Every day we have the opportunity to improve our own lives. Focusing on building habits that are sustainable and positive can make a world of difference in our daily living experiences. Making small efforts daily doesn’t take much time but can create a large cumulative effect. Here are 7 super habits to help you become the best you.
1. Hydrate.
Making a plan to drink adequate water every day will help
you function at an optimal level. According to The U.S. National Academies of
Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the average man requires 124 ounces of
water and the average woman requires 94 ounces per day, which includes all
fluids, about 20% of which comes from the food we eat. That leaves 74 ounces of
fluid for women and 100 ounces for men to intake as fluids, the majority of
which should be water. Carrying around a water bottle makes us more likely to
drink enough water to make our bodies and brains function optimally. If you get
tired of plain water, add a bit of fruit and a splash of Superberries Aronia
berry Concentrate to brighten up the flavor and kick up the nutritional value.
2. Prioritize sleep.
It can be hard to get enough sleep, especially when there
is something fun to do. Adequate sleep, though, helps our bodies rest, heal,
and rejuvenate, and improves our moods throughout the day. Experts recommend
following a sleep schedule, limiting screen time in the hours before bed, limiting
light and noise in the bedroom, and other habits to help you enjoy deep, restful
sleep.
3. Move your body.
We hear a lot of conflicting information about how much
exercise we need. Some people say 30 minutes per day. Others say 10,000 steps.
If you are new to exercise, you do not want to overdo it or you might risk
injury or mental burnout. Start with 60 minutes of intentional movement per
day. That can include taking a walk, riding a bike, or even doing household
chores like sweeping and mopping. Take the opportunity to leave your office
chair or couch and move your body. Find activities you enjoy doing and do them.
4. Eat healthy 90% of the time.
There are so many restrictive fad diets around and
following them can feel so daunting. If you can make healthy choices 90% of the
time, focusing on consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats,
you can indulge in dessert with your friends or ice cream with your kids
without beating yourself up. Eventually, you might realize that you enjoy
eating crunchy, bright salads more than cookies or cakes. Adding Superberries
Aronia berry products to at least one meal or snack per day will go a long way
to helping you with this habit.
5. Practice gratitude.
Dr. Robert Emmons, professor of psychology and gratitude
researcher, has found that people who write in a gratitude journal or engage in
other regular gratitude activities have stronger immune systems, lower blood
pressure, longer and more refreshing sleep, and fewer effects of body aches
while also being more optimistic, social, joyful, alert, awake, helpful,
generous, and compassionate.
6. Surround yourself with inspiring people.
If you have friends who enjoy the same hobbies as you,
teach you new things, or make you happier when you spend time with them, make
it a point to interact with them more often. If you don’t already have people
like that in your life, seek out new people. It can be hard at first but
engaging in activities you enjoy will lead you to people who will have a
positive effect on you. You can also invite people you already know to try new
activities with you. You might just open up your world and theirs.
7. Learn something new.
Learning new information and skills has a positive effect
on our brains as well as our lives. We used to believe that the brain stopped
developing at a certain point, but now we know that’s not true. We can build
new synapses and strengthen old ones continuously throughout our lives.
Engaging in mentally stimulating activities develops our brain’s abilities and
makes us more able to learn and do more. When we do not, our brains actually
shrink over time as our neuron density shrinks, and that shrinkage is related
to neurological disorders such as dementia as well as other problems.
It might feel overwhelming to jump into 7 new habits right
away, so just start with one. Experts say it can take at least 18 days for a
new behavior to become automatic, so try committing to a month of one before
you add another. Following this pattern, by the end of the year, you will have
7 super habits that will improve your life.
