Sometimes it can be so overwhelming to try and modify our lifestyles. We want to make changes, but lack the motivation and determination to keep going. Bad habits are hard to break, and whenever we try to do a complete makeover of our life, it’s hard to not become overwhelmed and end up quitting.
The best way I’ve found to implement change is to start small. Don’t give yourself a laundry list of “new habits” that you want to achieve because it almost always leads to a burnout.
Here are four simple changes we can make for a healthier lifestyle.
1. Drink Lemon Water instead of Soda
I know this is going to be a hard one for a lot of people. But the fact remains, soda is horrible for your health. It provides no nutritional value, but on the contrary it does damage to your body in the long run. And I’m by no means claiming lemon water is a replacement for soda. It won’t taste the same and it will take a long time to get used to. But the longer you drink it, the more you will get used to it and eventually you may even like the taste (I LOVE my lemon water).
Why is Lemon Water so good for us?
Lemon water is a great option to help you stay hydrated. Some people don’t like the taste of just water, so adding lemon juice can help you drink more. A few other benefits include:
- It’s a good source of Vitamin C.
- The citric acid in lemons may help prevent kidney stones.
- It can help promote and improve digestion.
While this won’t be an easy choice for some people, it’s a small step in the direction of a healthier lifestyle.
2. Add Protein to Each Meal
I don’t think a lot of people realize how important protein is in our diets. It fuels your cells which provides the energy you need to stay active. It also helps speed recovery after exercise or injury. It is necessary in building muscle. And It helps speed up your metabolism which will help you keep a healthy weight.
Since it is so important, adding even a little bit of protein to each meal will help contribute to a healthier lifestyle. And there are many obvious ways to add more protein into our meals such as:
- Meat (also meat sticks and jerky)
- Eggs
- Nuts and Nut Butters
- Beans and Legumes
- Quinoa
- Some Cheeses (especially cottage cheese)
- Yogurt (especially Greek yogurt) and Kefir
- Collagen Powder*
- Oats
- Protein Powder and Protein Bars
- Soy Products
*One of my favorite hacks is to use Collagen Powder.* Not only is it high in protein but it’s good for your joints, digestion, hair and nails. I add a scoop to my coffee in the morning or into my oatmeal or smoothie. And it’s flavorless depending on which brand you choose.
There are so many different options for adding more protein into our diet. Let me know in the comments your favorite tips and tricks for incorporating more protein.
*I have included the link to the collagen powder that I use. It is not an affiliate link, and I do not receive any compensation for you buying through the link. It is only included on the off chance that you would like to know the brand I use.
3. Spend Time Outside
There’s a reason it’s called “The Great Outdoors”. Spending time outside is so beneficial to our physical and mental health. Whether you’re exercising, hiking, doing yardwork or even just sitting on your porch with a good book. Getting some fresh air has an abundance of benefits.
- It strengthens our Immune System – Sunlight helps produce Vitamin D which is essential for our bones and blood cells.
- It improves our Sleep Quality – Natural light helps regulate our Circadian rhythm which affects our sleep cycle.
- It is beneficial to our Mental Health – Spending time in nature helps to increase feelings of happiness and conversely helps to decrease mental distress. It also helps to alleviate feelings of anxiety and stress.
4. Practice Gratitude
Of course, I had to save the best for last. Gratitude is such an important habit to have, but also one I fail at too often. By practicing daily thankfulness for what we do have, it becomes a lot harder to dwell on what we don’t have. While many of us have things that we want in life, we can still practice gratitude when we realize we have all been blessed so much more than we deserve. Even if everything in our life is going wrong at the moment, if we truly look closely we can always find something to be thankful for.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
After everything that the Lord has done for us, surely we can show Him gratitude. If He never blessed me again, I could still stay that He has been far better to me than I deserve.
”Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
– William Arthur Ward
All of these are of course merely suggestions. But I hope if nothing else they have motivated or inspired you to make some healthy changes in your life. If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to comment below.
Abundantlee♥
Disclaimer – I am not a doctor, nor am I recommending any products. I am simply giving my opinion and what has worked for me personally.