10 Healthy Habits That Don't Involve Exercising

Too often we complicate things—adding activities into our day-to-day lives that aren’t actually sustainable. Sure, the first day or two is fine because you’re super motivated but I don’t think any of us are strangers to that one week motivation slump. You’re trying to maintain relationships, be sociable, look after your family, clean your house, go grocery shopping (we all know that’s a whole day gone), the list goes on and on. Sometimes, we just don’t have time for exercising. I get it, exercising won’t always be your highest priority, so here’s some other healthy habits you can add into your life that won’t take up too much time and will get you on a healthier path. And remember, health isn’t just about fitness, it’s about your relationships—with yourself and the people around you, your mental wellbeing and your lifestyle. You can be a healthier person without ever stepping foot in a gym.

Drink more water

Water has many health advantages that can’t be seen, and that’s why it’s important to keep up your water intake. Yes, you’ll notice physical advantages, like healthier skin, but it’s doing a lot on the inside too. Water maintains the health of every single cell in your body, you know, the cells that keep your body functioning? So, keep those beauties hydrated. Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning is a really good way to make sure you’re starting your day off hydrated; you lose a lot of hydration while you sleep so try and fix that first thing in the morning.

Stretch regularly

Stretching keeps you nice and limber. It also helps keep your fascia healthy. What is fascia, you’re probably asking? Well, it’s the tissue that covers your muscles, nerves and organs; it keeps everything in the right spot. Stretching gives it some TLC by breaking up the collagen in your fascia, allowing more oxygen to your muscles. Now that we’ve looked at the scientific reasons why stretching is beneficial, it’s also an excellent way to add mindfulness into your day. Use a 10 to 15 minute stretch as a way to get in touch with your thoughts and be present. Take deep breaths in and out to help reduce stress levels. This can form an excellent part of self care.

Spend less time on your phone before bed

Okay so, spending less time on your phone in general is always a good idea, but if that seems a little tricky (or impossible, because you know, we’re a generation literally running businesses from our phones) at least start putting your phone away before bed. You have to give your brain some time to begin relaxing before you go to sleep. Not spending so much time on social media will not only do wonders for your self esteem and mental health, but decreasing your screen time before bed will help you get a better sleep. Try for at least half an hour no phone time right before you go to sleep; read a book, practice mindfulness or have a conversation with a loved one instead.

Practice gratitude

You know those days where you just don’t feel like yourself? Practice gratitude. Say out loud, in your head, or even write down, at least three things you are grateful for. They can be as significant or as small as you like, the important thing is that you identify the three things you are grateful for that day. You don’t have to wait for a bad day to do this, practice gratitude every day. When you practice gratitude, it helps you live in a place of abundance. Reminding yourself of the things you are thankful for will help you stay in a positive mindset. If you are having a bad day, it will distract you from the things that are bothering you and will bring you back to the present moment which will help shift your mood.

Do the things you love doing

I want you to set this as one of your non-negotiables for each day. Your self worth is dependent on you doing the things you love. If you’re not spending time each day to do the things you love, you won’t feel fulfilled. If you don’t feel fulfilled, you’re not able to love and support the people around you, because you’re not treating yourself that way. As the saying goes, feel your cup up so that it can overflow to the people around you. So, how do you do this? Write a list of every single thing you love doing, big or small. It might be having a cup of tea, reading a book, getting a massage, being in the sun, literally every single thing. Then, each day, spend five minutes doing one of those things, obviously spend more time if you can or need to. It is so important that you prioritise this. If you don’t have time, you must make time. It should be as important as brushing your teeth.

Read

I know that reading isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I encourage you to give it a go. Find a genre you love, it may be personal development, fiction, autobiographies etc, and read for 15-30 minutes a day. It can be good for a bit of me-time, education or entertainment. No matter what the outcome is, it’s relaxing and allowing you to take some time out of your day for yourself - see the self care theme here?

Practice mindfulness

Okay this can sound a little woo-woo to some people but bare with me, practicing mindfulness allows you to bring yourself back to the present moment. It’s excellent for stress relief and relaxation, and getting in tune with your body and thoughts. Once you’re familiar with your body’s way of communicating with you, you’ll be able to identify warning signs easier and react accordingly. There are so many different ways to practice mindfulness, it doesn’t have to be meditation. Try an app like headspace, or you can sit in a quiet place and just focus on your breathing: Take a deep breath in and then let it out slowly. Forget your stereotypical meditation and find what works for you.

Make your skincare a priority

Our skin actually starts aging from quite a young age, that’s right, you 20 year olds need to think about skincare. In fact, don’t just think about it, actually take care of your skin. Put on sunscreen when you’re going out into the sun. Clean your face morning and night. Invest in good skincare, and while you’re at it, choose products that are friendly to the environment.

Stop being so strict on yourself

You know that if you eat junk food if won’t kill you, right? Stop being so darn strict on yourself. Don’t get me wrong, it is important to eat nourishing foods, but if you eat take away, don’t beat yourself up over it. And don’t you dare go and punish yourself at the gym to ‘work it off’. When you punish yourself for eating what you or society deems as ‘bad’ foods, you create an unhealthy relationship with food. Eat foods that make you feel good but hey, if you want to eat a donut, you go and eat that donut girl.

Try new things

As often as you can, try something new. Allow yourself to dream and find the things you’re passionate about. When you live a life filled with what you’re passionate about, it makes you a happier and more fulfilled person. Living that kind of life is what is going to keep you filled with love and kindness; that’s what will be showered upon the people around you. Life’s not about how much time you spend in the gym, or how many calories you eat, life is about finding happiness and love.