10 Shortcuts to a Happier and a Healthier Life
Incorporate these simple habits into your day to keep you calm and clear-minded
Days can get busy, and weeks even more so, and it’s easy to get caught up in the routine without remembering to appreciate everything along the way. However, there are some simple habits you can incorporate into your life to help you enjoy it more and stay both motivated and grounded. Check out these ideas to get you started.
2. Try a new recipe every week
With so many cookery books and online recipes available, it doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced chef or an amateur in the kitchen, there’s a dish out there for you.
Setting yourself the goal of cooking at least one new recipe per week will achieve three things: 1) You’ll learn something new and can enjoy the sense of achievement that will bring. 2) You’ll increase your culinary repertoire and may discover simple dishes you love to make. 3) You’ll spend at least one night per week focusing your mind on following a recipe, giving it a break from any other worries.
With so many cookery books and online recipes available, it doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced chef or an amateur in the kitchen, there’s a dish out there for you.
Setting yourself the goal of cooking at least one new recipe per week will achieve three things: 1) You’ll learn something new and can enjoy the sense of achievement that will bring. 2) You’ll increase your culinary repertoire and may discover simple dishes you love to make. 3) You’ll spend at least one night per week focusing your mind on following a recipe, giving it a break from any other worries.
3. Don’t overbook yourself
The elusive work-life balance can sometimes seem unattainable. In the search to keep up the ‘life’ end of the deal, it’s easy to overbook the diary and find you have a great work-social life balance, but no real time for yourself. If you feel as if you’ve been rushed off your feet lately, then schedule in a night – or even a weekend – to just relax, and say no to any other offers that pop up.
Carve out a space in your home, even if it’s just a tiny corner, filled with things you love and enjoy, for some quality staying in time.
See 10 ways to create a space in your home just for you
The elusive work-life balance can sometimes seem unattainable. In the search to keep up the ‘life’ end of the deal, it’s easy to overbook the diary and find you have a great work-social life balance, but no real time for yourself. If you feel as if you’ve been rushed off your feet lately, then schedule in a night – or even a weekend – to just relax, and say no to any other offers that pop up.
Carve out a space in your home, even if it’s just a tiny corner, filled with things you love and enjoy, for some quality staying in time.
See 10 ways to create a space in your home just for you
4. Limit technology
Being connected all the time, while very convenient, can prevent you from enjoying where you are, and there are so many mini-moments in the day that are wonderful just on their own.
If you’re having lunch with a friend, pop your phone on ‘do not disturb’ so you can give them your full attention; if you’re in a beautiful spot, take time to admire it with your own eyes before reaching for a lens; if you’re walking through town, remove your headphones and enjoy the sounds of the street.
You might try creating a tech-free space in your home – this might be your bed or a favourite armchair – and keep it phone, laptop, TV and tablet free.
Being connected all the time, while very convenient, can prevent you from enjoying where you are, and there are so many mini-moments in the day that are wonderful just on their own.
If you’re having lunch with a friend, pop your phone on ‘do not disturb’ so you can give them your full attention; if you’re in a beautiful spot, take time to admire it with your own eyes before reaching for a lens; if you’re walking through town, remove your headphones and enjoy the sounds of the street.
You might try creating a tech-free space in your home – this might be your bed or a favourite armchair – and keep it phone, laptop, TV and tablet free.
5. Buy an actual alarm clock
Many of us rely on our mobile phones to wake us up in the morning. While they make effective alarm clocks, this also means you’re waking up to all those emails and notifications that you received overnight, and there’s no need for that to be the first thing you focus on.
Invest in an old-fashioned alarm clock, and save the emails until after breakfast.
Many of us rely on our mobile phones to wake us up in the morning. While they make effective alarm clocks, this also means you’re waking up to all those emails and notifications that you received overnight, and there’s no need for that to be the first thing you focus on.
Invest in an old-fashioned alarm clock, and save the emails until after breakfast.
6. Take a weekly class
Whether it’s life drawing, yoga or salsa, find a regular class for something you love or have always wanted to try and schedule in time to go each week. Aside from the enjoyment you’ll get out of each class, you’ll also feel a sense of accomplishment for having tried something new, and might even meet a few interesting and like-minded people along the way.
If there’s not much in your local area that interests you, suggest starting something with a few friends – perhaps you could take it in turns to host a weekly book group or craft circle?
Whether it’s life drawing, yoga or salsa, find a regular class for something you love or have always wanted to try and schedule in time to go each week. Aside from the enjoyment you’ll get out of each class, you’ll also feel a sense of accomplishment for having tried something new, and might even meet a few interesting and like-minded people along the way.
If there’s not much in your local area that interests you, suggest starting something with a few friends – perhaps you could take it in turns to host a weekly book group or craft circle?
7. Meditate
Once considered the preserve of hippies, meditation is now recognised as an effective way to combat stress and anxiety, and give you a more balanced perspective. There are a number of mainstream apps, podcasts and videos to help you on your journey to focus and clear the mind. Why not try out something like the Headspace app on your next commute or when you wake up tomorrow?
Once considered the preserve of hippies, meditation is now recognised as an effective way to combat stress and anxiety, and give you a more balanced perspective. There are a number of mainstream apps, podcasts and videos to help you on your journey to focus and clear the mind. Why not try out something like the Headspace app on your next commute or when you wake up tomorrow?
8. Make coffee an occasional treat
As habits go, coffee is a pretty tough one to quit. From the delicious taste to the little rush of energy it can give you in the morning, it’s a truly enjoyable experience.
But it can also have negative effects. It can raise blood sugar, cause mood swings, alter sleep patterns… and worst of all are the withdrawal headaches.
If you’re currently on two, three or more cups per day, try cutting back gradually, perhaps swapping some of your cups for a herbal tea or other hot drink. Then you could consider removing it from your daily routine, so it becomes a treat rather than the norm. You’ll not only enjoy it more, you’ll also be able to feel the effects again if you need a quick boost.
As habits go, coffee is a pretty tough one to quit. From the delicious taste to the little rush of energy it can give you in the morning, it’s a truly enjoyable experience.
But it can also have negative effects. It can raise blood sugar, cause mood swings, alter sleep patterns… and worst of all are the withdrawal headaches.
If you’re currently on two, three or more cups per day, try cutting back gradually, perhaps swapping some of your cups for a herbal tea or other hot drink. Then you could consider removing it from your daily routine, so it becomes a treat rather than the norm. You’ll not only enjoy it more, you’ll also be able to feel the effects again if you need a quick boost.
9. Start the day with a glass of water
Try leaving a carafe or glass of fresh water on your bedside table each night, and drink it as one of the first things you do in the morning. If you’re feeling extra healthy, add a tablespoon or two of organic apple cider vinegar to the water and mix before drinking. It helps to regulate blood sugar and balance pH, among other things.
Try leaving a carafe or glass of fresh water on your bedside table each night, and drink it as one of the first things you do in the morning. If you’re feeling extra healthy, add a tablespoon or two of organic apple cider vinegar to the water and mix before drinking. It helps to regulate blood sugar and balance pH, among other things.
10. Get outside more
With spring well on its way, now is the perfect time to enjoy more fresh air. Get out into the garden or head to a local park at every opportunity. If you have a free weekend, escape into the countryside for a longer walk and a pub lunch. Or if you’re meeting a friend for lunch at a restaurant, suggest a picnic instead.
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Tell us:
How do you maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle? Share your top tips in the Comments below.
With spring well on its way, now is the perfect time to enjoy more fresh air. Get out into the garden or head to a local park at every opportunity. If you have a free weekend, escape into the countryside for a longer walk and a pub lunch. Or if you’re meeting a friend for lunch at a restaurant, suggest a picnic instead.
10 Things Every Cleanliness Freak Can Relate to
14 Things You Need to Do Now for Your Partner’s Sake
Tell us:
How do you maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle? Share your top tips in the Comments below.
The benefits of exercise are well known, from relieving stress and anxiety to boosting self-esteem and energy. We all know it’s something we should be doing, but it can be tricky to incorporate it into an already busy daily routine.
The key is to start small and be realistic – and plan! Planning is everything. It will help you to hold yourself accountable and ensure you’re exercising the right amount. Make an exercise plan at the start of each week, scribbling in the days you’ll be able to work out based on your other commitments.
If you currently do little exercise, then start with walking: could you combine walking into your daily commute? Or perhaps try a standing desk for a few hours a day. You can buy adjustable workstations, or make your own standing desk by positioning a shelf at standing height and teaming it with a bar stool for those times when you need to sit down.