Good Habits, Not Intentions, Are The Key To Wellness
While the modern world is much better at promoting human health than any other society in human history, it still poses plenty of problems for those who want to achieve genuine and lasting wellness.
The biggest issue is diet. We currently consume more meat, sugar, oil, salt, and refined flours than at any other time in history. And while we can get away with eating these foods while we’re young, they inevitably come back to bite us as we get older.
The second most important issue for most people is their mental health and state of mind. We’re currently living through an anxiety and stress epidemic. People are getting burned out at work like never before and struggling to keep their lives on the straight and narrow.
For this reason, we all need to push back against the trappings of the modern world. Furthermore, we need to do it with good habits, not intentions. That’s the only way we’re going to win.
But what do good wellness habits look like? How do you know if you’re on the right track? Take a look at the following.
You Prioritize A Regular Sleep Schedule
The bedrock (no pun intended) of any healthy living plan is adequate sleep. If you can’t get enough shut-eye, then you’re in a much weaker position during the day to make healthy choices.
Researchers believe that the most effective strategy is to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This habit trains your body to EXPECT sleep, making it easier for you to get into a sleep pattern. The more you can sleep, the lower your stress levels will be.
You Find Ways To Minimize Your Bad Habits
When it comes to health, all of us have bad habits. For some of us, it is a propensity to sedentary living, never going for exercise. For others, it is things like social smoking or not using a rechargeable vaporizer.
The trick here is to find ways to minimize your negative habits until they eventually disappear from your life. One good idea is to have a rule that whenever you go grocery shopping, you only buy fresh products from the edge of the store. You don’t go down the central aisles and buy ultra-processed foods.
Another trick is to prepare meals in advance. You’re much less likely to order take-out if you already have a meal sitting in your refrigerator, ready to be eaten.
You Fall In Love With Your Habits
Habits shouldn’t be something you have to force. If they are, then they’re not really habits.
Where possible, try to fall in love with your wellness habits. For instance, instead of seeing going to the gym as a chore, see it as an opportunity to relax or spend time somewhere new. Try to create positive associations with all your healthy behaviors, as this will make it more likely that you’ll continue doing them. Don’t be one of those people who have good intentions but never manages to make a difference in their lives.
