2 .1 | Creating Healthy Habits
Daily Healthy Habits That Can Improve Your Life
- Get 8–10 hours of sleep each night.
- Drink 8–10 glasses of water daily.
- Eat breakfast.
- Meditate for 5–10 minutes daily.
- Exercise for 30 minutes daily.
- Get outside.
- Journal your thoughts and feelings daily.
- Express gratitude.
- Surround yourself with positive people.
- Read.
- Laugh.
- Listen to music.
- Listen to a podcast.
List some healthy habits you can begin to improve your quality of life.
When you decide to make lifestyle changes, it is important to make small, manageable changes. If you make too many changes all at once, you may become overwhelmed and unknowingly set yourself up for failure. Setting small, manageable, and achievable changes will set you up for success. Start with one healthy habit per week and build your habits slowly.
For example, if your goal is to drink more water, ask yourself how will I make this happen?
- I will carry a water bottle with me.
- I will write down how many bottles I drink daily.
- I will add lemon or fruit to my water bottle to enhance the taste of the water.
The Importance of Water in the Body
Why is it so important to hydrate? Drinking your daily dose of water is important for many reasons. Your body depends on water to survive. Water delivers nutrients to the body and assists your body with daily functions. Water helps to regulate body temperature. Staying well hydrated can improve sleep, mood, and cognitive abilities.
During physical exercise, you lose fluids through sweat. Therefore, it is crucial to replace those fluids while exercising to allow your mind and body to function at optimum levels. Water is the best choice to replenish fluids lost during physical activity. Without proper hydration, your body will not perform at its highest levels. H2O assists in the prevention of constipation and aids in digestion.
How do you know if you are getting adequate amounts of water daily?
Here are a few signs and symptoms of dehydration:
- Light-headedness, headache, dizziness, sleepiness, weakness.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Feeling thirsty, dry mouth.
- Sweating may stop.
- Dry eyes.
- Discoloration of urine, urinating less frequently.
- Heart palpitations.
- Muscle cramps.
To prevent dehydration, it is necessary to drink 8–10 (or more) cups of water depending on activity levels, environment, temperature outdoors, and health. Staying hydrated will also maintain healthy skin and joints and help the brain function. Getting enough water helps boost energy and improve your mood.
Here are some ideas to make sure you drink enough water:
- Carry a water bottle with you.
- Try warm lemon water.
- Drink water infused with lemon, cucumber, citrus, or fruit.
- Journal or track your water intake.
- Write yourself notes or set alarms to remind yourself to drink water.