Daily Healthy Habits for Living Happier Life
Happiness seems different for everyone. For you, perhaps it's at peace with who you are - or have a safe network of friends who allow you thoroughly.
Or the freedom to try your most profound dreams. Regardless of your version of true joy, living a happier, more pleasant life is within reach. A few tweaks to your daily habits can help you get there.
Habits matter. If ever you tried breaking a bad habit, you know all too properly how ingrained they are. Well, healthy habits are deeply ingrained, too. Why not work on making positive habits part of your routine?
"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." - Jim Rohn
Here in this article, a take looks at some daily habits to help kickstart your search. Without any further ado, let's get started.
What is Daily Healthy Habits, exactly?
You may be surprised to learn that more than 40 percent of the actions you perform every day aren’t actually decided by you. They’re actually habits.
Habits dictate how we live, how we perform, and the results we achieve in life. This is why it is so important to have strong, positive habits.
In case you’re wondering what habits consist of, think of them this way: something that you regularly do without having to consciously think about.
Daily positive habits are the basis of your success, while healthy habits improve your overall well-being and make you feel good.
Simple Daily Healthy Habits for Living Happier Life
1. Smile
We smile because we're happy, and smiling causes the brain to release dopamine, making us more comfortable.
That doesn't mean you have to go around with a fake smile plastered on your face all the time. But the next time you find yourself feeling low, crack a smile and see what happens. Or try starting each morning by smiling at yourself in the mirror.
2. Exercise
Even a small amount of physical activity can make a difference. You don't have to train for a triathlon or scale a cliff — unless that's what makes you happy, of course.
The trick is not to overexert. If you suddenly throw yourself into a strenuous routine, you'll probably end up frustrated (and sore).
Consider these exercise starters:
- Take a walk around the block every night after dinner.
- Sign up for a beginner's class in yoga or tai chi.
- Start your day with 5 minutes of stretching. Here's a set of stretches to get you started.
Remind yourself of any fun activities you once enjoyed but that have fallen by the wayside. Or activities you always wanted to try, such as golf, bowling, or dancing.
3. Get plenty of sleep.
Most adults need about 7 or 8 hours of sleep every night. If you find yourself fighting the urge to nap during the day or generally feel like you're in a fog, your body may be telling you it needs more rest.
If you consistently have problems sleeping, talk to your doctor. You may have a sleep disorder requiring treatment.
4. Eat with the mood in mind.
You already know that food choices have an impact on your overall physical health. But some foods can also affect your state of mind.
For example:
- Carbohydrates release serotonin, a "feel-good" hormone. Just keep simple carbs — foods high in sugar and starch — to a minimum because that energy surge is short, and you'll crash. Complex carbs, such as vegetables, beans, and whole grains, are better.
- Lean meat, poultry, legumes, and dairy are high in protein. These foods release dopamine and norepinephrine, which boost energy and concentration.
- Highly processed or deep-fried foods tend to leave you feeling down. So will skipping meals.
Start by making one better food choice each day.
For example, swap a big, sweet breakfast pastry for some Greek yoghurt with fruit. You'll still satisfy your sweet tooth, and the protein will help you avoid a mid-morning energy crash. Try adding in a new food swap each week.
5. Be grateful
Simply being grateful can give your mood a big boost, among other benefits. For example, a recent two-part study found that practising gratitude can significantly impact feelings of hope and happiness.
Start each day by acknowledging one thing you're feeling grateful for that. You can do this while you're brushing your teeth or just waiting for that snoozed alarm to go off.
With a bit of practice, you may become more aware of all the positive things around you.
6. Give a compliment
Giving a sincere compliment is a quick, easy way to brighten someone's day while giving your happiness a boost.
Catch the person's eye and say it with a smile, so they know you mean it. You might be surprised by how good it makes you feel.
If you want to compliment someone on their physical appearance, make sure to do it respectfully.
7. Breathe deeply
Instinct may tell you to take a long, deep breath to calm yourself down.
It turns out that instinct is a good one. According to Harvard Health, deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress.
If you're having a hard time taking slow, deliberate breaths, try counting to 5 in your head with each inhale and exhale.
8. Face stress head-on
There's no need to. Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal says that stress isn't always harmful, and we can even change our attitudes about stress. Learn more about the upside of stress.
For those stressors you can't avoid, remind yourself that everyone has stress — there's no reason to think it's all on you. And chances are, you're stronger than you think you are.
Instead of letting yourself get overwhelmed, try to tackle the stressor head-on. This might mean initiating an uncomfortable conversation or putting in some extra work. Still, the sooner you tackle it, the sooner the pit in your stomach will start to shrink.
Conclusion
Creating a healthy lifestyle does not mean that you need to pull a 180 or make sweeping changes all at once. It's quite the opposite. By focusing on small healthy daily habits and creating ones that you genuinely enjoy, you are more likely to maintain them for the long term.
Developing healthy daily habits will take time, dedication, and determination, but that does not mean they cannot be done. Remember, you're not in a race.
Instead, avoid extreme solutions, take your time, and work on individual healthy habits to help ensure that your health and success are long-lasting.
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