Something is always getting in our way…Don’t you get this feeling sometimes? And it feels so much more worse when all the hard work you put into something falls by the wayside.
Naturally your motivation slips and you feel like giving into bad habits that bring temporary comfort. Emotional eating, binge drinking, staying isolated..
Things don’t always go according to our plan and never will. We must understand that blessings and hardships have not been distributed among the mankind based on some objective appraisal of our deeds and actions. Why bother about what might happen.
So what can we do? Well, building healthy habits might be the answer. Because in that way, you will be better equipped to manage what life throws at you.
Create a Morning Ritual
When you start your day with a meaningful morning ritual, it automatically sets a positive note. Maybe you like to meditate or do some stretching exercises. Whatever makes you feel energized, start your day with it.
Giving a structured start to your day instead of rushing through the morning helps enhance productivity and eliminate mental fatigue.
When you decide to implement some activity into your daily routine, make sure you tailor it to your needs. And yes, consistency is the key. So keep up with it and soon you will be reaping the benefits.
Read
Whenever I tell someone that reading benefits us in ways more than one, they generally nod their head and say ’Yeah, it does.’ But most don’t really like to read. They either can’t focus or feel that reading is not as beneficial as is generally claimed.
But trust me, reading books is a great way to improve focus and gain knowledge. It will help you see people and the world around you in a better and different way. Some might like fiction, others might like non-fiction. Magazine, newspaper….no matter what you read, try to read daily.
I am sure it will help you broaden your horizon, develop new ideas, and positively impact how you communicate with others.
Sip Warm Lemon Water
What is the first thing that I used to have after getting up in the morning? Breakfast. And despite a few people telling me that having warm lemon water the first thing in the morning is healthy, I never got to doing it regularly because it made me feel bloated. But once I started doing it, I got used to it.
Warm lemon water decreases inflammation and aids in digestion.
Try it, instead of having tea or coffee.
We never consume lemons whole, so squeezing lemon juice in water gives you vitamin C and soluble fiber. A healthy treat for your body!
Take Movement Breaks
If you come to think of it, until Industrial revolution, our routines revolved around activities that required movement.
Compare it to how we live now. We get by with minimum movement and unfortunately ‘sitting disease’ afflicts most of us.
Movement throughout the day wards off stiffness, aids blood circulation, and boosts energy. Take small breaks. At least 5 minutes each hour. Try taking the stairs. Park farther back in the lot. Small steps, big rewards.
Set an Intention
Getting out of our comfort zone or starting a new healthy habit is definitely one of the hard things to do. But why do we feel such resistance from within?
Because it is rather easier to decide what you would like to do but it is altogether a different story when it comes to actually doing it. So you need to do two things – set goals as well as intention. Goals can be seen as targets you want to hit while intentions can be your guiding principles.
For example, before working out, set an intention and ask yourself, ‘What am I aiming at?’ This will help you know if you are doing it because you want a certain kind of body or you would like to get healthy. The answer will decide for how long you would stay motivated and consistent.
Set Online Boundaries
We have so much going on in the online world. Somebody is updating about their trip to the end of the world, others are taking selfies to try out different filters, and some are out there to troll everyone and everything.
It is a hyperactive maze of memes, posts, videos…and we all just love getting sucked into it. And it is so much easier because of easy access to the internet.
Before you know it, several hours fly by and you don’t have much to show for it. Try not checking your social media account first thing in the morning. Check your email periodically if you get urgent requests from your manager or colleagues. Create windows of time for your online tasks.
Change is gradual. Repeated actions turn into habits. And yes, it takes time and effort. So don’t expect your actions to deliver results overnight. But if you stick in there long enough, the change will come. So don’t give up.
