The benefits of a healthy lifestyle

Did you know that it takes 21 days to form a habit? It doesn’t matter if it’s a good or bad habit either. Just three weeks for that daily bar of chocolate to become part of your routine. Three weeks for you to convince yourself that your full fat morning latte is an essential part of your life.

But also, three weeks for you to get into the habit of taking the stairs every day instead of the lift. Three weeks for you to force yourself to get off the bus or train one stop earlier, lengthening your walk to work. Three weeks to get used to parking your car in the furthest space from the entrance when you go to the supermarket so that you have farther to travel with your shopping!

Little adjustments to your lifestyle, diet and exercise routine all add up – and can work both ways.
We all know that healthy habits including regular exercise, eating nutritionally sound food and avoiding harmful substances make absolute sense, after all its common sense that the salad is a better choice than a pizza! Or travelling by bicycle is a better choice than a car!

It’s putting these good habits into practice and sticking with them that make the difference. And healthy habits can not only improve your general well-being, but their impact can be far-reaching regardless of your age, gender or physical ability.

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Here are five benefits of a healthy lifestyle:

1. You’ll see an improvement in your mood
   Physical activity stimulates the production of endorphins, the chemicals that allow you to feel happy and relaxed. That’s why you get that buzz after a tough workout and feel less stressed!
2. You’ll combat illness and disease better 
   Heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes can all be prevented by following healthy habits including physical activity and a proper diet. The human body is a complex but amazing thing and you should be aware of it – and take care of it.
3. You’ll get an energy boost 
   Food is fuel – but you wouldn’t put petrol in your diesel car, would you? That lethargic feeling you get after a big unhealthy lunch is your body experiencing low energy due to being filled up with the wrong type of fuel. When you eat a balanced diet, your body receives the correct fuel it needs to manage your energy levels. So instead of lethargy, you feel energised. Ditch the fast food and concentrate on whole grains, lean meats, fruit, and vegetables instead. Your body will thank you for it.
4. You’ll enjoy a really good sleep!
   Healthy habits promote a better, deeper sleep! Insufficient sleep simply makes you feel tired and sluggish, not to mention irritable and moody, but your sleep quality can be vastly improved with good nutrition, regular exercise and a sensible schedule where you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day – yes even weekends!
5. You’ll live longer 
   When you practice healthy habits, you boost your chances of a longer life. Studies have shown that those who partake in the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each day significantly reduce their chances of premature death, compared with those who exercise infrequently. If ever there was a better incentive to exercise and eat healthily, then this is it!

Of course, bad habits are often hard to break, but once you adopt a healthier lifestyle, stick with it and get into the habit you will start to see and feel the changes which will help with your mindset and behaviour. It won’t happen overnight – but 21 days is all you need. 

Top Tips:

Reduce caffeine intake at night
Eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
Exercise daily
Limit alcohol
Get a good night’s sleep