When you want to improve your health, you can build a health routine into your lifestyle to be sustainable and enjoyable. Today I tell you about the ones I love and the ones that took me years to adopt.
Health Routine
A lot is being said about routines, the habits to adopt, the components you MUST integrate in your day to be successful. At the end of the day, if you want something to stick around, you have to like it (if not love it). And if you don’t see enough benefits to your life, you won’t consider it for long.
One thing that I know for sure is that you can’t add too many things in your day at once, or else you’ll give up. It’s like deciding to go to the gym 5 times a week when you’re currently not going at all. Chances are, after two weeks you’ll be exhausted and all motivation will have escaped you, and worse you won’t go for another 6 months.
To build successful habits, we really should take it slow, leave some room for trial and error, and keep the ones that excite us and make us feel better.
Sacred (and Planned) Morning
In the morning I wake up at the same time during the week. I might push this back 1h30 – 2h at the weekends, just because I want to. Getting up at the same time helps me structure my day and follow the goals I set for myself.
I have a list of things / goals that I want to do during the day and at the end of the day, I tick the boxes – it’s extremely satisfying. Following the same routine ensures that I actually do what I know will help my wellbeing. Added bonus : it doesn’t require much effort anymore.
By the time I start work, I have drunk 3 glasses of water, journaled and meditated, and moved my body for at least 30mn. That is, on top of make my bed, shower and have breakfast (of course?).
Moving my body in the morning is something I started a few years ago. It became my strategy when I realised that I systematically skipped the gym after a day at work because I was tired and feeling lazy. Can’t say that now that I haven’t done anything with my day yet!
Slowly integrating these habits into my morning has been key. The journaling is something that I started recently. I never consider myself a creative person and I was told journaling could enhance that side of me. And I’m so glad I gave it a try! Now I can put my thoughts on paper, imagine my day or my week. I can shape the dreams I have, review conversations I’ve had and understand why I felt a certain way.
Step Outside
Another thing that I feel is essential to my day is going outside, rain or shine, winter or summer. The trick is having a big coat with a hood in the British winter ! It really oxygenates my brain, resets my eyes after staring at a computer screen all day, and I take a breather. I sometimes even resolve conflicts in my head because no one interrupts me and I can get things off my chest. How great is that? And yes, I talk to myself.
And if I can reach somewhere with trees and birds singing, a bit of grass, a canal or a river, my heart fills to the brim. There is something magical about reconnecting to nature.
Nourish your Body & Soul
One of the first thing we usually think about a health routine will be about food and what we eat. I know what I like to eat and what I don’t want to eat so I just don’t buy it. And I also make sure I have on hand what is need to make satisfying meals and snacks.
It is true that food changes everything, so I educate myself on what’s good, what nourishes my body, and I try new things. Not everything your friends or family eat is going to be good for you so you need to know your body. See how some can eat gluten with ease, and others can’t have it without feeling bloated. Some might enjoy three cups of coffee a day, and you might feel jittery after just one.
But one thing that I will always vouch for, is to eat more whole, real foods. The more colour the better, for your health and to appeal you! Eat what nourishes you and makes you feel good.
Build Your Health Routine
All these habits took time to establish, some are gone (bye-bye running every other day). Some are here to stay (hello glass of water straight out of bed). And they didn’t appear overnight. I started by counting the glasses of water I was actually drinking every day, and now it’s effortless. Recently I reintegrated jogging into my routine (like a lot of people in lockdown). But two months in I realised that I didn’t really enjoy it and looked forward to the days I didn’t run. So I chose something else instead which made me happier.
Every habit requires discipline, and you have to get clear on what your intention is. Do you want to be more active, drink more water, run a half marathon, eat less junk food? Be clear on how you can achieve that, and make a plan. Then stick to it.
Nothing comes easy, but it will seem easier with practice. Before you know it, these habits will be automated, and you will be able to integrate more in your day.
Let me know in the comments what you do to feel great, and any tips you want to share !
For more about healthy habits or my routine, give these a read:
The Secrets to Building Healthy Habits
Why You Need to Start Using a Tongue Scraper
