Healthy living is one of the most challenging yet rewarding behaviors anyone can take towards living a more satisfying life. The motivations for pursuing this journey may differ from person to person, but the rewards are beneficial for all. You will notice your spirits lifting, and in doing so, the relationships around you will improve as well. The most challenging part of starting a journey of healthy living is simply getting started. Because habits become second nature, the brain is required to work harder to change these automatic behaviors. Charles Duhigg, in his book, ‘The Power of Habit’ says that “Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort.”

 

Keeping in mind that our mind will fight our will to change will help us face that resistance. So how do we go about living a healthier life? A garden takes attention and time to grow, and so does the ideal life we want to live. Whether your goal is to workout everyday, or eat healthier foods, change is most impactful when broken down into manageable changes. Like dominoes, one positive change may affect the next, sometimes, with little effort. Here are the domino pieces you can consider in your journey towards healthy living:

 

1. Develop self-compassion:

The most important step towards healthy living is developing compassion toward yourself. With self-compassion comes better treatment of yourself, mentally and physically. Self-compassion is sending yourself positive and loving messages throughout the day to counteract the negative self-talk you may have. When we decide to make changes in our lives, we are often fueled by negative self-talk, such as, “I’m lazy because I don’t exercise”. Your voice of compassion sounds more like, “I deserve to feel better, so I will exercise”.

 

2. Drink more water:

This is probably the easiest and most impactful change you can make for your body. Ever notice how quickly a wilted flower livens up with just one day of watering? Just like plants, our body requires water. Without water, we simply would not be here. Water helps flush our bodies of waste throughout the day, and helps carry nutrients and oxygen throughout our systems. We get rid of water through bodily waste, sweat, and breathing so replenish as much as you can.

 

3. Get better sleep:

Do you ever wonder why you’re so tired when you are sick? Sleep is a powerful tool that the body uses to heal. When we make good sleep a priority and develop a good sleep routine, our body will naturally become healthy and more immune to negative triggers throughout the day. Just like you can become ‘hangry’, repetitive lack of good sleep can make you cranky. Good sleep also helps to reduce your snack craving – your body’s way of fighting sleep.

 

4. Get moving:

There’s a reason some doctors prescribe exercise to some depressed patients. Exercise releases dopamine into your system, creating a ‘good feeling’ affect. Start slowly by walking instead of driving or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. You may also find you enjoy joining a recreational sport instead of a gym to make exercise more fun.

 

Give yourself time and space to incorporate these small steps. Even incorporating just one or two of the suggested changes may be enough to get you in the right direction. Everyone’s healthy journey may look different from each other, so keep trying different methods and see which ones work best for you.