5 Simple Ways to Live Healthier

Life is busy and sometimes we find we’re not taking quite as much care of our health and fitness as we might have aimed for. At this very point in my life I know I need to get back on the track to healthier living. My focus has been on my little one and my home and finding ways to supplement our family income, and the little everyday things I used to do to keep at least somewhat fit for life’s challenges have fallen by the wayside. I need to remember these 5 little habits that made a big difference in looking and feeling healthier at the end of the day.

Drink lots of water. Water is amazing. The difference you can see in yourself when you’re in the habit of drinking the recommended 8-10 glasses a day, compared with when you’re hardly drinking any, is drastic. Skin looks better, eyes look brighter, and you just feel better. I’ve even known someone who swears by drinking lots of it to fix cavities.

Play music. Who can resist busting a move when their favourite tunes come on? Play music as much as you can. Not only is it a better way to fill that silence some of us flick on the TV to drown out, the rhythmswill probably give your body a bit of a push into movement. If you’re busy getting things done while your stereo is pumping out the beats, you might not even notice that you’re moving along with them.

Actively watch. Alright. So you just feel like sitting in front of the TV and catching up on your favourite show. Unless you’re completely exhausted or not feeling well, you probably have enough energy to get at least a little bit of exercise while you watch. Stretches, side-bends, crunches, leg-lifts, jumping jacks, planks… there are lots of little movements that can be done mindlessly, instead of sitting stationary on the couch.

Make cuts. The easiest way I’ve found to avoid eating junk food and make healthier fueling choices is to make a commitment to restrict yourself from certain things. Sugar, wheat, dyes, foods that start with “n”… whatever you can get behind cutting out of your diet. And no, “vegetables” or “mushrooms” doesn’t count.

Play. If you have kids, take advantage of the fact that you have a reason to get moving for fun every day. Play pretend games with active roles, play with a ball, jump around, run a race, chase each other, play a sport – there are a ton of ways you can improve your fitness. And if you don’t have kids? There are lots of adults playing sports and active games. Seek out a team, or call a friend and head to the park. Or volunteer your time to an organization like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. There are lots of youngsters who would love to have an adult actively involved in their lives.

It’s time to get back on track and remember that taking care of ME is just as important as taking care of the rest of my family. Maybe one or all of these simple tricks will help you, too, in balancing your day to include at least a little bit of healthy living choices.