5 Practical Ways to Incorporate a Healthy Lifestyle

The new year is always a great time to commit to resolutions related to living a healthy lifestyle. However, according to Statistic Brain Research Institute, only eight percent of people are successful in achieving their resolutions.

Why is this? Why do so many of us fail at our resolutions?

Perhaps a contributing factor is that our expectations are not realistic. Why am I not in perfect health after going to the gym for a week? Why am I falling into old habits so easily after completely uprooting and revamping my entire lifestyle?

In order to achieve true success, we must look at sensible and realistic ways of transitioning to a healthy lifestyle. Here are five practical ways to incorporate a healthy lifestyle into your day-to-day life, equipping yourself for success rather than failure.

Keep It Clean

Let’s be real about this one. If you have kids and lead a busy life, your house may not look spotless or like a model home. However, if you can attempt to keep the kitchen area clean, you are much more likely to choose to cook a healthy meal than order delivery or go out for dinner.

If you are working out at home, you will need to make sure there is an open spot on the floor free of toys or other kid clutter. Nothing kills motivation for a workout like having to clean up first.

This is also a great chance to have kids help out with chores. Using age appropriate chores, have them assist you in keeping these areas clean so you are without excuses for cooking and working out.

Water, Water Everywhere

For your daily water intake, health experts recommend drinking (at a minimum) half your body weight in ounces. Staying fully hydrated is a way to help keep your systems flowing properly and reduce your feelings of hunger and cravings in between meals.

In order to do this, you need to plan ahead for your water intake for the day. If you are at home most of the day, perhaps prepare a water dispenser with some fresh fruit to drink from throughout the day. Pre-measure the amount you should be drinking so you can track your intake levels.

If you are running errands or working outside the home, plan ways to keep water with you. Whether it is buying a large water bottle or keeping a small cooler with water in your car, be sure that you are not left dry!

Meal Planning Is Key

Proper nutrition is vital to living a healthy lifestyle, but it requires preparation and planning. Pick a day to set aside an hour or so to plan your meals and snacks for the upcoming week. You can strategize to use the same ingredients in more than one meal to help reduce expenses and eliminate food waste.

Keep track of your weekly menus in order to make future planning easier. If you have already determined and purchased what you will need to prepare your daily meals and snacks, then those quick and easy junk food snacks or fast food runs will be gradually stamped out of your routines.

While on this topic, take this opportunity to be intentional about your grocery store purchases. If naughty treats and snacks are not brought into your house, then it will be much easier to resist and opt for the healthier alternatives instead. If you don’t buy it, then you won’t eat it!

Limit Laziness

Most of us enjoy a nice movie on the couch snuggled with our family. These moments create priceless memories, but there are many other wonderful moments to be had being active with your family!

Create daily schedules for screen times for electronics and devices. Allow yourself those games and movies, but when the time is up, get moving. If it is a beautiful day, enjoy a game of catch outside or a nature walk with your family.

If you find that you and your kids tend to spend a lot of time sitting, be intentional and plan activities that will get you off the couch and more active. Even something as silly and simple as taking a few minutes to dance to your kid’s favorite song can make a big difference in breaking a cycle of laziness.

If you tend to need motivation in this area, consider joining a fitness class or sports club that will be a monetary investment for you.

Early to Bed, Early to Rise

Every family’s schedule is different, and every individual needs different amounts of sleep. However, sleep should be a priority for your family. A lack of a proper amount of sleep will lead to struggles at school and work, health issues, and an overall lack of motivation in all areas.

It’s easy to let sports, social events, television, Internet distractions, or other activities get in the way of going to bed. There will always be exceptions; but for the most part, it is imperative to schedule (and then stick to) bedtimes not just for kids but for adults, too.

Create regular routines for going to bed, shutting down electronics and calming the mind. Stick to your proper sleep schedules as much as is possible, and this will allow you to feel more energized throughout the day to stay active, accomplish your tasks and responsibilities, and invest in your health.

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Did you make a New Year’s resolution to living a healthy lifestyle? If so, what are your plans for achieving success this year?