Healthy Habits
If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I’m all about living a happy, healthy lifestyle. It can be hard to find a starting point when “wellness” is everywhere, pressuring you to buy this or stop doing that . . . my goal is to help you find your own version of a healthy lifestyle without any pressure and without breaking the bank. So here are some easy, healthy habits I have implemented into my daily life that have helped me pursue healthy living that I’m sure you will find attainable for your lifestyle, too.
Keep Healthy Snacks in the House
Easier said than done, but having clean, nutrient dense snacks on hand is a great way to ensure you aren’t just reaching for a bag of chips. Some of my favs: bell peppers and hummus, cheese sticks, chomps, carrots and guac, cucumbers, pistachios, yogurt, nut butter on apple slices, rice cakes with peanut butter and jelly.
Pro Tip: Cut up your veggies as soon as your home from the grocery store (with the exception of cucumbers) and put them in containers – this way you won’t feel “too lazy” to cut them up once you’re already hungry and wanting a snack. Another bonus is having these prepped to throw in the oven with chicken (or whateva) for dinner!
Decrease Screen Time
This has helped me SO much. I’ve said it before, it’s hard not to fall into a trap of mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and playing the comparison game. It’s so nice to take a weekly break from my phone & social media, especially since my job revolves around it! Screen time isn’t a bad thing, but it’s good to take a breather and realize there is MUCH more to life than what is on your phone.
Get More Steps In
I aim for at least 10,000 steps a day, if not more. Luckily I have a dog to remind me to get outside and take a walk, but nothing beats the fresh air and a moment to clear my head! Lately, I’ve been taking small walks after my meals to help digest my food. It’s been a game changer.
Express Gratitude
I try my best and replace any anxiety with gratitude. I am so incredibly grateful to have access to food, water, and a roof over my head. Plus so much more. No comparing, no wishing for something else, just take a moment and be grateful for what you DO have, because it could be gone in the blink of an eye!
Exercise
Wow I could talk for hours on end about how exercise has helped me equally physically and mentally. Moving your body is so SO good for you. My advice: find an exercise you truly love and start there. It will thank you!
Drink Your Water
I know it’s “inconvenient” to have to pee all the time, but drinking enough water is so important. I keep my hydroflask with me at all times – in fact I feel lost without it – and I try to refill it at least 4 times throughout the day (it’s 32oz). I drink a full 32oz when I wake up in the morning before I do anything else and it gives me a little boost to start my day!
Positive Self Talk
This may sound a little silly, but giving yourself compliments and changing the way you talk to yourself is so good for your beliefs and your mental health. If I told myself I was dumb every day, I would start to believe it. Instead, I consciously replace any negative thoughts about myself with positive ones. It has helped me see myself in a different light and I’ve been a lot less hard on myself.
Implementing a few healthy habits here and there can go a long way for both your physical and mental health. Hopefully even one of these can help move you in the right direction towards your goal happy + healthy living.
Xx, Nicole
All photos in this blog post were done wonderfully by Maiya Hoard.
