10 healthy habits to incorporate into your daily routine
POV: You’re looking for small, simple, healthy habits to bring into your routine to improve your life. And I provide.
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hydrate
Aim to drink between 50-80 oz of water per day, depending on your body weight and individual needs. I notice a huge difference on days I hydrate well. My hack for this habit is a 64-oz water bottle I bought at Target (also available on Amazon) that has times stamped along the side - finish this much by 9 am, this much by 11 am, etc. and it’s like a fun little game where I challenge myself to keep up with the water bottle. If plain water isn’t your thing, I love these Liquid IV packets which add electrolytes and flavor. Strawberry is my fave.
move your body
Even just a little. A short walk, 10 minutes of stretching, some bed yoga. Something to get your blood flowing and your lungs working. I don’t love working out, but I love the feeling of having worked out. You know? And you can do anything for ten minutes. Recently I’ve been loving obé fitness, an online, on-demand workout app with live classes and lots of different levels and lengths of workouts. If you use my link to sign up, you’ll get a month for free! 💕
step outside
Take a deep breath. Outside. Walk out into the grass. Bend down. Touch the grass. Feeling more connected to the earth makes you feel more connected to yourself. Even 5 or 10 minutes outside will improve your outlook on the day, and bonus if you get out early enough that you can stand in the sun without getting burnt to get that Vitamin D.
hug someone
As a not-touchy-at-all introvert, this one is hard for me. Luckily I have a partner who is always willing, because humans need human connection. Physically hugging another person is actually vital to our development and mental health - my mother always used to say a person needs eight hugs a day to maintain, twelve hugs a day to grow. I’m not sure if those numbers are backed up by science, but they’re definitely backed by my experience. Twelve may seem like a lot, but if you can manage one or two, that’s better than none!
practice gratitude
This is one of those annoying “life hacks” that makes me roll my eyes when I encounter it on Instagram or TikTok. Of course we should be grateful for what we have. But it seems like the people saying “practice gratitude!” already kind of have their lives together and so probably “practicing gratitude” didn’t actually change their lives forever or whatever claim they’re making. But I have noticed that when I’m intentional about listing things I’m grateful for, it may not change my environment or my circumstance, but it does change the way I see them and the world. It’s about mindset.
shut off your phone
Not all day! But shutting it off a half hour to an hour before you go to bed will help you sleep better, more deeply, and in complete cycles. It’ll also keep you from going down any unexpected rabbit holes and shifting your bedtime three hours later. And it’ll keep the news from being the last thing you see before you fall asleep.
cold water
Hear me out. Cold water. On some level. Whether you’re taking a full-fledged ice-bath, a cold shower, turning the water in your shower cold for the last minute, or just splashing your face with cold water - do your nervous system a favor, and freeze it a little bit.
say something nice
ABOUT YOURSELF! Look in the mirror and tell yourself something nice. You deserve to hear nice things about yourself, and doing this every day will boost your confidence and your trust in yourself.
read a little
Just a little! A few pages of a book, a magazine, a graphic novel. On an eReader, on your phone, on paper. Up to you. But a little bit of reading helps zone out distractions and keeps your mind sharp.
connect
Connect with another human in a positive way. Whether that’s texting a friend to say hi, having lunch with a co-worker, or putting your phone down for dinner with your family, having a real and tangible connection with another person is healthy and fulfilling. As much as I love being alone, the days where I am intentional about connecting with another person always leave me feeling better. Less isolated, more loved, more engaged.
I think incorporating all of these habits is a lofty goal - best to start by incorporating one or two, then building on over time. Don’t burn out! Give yourself time, patience, and grace whenever you’re implementing new habits or routines. Let me know how these habits work for you! 💕
