For many people, finding healthy habits is the easy part of making positive changes to their lifestyle — developing them over time and sticking to them is much more challenging. For those of us who are busy with work, family, or home responsibilities, it can be stressful to try and make major changes to our diet or activity routine, and that leads to burnout or a lack of motivation.
Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to introduce good habits into your daily schedule without disrupting it. The key is to make the changes more about self-care and balance so they’re sustainable, such as incorporating exercise into a healthy practice.
Read on for tips on how to incorporate healthy practices into your daily lifestyle, brought to you by the B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Center of Las Vegas.
Be consistent.
Because life sometimes gets in the way, many people fall into a constantly-changing pattern of diet and exercise that never yields results. Whether you’re looking to lose a little weight or just want to maintain healthier habits, it’s best to start by regulating your metabolism. An easy way to start is by planning out your meals in advance — this way, you won’t grab junk food because you’re pressed for time. Making sure you eat three well-balanced meals per day is a must for keeping your metabolism regulated, so don’t skip breakfast.
Lastly, reducing your portion sizes can prevent overeating, so do some research on the amount of food you should be putting on your plate. Typically, a serving of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards, while vegetable servings are larger and vary depending on your age and dietary needs. Keep this in mind when eating out at restaurants, as well.
If necessary, get in touch with a freelance wellness expert who can help you develop a healthy eating plan for you and your entire family.
Give yourself the tools for success.
Whether you want to learn to eat better, lose weight, or focus on your mental health, it will be extremely difficult to maintain healthy habits if you don’t have the right tools. Think about how you can ensure your success. For instance, if your goal is to drink more water, look for a reusable water bottle that you can keep with you all day and refill as needed. This will help you keep track of how much you’re drinking — on average, it takes at least 74 ounces of water to stay hydrated.
For other goals, such as putting in daily activity or eating a healthy snack to keep your metabolism regulated, use an app or alarm reminder on your phone. These days, there are several to choose from that will help you stay on track no matter how busy you are, and they can help keep you motivated on days when you have a lot on your plate. If you’re having trouble accessing these apps with your older device, consider upgrading to a newer model with updated features that can help you reach your goals. Fortunately, there are providers with amazing deals available all year long so you can get something new without busting your budget.
Take a class.
Another easy, fun way to make healthy changes stick is to take a class. Learning how to practice Iyengar yoga, breath control, and meditation can have a major effect on your physical and mental health, and the class setting can help keep you motivated. The B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Center of Las Vegas offers several classes to help you get started! If you’re not ready to commit to a weekly class, consider trying a service, such as relaxing light therapy on a salt bed..
Bringing healthy habits into your lifestyle doesn’t have to be stressful. By giving yourself the tools you need to meet your goals, you can stick with these changes all through the year. Remember to listen to your body and take breaks to avoid stress and burnout. Above all, make time for yourself each day in order to boost your mental health.