Finding Your Path to a Healthier, Happier Life

Authored by Sean Morries

Some experts say that over forty percent of our daily actions are habits. In some ways, this is convenient, but in others, it means you’re operating on auto-pilot, not necessarily making the best decisions for yourself. If your habits are leading to a healthy, happy life, then they’re beneficial. But if you would like to make some changes, read on for some tips from Coach Eddie Andrist.

Acknowledge Unhelpful Habits

Before you can change a habit, you need to become aware of it. If you notice that in the evenings, you tend to collapse in front of the tv with a soda and a bag of chips, this might not be enhancing your health. Habits are said to have three “R’s”: reminder, routine, and reward. The reminder is the trigger that initiates the action, routine or actual behavior that makes up the habit and the reward or benefits you get from repeating the behavior.

Rather than attempting to simply quit this habit, think in terms of replacing it with a new, healthier habit. Make a plan for a new routine when you notice the trigger or reminder that you’re tired and want to relax and escape. And instead of proceeding as usual, choose a different activity, even if it’s as simple as changing clothes and going for a walk. Make sure that the new activity brings a reward with it, a reward that you really want.

If your blood sugar is low and you want energy, find an appealing healthier snack, like fruit or a fruit popsicle. If you want to escape daily life, consider a contemplative walk or vigorous all-absorbing exercise with a friend.

Switch to Good Habits for Big Changes

Think about the habits you want to develop. Do you want to add more exercise to your day? Increase your hydration levels? Get more or better sleep? Socialize more? Habits can be your friends. Be patient with yourself as you establish new routines–long-lasting change does not happen overnight. Let technology help you. Set alarms on your phone to remind you to drink more water, gear down for sleep, wake up on time, take your medication, or get ready to exercise. Find ways to build in rewards when you do the new habits.

If you’ve been unhappy at your job, then implement a reward system for getting yourself out. It might be through pursuing a degree or starting your own business. Sometimes simply taking steps towards that bigger goal is incentive enough, but also take the time to reward yourself. For instance, if you write your business plan and file your LLC paperwork for your new business, treat yourself by designing your first business cards. Give this a try: use one of these free templates to get started, and then customize it using different colors, images, fonts, and text to make it your own!

Implement Strategies to Manage Stress

We all experience stress, and the ways we react to it make the difference in whether we’ll have long-lasting negative effects or be able to move on from it. Remember the value of exercise for dealing with pressure, anxiety, or depression. Spending time outdoors is helpful, as is spending time with good friends.

Mind-body exercises such as yoga, tai chi, and qi gong can be beneficial when done regularly. Deep breathing and meditation may also be helpful. Writing down your feelings may be a good way to offload stress. Setting boundaries at home, work, and with friends is an important part of managing stress, and although it isn’t always easy, it’s important for mental health.

Make Time to Move Your Body

It’s important that you get out and move! Walking can help both physical and mental health. It may not be a high-level workout, but done repeatedly, walking can help balance, cardio fitness levels, and range of motion and also help with stress relief. If you can’t squeeze in a walk after your work shift, consider incorporating more walking into your work day. You might park farther away from your workplace and get in a bit of walking before and after your shift. You could also walk during your lunch hour or coffee break. If you walk with a friend, neighbor, or family member, you also get the benefit of socializing.

If walking isn’t your thing, find a sport or other physical activity that you enjoy doing. Basketball can be a great way to get active and build both strength and coordination. It’s something you can do on your own or with other people. Consider joining a local group or getting some friends together to play after work or on the weekends.

Replace Bad Habits with Healthy Ones

Developing habits that contribute to your good health is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Whether you’re trying to eat more nutritious foods, get better quality sleep, manage stress, or develop a regular walking routine, habits and the rewards that come with them can help you reach your goals. So take time to assess your habits and decide which ones you’d like to change to support your healthiest and happiest possible life.