We generally all set ourselves healthy habit goals for the new year. Whether it’s becoming fitter, healthier or wiser, it is often challenging to stick with new habits for longer than a few months.
To make it easier for you to stay motivated, we put together 5 easy-to-follow habits everyone can incorporate into their busy lives.
1. Swap your morning coffee with green tea
Start your morning with a cup of green tea or matcha instead of coffee.
Coffee can interfere with the production of cortisol (the stress hormone) by making your body rely more on caffeine and by potentially leading to a development of long-term tolerance to caffeine. A green tea or matcha latte is a good alternative to kickstart your body. Green tea is full of antioxidants, which can help to protect the body against disease and are an important part of a healthy diet.
Unlike herbal and fruit teas, green tea also contains a small amount of caffeine, so it can deliver the pick-me-up effect many people seek after waking up.
2. Use a blue light filter on your devices
Smartphones and computers project artificial blue light 24/7, which unnecessarily keeps us alert and awake.
Before the introduction of smartphones and computers, we could only get blue light from the sun, which meant that when the sun went down and it got darker, our bodies began to release the sleep hormone, melatonin, preparing us for a restful sleep. This natural reaction of the body is part of our circadian rhythm.
Due to excessive use of smartphones and laptops our natural circadian rhythm is disturbed and this can lead to poor sleep hygiene.
According to The Sleep Doctor, to help you sleep better at night, you should give yourself a definite mobile device cut off time and keep your screens away from your face at night. Doing this helps your body to better adjust to the upcoming period of rest by removing excess and unnecessary light stimulation.
3. Take regular screen breaks
Take regular screen brakes to give your eyes a rest. This is something so many of us fail to do when working with computers. We spend hours glued to our screens, hardly ever looking away. As a result, our eyes become strained, which can lead to poorer vision and headaches.
Next time, after working on your computer for 20 minutes, try directing your vision 20 feet away and hold it for 20 seconds while blinking normally to refresh your eyes. By shifting your focus from near to far, you’ll give your eyes that much-needed break.
4. Avoid eating lunch at your desk
Eating mindfully allows time for the body to register its fullness, which means that you are less likely to overindulge and gain weight.
Food is meant to be enjoyed. We feel more satisfied when we allow time to appreciate the delicious sweet and savoury flavours of our meals. Taking your attention from the screen to an environment where you are no longer concentrating, gives your mind a rest. This rest reduces stress, boosts your energy and helps improve your brain’s efficiency.
Engaging with your colleagues during lunch is also a great way to bond and build better relationships with the people you spend so much time with.
5. Start your morning stress-free
Your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Being able to go through your morning routine in a calm and leisurely manner instead of rushing it is important for the right frame of mind.
A key factor in making sure your mornings are a great start to the day is to start them early. Doing this gives you time to eat breakfast, to exercise, to enjoy valuable quiet time and to start the day more productively. All these benefits are on offer when you are able to wake up earlier!
The small changes to your lifestyle can lead to big improvements to your health and wellbeing.
At Freedom Health Insurance, we know that little things can make a big difference. All our customers are different, which is why we let you create your own health insurance package that is fit for you.
Call us today on 0800 999 2013. We are happy to answer all of your questions about your health insurance.