Simple Changes to Improve Your Health Today!
People often think of the New Year as the time to commit to new goals, but anytime is a perfect time to make a commitment to yourself to be healthier. There are so many factors to our well-being, so almost anyone can benefit from seeking progress towards better physical, mental, or emotional health.
Often, we don’t change our health habits because that kind of goal just feels so big. But it doesn’t have to be! Start small. Choose a simple change to make in your life today that can make you feel better and be healthier!
Ready to get started? Here are 5 small changes that can make a big impact on your health!
Buy a water bottle you love
There are so many benefits of drinking water as opposed to other beverages. Getting enough water can give you healthier skin and hair, can make you feel more energized, and can help you not to overeat or overindulge in other beverages that may be unhealthy. But for me, it’s always been hard to make myself drink water. One small thing that has helped me in a big way is finding a water bottle I actually want to use.
I bought this one from Walmart about six months ago and I love it! They run about $12 and are dishwasher safe! It’s the perfect size for me to use and refill and I like the pop-open soft spout.
If you prefer a flip-top spout, check out this cute motivational water bottle by Elvira that you can get from Amazon. It lets you know how much water you still have to drink to meet the recommended daily intake. And it comes in several fun colors.
If you want more suggestions, check out this article by Good Housekeeping about the 14 best water bottles on the market today. You are sure to find something here that will work perfectly for you!
Invest in a nightly self-care routine
Self-care is so important for all aspects of our health: physical, mental, and emotional. The great thing about self-care is that you can create your own routine that you do everyday that provides you with what you most need. Think about what makes you feel refreshed, happy, healthy, and confident. Then formulate a routine to meet those needs.
Don’t know where to start? Here are some ideas for things you can include:
- Physical activities like a quick yoga or exercise routine.
- A skin care or hygiene regimen that makes you feel refreshed and pretty.
- Activities to boost mental health like crosswords, reading, or brain games.
- Activities for spiritual or emotional growth like journaling, devotions, or prayer.
- Comfort activities like cuddling up with a blanket, a pet, or a cup of tea.
For more ideas, check out this gallery by Good Housekeeping.
Prep your snacks for the week
The hardest thing for me when I’m trying to be healthier is snacking. That is why this has been a game-changer for me. Every week, we do our grocery shopping on Sunday. Sometime that day, I prep all my snacks for the week. This saves me from doing extra snacking and not controlling my portion size.
One great snack to consider is fresh fruits and veggies. This is time-consuming to clean, cut up, and put in containers, but for me, it is so worth it.
Another option is to buy whatever snacks you love and go ahead and make single servings in sandwich bags. I like to do this with Ranch Wheat Thins and Skinny Pop Kettle Corn, but use whatever you like.
The goal here is to simply be prepared. For me, this small bit of preparation changes everything
Find a quick daily stretch to do each day
It would be great if everyone had the time and ability to exercise the way they wish they could. For some people, they don’t have the equipment, or the time, or even the physical ability for strenuous exercise. But anyone can stretch. Stretching is so good for your flexibility, your muscles, your joints, and even your mind. Even a five-minute stretch every morning can make a world of difference to your health.
I like to have a trainer tell me how to move and to motivate me while I stretch, so I use an app called FitOn. They have several good options for stretching that I use every day (I love Morning Stretch, Mood Lifter, and anything by trainer Vytas).
If you don’t want to use FitOn, you can also search YouTube for daily stretches. Or just make a list for yourself of the parts of your body you want to stretch and go through them on your own each day.
Take the right vitamin
Taking a daily vitamin is such an easy way to improve your health. Definitely have a conversation with your doctor about what your body most needs based on your age, overall health, and any specific conditions you may have.
I got into the habit of taking a daily vitamin when I was pregnant, and it is something I continued afterwards. It has helped me tremendously.
There is such a wide variety of vitamins out there that you can find a multivitamin or a regimen of several vitamins that works for you.
I personally take a women’s vitamin for balanced hormonal health that has extra iron. Talk to your doctor about what kind of vitamin you need and take it every day to feel your best.
"True life is lived when tiny changes occur"
This quote by Leo Tolstoy sums up perfectly this idea of making a small change to make a big impact. Having good health is part of living well, and we can be healthier by making simple changes that we can sustain. I hope you find at least one idea here to help you improve your health, whatever that means for you.
And for a list of great tools (apps, books, websites, and more) to help you meet all your health goals, check out this post!
Have a good day!
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It is the small things that bring change. Presently, I have started yoga classes. Keep in mind that I am an overweight, out of shape 72 year old with a bad hip and a really bad knee. The poses are difficult for me-but the instructor tells me-“You are here. You are trying. You are not sitting on the sofa. Do what you can do.” And after all the “can dos” I do feel better.
This is wonderful! Way to go, Ms Kay! I have done yoga since I was pregnant with my first child. It helped to prepare me for all of my children’s birth. It is all about doing something! Progress not perfection! I am glad you enjoy it!