Small Life Changes You Can Make Today
Life changes don’t have to happen all at once! We’ve compiled 10 little changes that in total will help make a positive impact on your health and your life.
1. Add a Veggie.
Do you eat your recommended serving of vegetables each day? If so, there’s no harm in adding one more, and if not, make sure you add a vegetable to each meal. Fresh vegetables are packed with vitamins and nutrients. Try carrots, tomatoes, or spinach as a side to ramp up your veggie intake
2. Take time to meditate.
It can be as simple as setting aside 10 minutes of quiet time each day. Focus on breathing and letting go of your thoughts. Over time, you’ll become more relaxed, productive, and ready to take on whatever life throws at you.
3. Forget the fads.
If you want to have long-term success, skip fad diets altogether. Instead, try for an easy-to-integrate lifestyle change, such as eating more fruits and veggies or working out several times a week. Once these small changes are ingrained into your routine, you won’t give them up like you would a fad, which could leave you gaining back any weight you lost.
4. Eat a healthy breakfast.
Give your metabolism a kick-start with a healthy breakfast. It doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming to eat something good for you each morning. Simple changes, like switching bacon for lox, can have a major impact on your calorie intake and your health.
5. Be mindful of your meals.
When we munch mindlessly, we’re more likely to eat more than our recommended portion size. Avoid eating while watching TV or scrolling through Facebook. You won’t be distracted, and you’ll be able to focus on enjoying your meal. After all, that’s what food is all about!
6. Grab a friend.
Instead of working out by yourself, enlist a friend to be your motivation. You’ll both be less likely to miss a workout when you’re holding each other accountable, and catching up with a friend at the gym or over a long walk can give you something fun to look forward to. Win-win!
7. Snack smart.
Keep your energy levels up and diminish the urge to overeat at mealtime by eating smart snacks throughout the day. Try almonds, guacamole, or oranges for a nutrient boost that will stave off hunger.
8. Don’t park too close.
Parking your car farther away from the front entrance of work or the grocery store is a great way to sneak in a little exercise. Adding more steps in your day can mean the difference between a sedentary lifestyle and an active one.
9. Don’t forget to forgive.
Letting go of grudges can have a big impact on both your health and happiness. Beyond repairing broken relationships, forgiveness creates space in your life for positive emotions by giving anger and resentment the boot.
10. Eat Fresh.
Start 2016 on the right foot by swapping out packaged, processed foods with fresh produce. Instead of gummies, snack on the real thing – fresh grapes and strawberries. Trade out your potato chips for a baked potato. Try cooking simple, healthy dinners at home. That way you can control what goes into your foods and avoid chemicals and preservatives.