead, let it roll off your shoulders. Stress is not good, it contributes to why so many people are sick, and aging faster than they should. Take some time every day to disconnect from the world. Turn off your phone, computer, and do something that you find relaxing. Read a book, listen to some music, meditate, do yoga, paint, spend some time hanging out with your dog - whatever works for you. Just make sure you take the time to do it, and you will be happy you did.
Schedule It In
Depending on your life right now some of these may seem more difficult to include into your daily life, but once you make a habit of it, by continuously doing it, they can become automatic. Before you get to that point, you might have to be reminded about doing it. Get out your phone, agenda, whatever it is that you use, (or both) and make appointments of time in your day. Set reminders, and you will be making positive and healthy improvements in your daily routine.
Keep Track of Progress
When you do any of these things, remember to write it down, or if you prefer; use an app. By writing it down you keep track of the progress you've made. I like to keep an exercise and food journal to keep track of what I put into my body, and how much water I need to drink, by looking at what I have had that day. If I don't reach my intake goals for that day, I try to make up for it the next day. Every day may not be perfect in terms of you meeting your goals, but staying persistent will get you there, step by step.
By persistently putting in the effort to change our daily lives, we then change our lifestyles, and begin to live healthier lives. Step by step, day by day we get closer to achieving our goals, until those goals have been achieved and then we set new goals. Our lives are about progress, and if we stay positive and persistent we will get there.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
~ Aristotle
What do you do to get healthier? What ways have worked best for you? What are your tips?
No comments:
Post a Comment