Many people suffer. They suffer for various reasons. I also suffered. My body was in constant pain, which made life more difficult. And there was the one day, when it was enough. I had to do something about it.
A book about habits by Charles Duhigg [1] showed me the way forward. I learned that if I want to change something I have to do it in a repeated way – creating a (new) habit. Indeed, whatever activities we do, it is only through repetition that we can change.
The question now is what habit(s) I want / should create to improve my overall situation regarding body pain. After reading smartbooks, talking to experts, listening to podcasts I decide to start step by step with a few activities and increase them slowly.
The result is my habits for a healthy life:
- After waking up, start your day with half a liter of lemon warm water. It helps you in maintaining the pH balance of your body. It promotes hydration, supports weight loss, and helps you with indigestion. You also get nice side effects like fresh breath and improved skin quality.
- 30 minutes of morning yoga is a lifesaver for me. It helps me in so many ways by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, building strength, and increasing flexibility. However, it is important to get a yoga teacher who can show, and explain to you what you should do and why.
- Spending time in nature works wonders for our well-being. It reduces the stress hormone, cortisol. I started the habit of a 20 minutes nature walk, in which by now I fell in love.
- Before I start with my work I start with green tea. Drinking green tea reduces the risk of several diseases like heart disease and diabetes. 3-5 cups of green tea per day seem to be an optimal number to get the best health benefits.
- In today’s world, continuous learning is not a buzzword anymore It is a must. With my green tea, I start my working day with a 20 minutes learning session. This learning session can be reading a book, attending an online course, or listening to a podcast. Learning does not only help you to get along with all the changes that are happening but it also has a positive mental impact.
- Screen time! Yes, it is a big subject. Not only has it a negative impact on your eyes and sleep but it also distracts your mind. Go offline! Set a time when you log off or put the phone down. You gain time and feel much better.
- Practicing a sport is known to help you. It does not matter what sports you do but do it regularly. Three times 30 minutes a week is better than 90 minutes once a week.
These are my 7 habits for a healthy life. I might extend those. Important areas are food/meals, being mindful, sleeping rituals, staying focused. Let’s see… Innutri can support you in creating your habits with the right ingredients and Soft GumsTM. For a healthy life.
[1] Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit. Why we do what we do and how to change. Random House Books 2013