5 Lifestyle Changes You'll Be Thankful for Later in Life

While we are young teenagers we usually don’t think much about the future and the consequences our actions will have at some point. However, as we approach a certain age, we start wondering about the lifestyle we live and the future that awaits us. Experts say that the 30s are an ideal age to make some lifestyle changes count. Those changes include different adaptations and modifications in your workout routine, diet, consumption of vice, mental health and perception of kindness and gratitude. The trick is to set yourself up for a better tomorrow, today.

1. Exercise regularly

It’s never too early nor too late to start exercising. Getting in shape not only makes you feel better about yourself, but it also improves your health. First of all, it’s important to choose a physical activity that you enjoy. You will have more fun in that way while achieving the desired results and enduring in your exercise plan. There are so many options for you out there! Try jogging around the block, take a spinning or an aerobics class, go mountain bike riding, try a Zumba class, kickboxing training or a rock climbing course and stick to the one(s) that you enjoy the most. Remember to add some strength training as well, no matter the workout type you choose. Increasing your muscular strength and the balance of every muscular joint are crucial for long, healthy and active life well into the 90s! Try a popular way of building muscle with calisthenics.

2. Eat mindfully

You should try to keep your diet as healthy as possible. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle when you’re on the go isn’t easy, but it’s possible. It is so easy to get stuck in the vicious cycle of eating junk food. Maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet doesn’t mean you should never eat fast food. It simply means that the base for your diet should consist of more fresh produce, whole grains, nuts and omega 3 fatty acids with one or two junk meals a month. You can start modifying your diet slowly by changing one unhealthy item on your grocery list for a healthy one every week, and you’ll end up with a grocery list containing only healthy items eventually. You won’t even notice this change if you introduce it slowly, step by step. Besides affecting your body, some foods can also affect your state of mind. For example, carbohydrates release ‘serotonin’ or a ‘happy hormone’—but the key is to know which ones. Simple carbs (foods high in sugar and starch) boost your energy only shortly and then your energy crashes abruptly. To keep the happy hormone at level with carbs, consume complex carbs such as vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Foods high in protein such as lean meat, poultry, legumes, and dairy release dopamine and norepinephrine, which boost energy and concentration as well. Highly-processed, deep-fried foods and skipping meals will leave you feeling sad and depressed—so avoid those.

3. Cut down on vice (or ditch them completely)

We all indulge in a certain vice such as consuming too much coffee, alcohol, energy drinks or smoking cigarettes. We don’t have to drop them completely and all at once, but we can make certain changes related to the consumption of these addictive, sweet and yet bad things. For example, instead of drinking those fancy lattes packed with calories, search for quality tea or coffee. You’ll see a difference in your waistline almost immediately! As far as energy drinks are concerned, find another way of boosting your energy. Start with being more active, it will increase your energy levels. You can also eat nuts, they are quite the healthy energy boosters. Consuming alcohol moderately, especially red wine, is beneficial for our cardiovascular system. People have even come up with some healthier options for all those cigarettes addicts. Many people who tried quitting, but it didn’t work out for them, switched to e-cigarettes or different vaping devices, which were designed to be less harmful. One such example is a popular Australian company, Hoopers Vapour, which offers a wide range of starter kits, broadsides, mods, atomizers, nicotine salts and many others for vaping lovers. They help people quit smoking by switching to vaping through high-end vaping devices made from quality materials.

4. Work on your mental health

All the tips on how to be happy include focusing on your mental health besides all the other obvious ones. Erase negativity from your surroundings by building your confidence slowly. Negativity is not beneficial for you: it keeps you from really enjoying your life. Discovering your purpose will help you in making the first steps towards changing your lifestyle for better. Get spiritual and help others whenever you can. Do something only for yourself, and take your time to enjoy it. This is valuable for your well-being and mental health.

5. Be grateful

It’s a fact that we need more gratitude in our lives. Being grateful for the things we have boosts our mood. We usually forget how lucky we are and about the things we have, or about the things we have yearned for a long time and that we already have. A good way to remind ourselves that we need to be grateful is to say a few things we are grateful for to ourselves every day. You’ll need some practice, but eventually, you’ll be able to see and acknowledge all the positive things in your life you need to be thankful for. This is the key to becoming a more positive person.

Think about the lifestyle you’re leading now and think about the changes you would make. Remember to be realistic and to set rational goals. Make a plan and start slowly. Sometime in the future, you’ll be thankful for making these changes promptly.