12 Habits For A Healthier Lifestyle

It’s officially spring and coming up on my favorite time of the year.  Summer is already less than a month away, and I am already planning on really prioritizing my fitness and implementing healthier habits.

Of course I have the most motivation to better myself when summer comes around. Once the winter season starts, I am counting down the days until warmer weather approaches. The heat forces me to drink more water, I start craving fruit instead of junk food, and I get outside as much as I can. 

Nothing makes me happier and more motivated than warmer weather and sunshine. So here are 12 habits you can try to implement for a healthier lifestyle.  

Prioritize 10,000 steps a day

This can be especially difficult if you work from home. Although more difficult, it’s definitely not impossible. Take a walk first thing in the morning and before the sun starts setting. You can get a walking pad if you have minimal time throughout your work day (Under $200). To help monitor your steps you can also grab an affordable fitness tracker or pedometer. Completing an extra 10,000 steps each day typically burns about 2000 to 3500 extra calories each week.

Prioritize Sleep

It is suggested that most adults require 7-9 hours of sleep each night. The benefits of adequate sleep include building up your immune system, decreasing stress, thinking more clearly, improve your mood, as well as helping stay at a healthy weight.

Increase fruit and vegetable intake

If you are anything like me, with warmer weather comes craving more fruit. When it’s hot outside, all I want is to get my hands on a fresh cup of pineapple and strawberries. Although I don’t normally crave vegetables, it is important to get 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit a day. If you struggle eating whole fruit, try making different variations of fruit smoothies. (you can also add frozen cauliflower or spinach to your smoothies to increase vegetable intake)

Implement Quiet Time

Taking 15 minutes first thing in the morning to do some deep breathing and a light stretch can really start your day off on the right foot. Stretching first thing in the morning and reduce any pain or tension from sleeping the night before.

Improve Your Circadian Rhythm

Your body’s circadian clock responds to light, as a signal to be awake, and dark, as a signal to fall asleep. Increasing your amount of light during the day is super beneficial to our bodies to help us become more alert and helps regulate the secretion of melatonin.

Water. Water. Water.

We all know how important this is. I will swear that having an easily accessible water bottle (with a straw) will help you reach your water goal for the day. (I’m currently using this one) If you don’t know how much water to drink during the day, it is suggested to take your body weight and divide by half – this is how many ounces of water you should be drinking a day.

Meal Plan/Prep

Warmer weather typically means more time outside. The last thing you want to be thinking about are meals for the day. When it starts getting warm outside I try to prioritize meal planning/prepping healthy snacks for the week. If you struggle to come up with healthy ideas, Pinterest is the place for you.

Limit Screen Time

Get outside. Don’t waste away the warmer weather by being on your phone and scrolling through social media for hours. Try to limit screen time first thing in the morning and at least 45 minutes before you go to bed.

Create a fun morning routine

Creating a morning routine that you look forward to will help those early morning wakings not feel so terrible. Find a skin care routine you like, take up journaling, or maybe start becoming a morning workout girly. Whatever morning routine will help you get out of bed in the morning, prioritize those habits and stick to them.

Prioritize exercise 3-5 times per week.

If you are just getting started with fitness, never underestimate the power of walking. You can always progress with your fitness as time goes on, but start with a 20 minute walk just to get your body moving. You can start to implement yoga, strength training or more cardio the more comfortable you get.  

Wear Sunscreen

With the weather getting warmer and summer being right around the corner, make sure you are adding sunscreen into your daily routine. Wearing sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging. This is the sunscreen I took on my Bahamas Vacation and loved.

Implement Vitamins

Always talk to your doctor about their recommendations on what vitamins you should be taking. Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, and K are all highly recommended to incorporate in your daily routine. Along with calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. (Always consult with your doctor based on your health condition).

Summer is right around the corner, and if you are looking to step up your health and fitness this year, these 12 habits are simple steps you can start implementing in your daily routine.

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