General health may be at risk and sometimes it can seem difficult to get fully motivated to get fit, especially if daily stresses result in reaching for comfort food and drink at the end of your working day.
Taking action is the only way to get results, setting achievable, measurable goals by creating a plan to get more focused.
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Here's a few ideas that can get you started on making those changes to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Step 1. Diet
There is a reason they say get your five a day and that's because fruit and veg are exactly what your body needs. It doesn't need to be costly either as there are plenty of frozen veg and fruit options which are just as healthy.
Cutting out any kind of processed foods, high in sat fat, sugar, coffee and booze. That will take some time and will need to be a gradual process. I'd highly suggest tackling one thing at a time and fully prepare for it by researching as much as possible.
Step 2. Sleep
Here's a funny one - get eight hours sleep a night. Tough if you have small children/babies as you will more than likely be functioning on broken sleep, which is super painful, I know.
My issue is I am up late at night working and trying to unwind from the day and late working. Again, I need to get organised and go to bed early. I've recently had a coffee detox and I'm already feeling incredible benefits from this, including better quality sleep. Another top tip is to practice yoga or mindfulness before having a warm bath to get you prepped for an amazing night of sleep.
Step 3. Water
Ideally, we need around 2.5 litres of water per day. I am good at this anyway, but some days I don't quite reach the 2.5 litres. I have tried water apps but since I have decided to stop using my phone so much, I will rely on a pen and paper to tally when I have had a glass/bottle of water. I plan to leave notes around the house to remind me of the benefits of drinking water, such as feeling alert, having amazing skin and losing weight.
Step 4. Exercise
Sometimes we need a little kick up the bum to get motivated to exercise. I have various DVDs that I can stick on, I just need to do it. I used to love going to the gym, bike riding and running. But since the girls' birth and being on my own, I am very limited so everything needs to be done at home. Walking to your local shops rather than driving, walking up and down the stairs, low quantity reps of easy to do moves are all good changes you could make.
Step 5. Mindfulness
If you are a regular reader then you will know how much I love mindfulness and how it helps me on a day to day basis. If I can focus my mind more on the here and now even more than I do, then I know I can make this all work out. I just need focus, discipline and motivation and this will come from being mindful and practising every day. I usually do 10 minutes before bed so I will stick to my usual routine of this and potentially add another mindfulness session during the day.
Step 6. Yoga
Yoga is a great way to wind-down, especially just before a hot bath or first thing in the morning. It sets me up for the day ahead or for a great night sleep. You don't need to be a yogi to practice. There are so many basic moves you can do to benefit from yoga.
As a creature of habit, I need routine and something to work towards so I have created a time table to work from to keep me further focused and motivated. I have also created a blank planner in case anyone else wants to use it and feel free to look at mine as a guide.
You can download the planners over on my wellbeing and lifestyle blog.
Always consult your doctor when making dramatic lifestyle changes especially if you have long term health issues.
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