10 Things You Can Do Today To Make Yourself A Healthier Person

1. Change The Way You Think

It all starts with your mind. If you think, “this is going to be terrible,” then you’re going to find a way to make it terrible. If you constantly tell yourself that you’ll never be healthy, then, odds are, you won’t. Start encouraging yourself every morning and when you don’t feel like being healthy, remind yourself of all the benefits and how much better it makes you feel. It may not seem like a lot, but before you can shape your body, you have to first shape your mind.

2. Get On A Schedule

As much as you think you’ll feel better by sleeping until the last possible minute then scrambling to get ready for work, it’s not true. Get on a schedule and allow yourself time to get up, clear your head, and start the day on your terms without racing against the clock.

3. Get Outside

If the only light your skin ever feels is the glow from your laptop, you need to make some changes. I’m not saying to run a marathon the first time you put on running shoes, but you need to get outdoors. Find a hiking trail or simply take a walk. It’s a great way to clear your mind and get away from all your stresses for a bit. Trust me, all of those emails will still be there when you get back.

4. Don’t Get In A Rut

If you go walking, running or exercising in the same place every day, you’re going to get tired of it. A gym is great, but it pales in comparison to getting out and experiencing nature. Take a day and find a place where you can’t hear the sound of traffic and there’s no wi-fi available. It’s even nice to leave your headphones in your car and enjoy the subtle sounds of the world. There’s something so rejuvenating about hearing nothing but the wind blow through the trees.

5. Find A Quiet Place

As important as it is to exercise and eat healthily, sometimes the most important thing you need to do is disconnect from all the chaos for a bit and just be. Remember when you were a kid and you could lie in a field for an hour looking at the clouds? The clouds are still there and you don’t even need an app to see them. Find a place that allows you to reset and keep it handy for whenever you need it.

6. Start Being Picky

Remember in high school when you could eat leftover pizza for breakfast, then some more of the pizza for lunch, and a double cheeseburger for each of your next three meals? As you get a little older those foods will go from being your best friend to your heartburn-filled enemy. Start looking at the nutritional value on your foods. Don’t just look for what’s cheapest but find out what’s best for you. You’ll have more energy and not feel like you’re melting into the couch anymore.

7. Take Baby Steps

This isn’t a reality show and you’re not going to pull a giant tire by a chain the first day you decide to get healthier. If you don’t see results at first, don’t give up. Take small steps towards a better you and allow yourself to celebrate each goal along the way.

8. Find A Friend With The Same Goals

It’s much easier to get off the couch and get healthier if you have a friend encouraging you. Start a group text with some friends that have similar goals and send updates to one another at least once per day. It’s encouraging, plus the competitive side of you will push to keep up with their health progress.

9. Get A Solid Night’s Sleep

You’re no good to anyone if you can’t keep your eyes open. If you find yourself getting busy and not realizing the time at night, then set a sleep alarm. It’s just like an alarm to wake up, except when this one goes off you know it’s time to shut everything down and get some sleep.

10. Do Something You Enjoy

If you don’t like something, you’re probably not going to stick with it. I’m not saying find what’s easiest, but find what you enjoy doing. If you’d prefer swimming to running, then go swim. Whatever pushes you to be a healthier, better you is the most important thing of all.