9 tips for a healthier routine
Alongside fashion and beauty, well-being is one of my favourite subjects! It is a topic where I am always trying to learn and apply more in my life. Sometimes we have difficulty to find time and energy to include healthy living aspects in our daily routines, so here are 9 tips to help you with this!
1. Drink more water
This is very old and common, I know, but it's that since I focused on that I felt a lot of changes and I think it's important to remember. My goal is to drink at least three litres of water a day, one more that is usually recommended as the minimum. I have been able to achieve this with a simple trick: I use a 1.5-litre bottle! Having a bottle of water around makes me drink more. When I drink more water I feel my skin better, I have more energy and less hunger. I am so used to it by now that I feel dry if I drink less than that!
2. Ingest more nutrients with smoothies!
I love smoothies, especially in the summer months! They are an easy and tasty way to add nutrients and fibres to your routine. Just blend the fruits and vegetables of your preference with water, juice or milk (I use vegetable because I am very lactose intolerant, but any type of milk is fine!) and you have a great beverage, that is extremely good for you. You can search recipes online or make your own.
3. Plan your weekly menu
This is a staple for anyone who manages a home out there, but it still worth a mention. Sometimes, as much as you know what you should eat when one is hungry and go to the kitchen without a plan beforehand, you just think of not so healthy foods! So planning the menu is one way of not having to have ideas at the time of hunger. You will get what's written and that's it!
4. Make a food journal
This tip really helped me to gain control of my weight. Sometimes I think I was not eating anything wrong, but I note that one day I had a (few) biscuits, in another a little too much wine, a little piece of dessert (after every meal!)... These small things seem like nothing, but when you add them up, they become great. For special occasions is completely fine to indulge a bit more, however, you are trying to live leaner, this "control system" works well.
I like to use apps for this. I rotate between MyFitnessPal and Lose It!.5. Leaving home to exercise
I LOVE doing outdoor exercises! Running, walking, bike riding... I love to see the sky, plants, it's good for me. And when I feel good I end up wanting to exercise more, since the feeling of being outdoors is a delight. =)
6. Take snacks with you
I like to take nuts, protein bars, fruits and other healthy snacks with me all the times. I leave them in my bag so, whenever I feel a bit hungry, I can snack on good things.
7. Get moving!
Did you ever stop to think how we hardly have to move? There's a remote control, an elevator, a car to go around the corner... It's nice to try to leave those comforts aside when they're not really needed. Do you really need a lift to go up two floors?
8. Decrease the amount of processed food
Since I started reading labels at the supermarket I was scared of the number of things that have added sugar! Not to mention the dyes and preservatives, many of them carcinogenic. Eating fewer products and more food (fruits, vegetables, meats, things that spoil in the refrigerator) is something I try to do in my day to day life! I am not radical, after all, we cannot always cook, but my goal is to make and eat more real food.
9. Take care of your sleep
Sleeping well is something deeply important and that many people leave behind. I feel terrible if I do not sleep well. One thing that helps is to turn off the screens (computer, phone, TV) for at least an hour before bed. I have trouble getting to sleep and I know that Instagram is part of the problem! What I do now is reading a book before going to sleep, I find this helps a lot.
You can also try to leave your room dark, without loud noises and with an agreeable temperature.
Additionally, have a routine for going to bed and waking up. This way, your body is naturally programmed for the sleeping time.
