11 Simple Healthy Living Habits

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11 SIMPLE HEALTHY LIVING HABITS

By implementing small changes in our routines, we can create lifelong sustained habits that bring us closer to the envisioned life that we have for ourselves. While you may have heard of some of these before, it's all about taking action and that's what I'm going to help you do today.

During my last 11 years as a critical care nurse, I found these tips to be the most impactful in reducing stress and overwhelm, and increasing my energy and overall feelings of wellbeing. I hope you find inspiration to implement just one or two of these habits into your daily life and experience the same positive impact. Read till the end for some tricks to get started today and start feeling the benefits as early as tomorrow morning.

Hi, I'm Miche, welcome to my channel where I talk about essential living, restorative movement, and wholefood, plant-based eating. If these topics are of interest to you, consider subscribing to my channel. Now let's get started.

#1 ADD A DAILY SMOOTHIE

Tip number one is adding a daily smoothie to your routine.

When I was in Clinicals in nursing school, my mom loaned me her Vitamix, and I started making a smoothie before I left for Clinicals in the morning. I was astounded by how sustained my energy was through lunchtime when I included dense greens in my smoothies, such as kale and spinach. This is a habit that I've taken with me throughout my life even as I practice today.

Oftentimes I get asked what's the best blender to use when making daily smoothies and I always say the one that you already have. We don't have to over-complicate it by going out and buying fancy mixers, we just need to get started. So use the blender you have and start with the green smoothie in the morning.

#2 HYDRATION

Tip number two is hydration.

When we wake up in the mornings, our bodies are already dehydrated. So starting them running off with a full glass of water and then aiming to achieve those eight, eight-ounce glasses of water each day will ensure your body has the fluid it needs to perform all of the functions it does each day.

Another measurement is to drink half your weight in ounces. So consider someone who weighs 150 pounds, you cut that in half to 75. So, 75 ounces is approximately nine, eight-ounce glasses. One of the ways I try to get all my water in each day is by drinking it in pretty glasses and in pretty water bottles. So I always have a pretty water bottle next to my desk.

#3 WAKE UP AT THE SAME TIME

Tip number three is to wake up at the same time each morning.

When you wake up at the same time each morning your body can get on a consistent schedule, like a metronome. I find that when I go to bed at the same time each night, it makes it very easy for me to wake up naturally, even before my alarm each morning. This helps you not to start the day out groggy and feeling behind already.

#4 A SLOW START

Tip number four is a slow start.

Take some time for yourself in the morning. Even if it's just five minutes with your cup of coffee out on the back porch; or maybe sitting in your favorite chair with your dog. By jumping on a bed in the morning, waking with a start, and racing around first thing in the morning; we’re training our nervous system to be on high alert, rather than being calm and centered. We are what we repeatedly do.

#5 MOVE YOUR BODY

Tip number five is to move your body every single day.

This doesn't have to be a rigorous workout. This just has to be overall movement so our bodies are moving each day. This can be an early morning walk with the dogs; or perhaps an evening walk after dinner to aid in digestion. Our bodies were designed for total body movement, so get some movement in each day.

#6 VITAMIN D

Tip number six is vitamin D.

Get some time outdoors every single day. The most readily available form of vitamin D to our bodies is sunshine. Just 15 minutes of sunshine each day should get you your daily dose of vitamin D, preferably in the morning. So when you consider your early morning walks are already including your morning dose of vitamin D, we're already winning at the game of life first thing in the morning.

#7 A WELL-STOCKED FRIDGE

Tip number seven is a well-stocked fridge equals easy meals.

Sunday is my meal prep day. Everything that I've gotten at the produce stand has been washed, prepped, in their green bins, and ready for the week.

Don't get elaborate. Keep it simple. I basically eat the same staff on rotation week after week, but when it’s fully prepped and in their green bins and ready to eat, it makes it easier to plan my meals throughout the week.

#8 MEAL PLAN & PREP

Tip number eight is meal planning and prepping.

By planning your meals from what you already have on hand and what was in season at the grocery store, you can jot down, even on a scratch piece of paper, the meals you have the contents for making that week. Such as a big batch of soup or a one-pot meal, and salad fixings. One week it may be Greek salad, the next week it may be a garden salad or Arcadian salad with raspberries.

By planning potential meals ahead of time, when you get to Thursday evening and your brain is tired and you have cognitive decline due to so much decision-making throughout the week, having a list of potential meals that you can just refer to makes it easy to avoid ordering out.

#9 PLAN SNACKS

Tip number nine is to plan your snacks.

The 3:00 PM. cravings can hit hard in the afternoon. You can have the best eating habits, which can be totally derailed by poor snacking habits in the afternoons and evenings. Here’s a good question to ask yourself anytime you feel hungry. Do you crave broccoli or mashed potatoes? If not, you're not hungry, you're just craving your cravings. If you're craving sweets, that's just a craving, you're not truly hungry. Also, sometimes thirst can be misinterpreted as hunger, so make sure you're drinking the water that you have set out for the day.

#10 SLEEP HYGIENE

Tip number ten is sleep hygiene.

Now this crucial habit could be a video all its own. We spend a third of our lives sleeping. It's when the body resets itself. It's when the brain takes the time to turn short-term memories into long-term storage. It’s when the body has time to rest, restore, renew, and build new tissues. Here are three good starter tips for good sleep hygiene.

1. Go to bed at the same time each evening

2. Make sure you’re sleeping in a cool environment

3. No electronics in the bedroom

So consider turning the thermostat down a couple of degrees while you sleep. And as a bonus, consider turning off the TV and all electronics an hour before bedtime. For me, I like to go to bed at 9:00 and 9:30 and then it gives me time to read my book.

#11 MODERATE STRESS & OVERWHELM

Tip number eleven is to moderate your stress and overwhelm.

We can do this by not over-committing ourselves. Take this into consideration before you say yes. Leave on time or even early, so you're not in a rush. Don't leave things till the last minute. If you know, you have a trip coming up, you can start laying your clothes out the weekend prior so you're not in a rush the night before. And finally, ask for help. We did not need to do it all alone. Ask for help.

*BONUS TIP: START SMALL

And for your bonus tip…start small.

Small habits implemented consistently through time reap huge results. Hook on one of these new habits to something you already do consistently. Such as drinking that first glass of water while the coffee is brewing. Wake up just five minutes early for the next 30 days to create some white space for yourself in the mornings.

ps. Don't tell anyone…this time is for you.

LET’S RECAP

Alright, here’s a recap of the 11 simple healthy living habits you can begin to implement today:

1. Daily smoothie

2. Hydrate

3. Wake up at the same time each day

4. A slow start to your morning

5. Move your body every day

6. Vitamin D

7. A well-stocked fridge

8. Meal planning & prepping

9. Plan your snacks

10. Good sleep hygiene

11. Moderate your stress/overwhelm

    BONUS *Start small

I'd love to know which one of these simple habits you're going to implement first, let me know in the comments below. And if you're looking for more inspiration on essential living, restorative movement, and whole-food, plant-based eating, be sure to follow me for more. Thanks for reading.

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