We all know that certain lifestyles and habits aren’t good for us. But when life gets busy, sometimes it’s hard to remember to take care of ourselves. Sometimes we just need a reminder to renew our motivation to live healthier.
Here are some of the top habits that can creep in and why we should work to minimise them.
- Sitting down too long, too often
This is a tricky one, as sitting down at a desk is an integral part of many people’s lifestyles. Past times like watching TV and gaming also call for a lot of sitting down. There’s no firm guideline to say how much sitting is too much, but the NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. This can reduce the risks of obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other health issues posed by a sedentary lifestyle.
If you work at a desk, try to break up your time spent sitting by standing up every 30 minutes and moving around. It’s a great excuse for a tea break or even some light stretching! A regular Pilates class might help you keep your joints active.
Poor posture is another potential by-product of spending a lot of time sitting. Don’t underestimate the importance of posture!
If you’re a driver, skip the car for a walk when you’re only going a short distance. This will help you promote your health long-term, as well as reduce your odds of being in a car crash.
- Not getting enough sleep
Humans are the only species that deliberately deprive themselves of sleep. Most of us are no strangers to burning the candle at both ends now and again. But if you make a habit of sleep deprivation, your brain’s ability to make new memories could be severely impaired, having a knock-on effect on your work and personal life.
Good sleep is essential for immunity, and it reduces your risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease. If you struggle with sleep, try introducing more regularity into your routine, taking a morning walk or incorporating more foods into your diet that have sleep-promoting minerals and vitamins.
- Eating junk food often
Few of us are impervious to cravings. Those cravings often centre around sugary, processed foods that give us a temporary feel-good factor. It’s all right to indulge now and again but try to keep your junk food intake low.
Too much junk food can affect your body and mind in many ways. Your concentration levels, energy levels, and dental as well as mental health can all take a hit! Your hormone levels can also be knocked out of balance, feeding into many of these health concerns.
Cravings often occur because our blood sugar is already unbalanced by the last thing we ate. There are ways to break this cycle, such as eating a savoury breakfast (think eggs, avocados and nuts, for example) rather than one that has a lot of starch or a lot of sugar (the main food groups comprising cereal and porridge). This way, you can reduce your urges to snack on less-than-healthy options.
Still want to end your meal with a sweet kick? Natural yoghurt and berries provide beneficial nutrients and are much kinder on glucose levels than processed alternatives.
When you know that you’ve got a lifestyle habit that’s negatively impacting you, be kind to yourself. Approach the subject with an open mind, learn new habits and watch the results fall into place as your gradually start to see results.
