Healthy Habits to Add to Your Daily Schedule in the New Year

There are no shortcuts to living a healthy life, it’s a process that requires discipline and determination. Everyone’s body is different and everyone needs to discover the routine that is right for them. Here are some healthy habits to help guide you on your own health journey. Make 2017 the year that you decide to improve your quality of life.

Stretch Every Morning

One of the best habits you can incorporate into your daily routine is regular stretching. All you need is a few minutes every morning and you can experience some wonderful health benefits.

Stretching in the morning combined with a focus on proper breathing can actually help wake you up in the morning, energizing you so that you’re ready to start your day. A regular stretching routine is great for improving posture and is highly recommended for anyone who finds that they spend most of their day sitting. Stretching also increases range of motion, helps coordination, and can help prevent muscle strains.

One of the best stretches to do right after you wake up is a standing forward bend. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart and your knees slightly bent. Slowly bend your upper body downward to hang over your legs, hold this position for 2-3 seconds and then come up slowly, one vertebra at a time.

Reflect on One Good Thing from the Day

“In Confessions of a Winning Poker Player, Jack King said, ‘Few Players recall big pots they have won, strange as it seems, but every player can remember with remarkable accuracy the outstanding tough beats of his career.’”                

~Rounders (1998)

It’s incredibly easy to fixate on the negative things that happen to us throughout the day, the aggravating commute, the spilled cup of coffee, etc. Take a moment at the end of the day to think about something positive that happened to you, even if it was only a small victory. This kind of positive thinking can help reduce stress and ease anxiety.

At the end of your day, ask yourself what was one good thing that happened to me and what was one thing I did that helped another person?

Read Daily

Studies have shown that reading has many health benefits. When you read, it’s like giving your brain a workout. Reading helps improves memory and can help fight off the cognitive decline. Reading also expands your vocabulary so you can dazzle your friends with interesting words like “kerfuffle” or “cavalcade.”

Reading is one of the few leisure activities that you can participate in that leaves you feeling good afterwards. 3 hours of binge-watching a television show and your body feels sluggish and your eyes hurt. After 3 hours of reading, you feel accomplished and you may have even learned something. 

Try reading while working out. Many exercise machines such as treadmills have sturdy ledges that are great places to rest a book or E-reader. End your day with a book. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, you may find that the act of curling up with a good book in bed is relaxing.

Create a Relaxation Space

Stress and anxiety creep into our lives from all angles. When you feel stressed out, your productivity and your health suffers. When you do work from your bedroom, you start to associate that space with productivity and anxiety and that makes sleep difficult.

Try picking one room to designate as your own personal relaxation space. Control the lighting, pick your favorite furniture, and listen to your favorite music. Have other rooms that are designated for work. This way, you can separate work and relaxation, and calm your mind at the end of a long day.

Aroma can have a big impact on relaxation and mood. Try using an essential oil diffuser to inspire positive energy and refresh your senses.

Embrace Technology

There are many great technological advances happening every day. Don’t be afraid to learn about new advances and products that may be able to help you live your life to the fullest. Use luxuries such as massages, aromatherapy, and electrotherapy are now available in your own home. Keep an eye open for great products from health technology companies like truMedic that can help you relax and live your life without pain and stress.

Marc | Copywriter