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A quick online search around healthy living and you'll be hit with countless diets, exercise regimes, and psychology tips for living your best life.
We're here to strip away the noise and provide our top, simple tips to get you on your journey to a (don't cringe) "better you", and why it's so important.
Diet
How you fuel your body is so important for energy levels, metabolism and weight management, on top of reducing your risk of heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure.
Keto, vegan, WFPB, gluten-free, paleo - there are so many diet trains you can jump on board; but let's go back to primary school and reflect on the food groups.
Does your diet mainly consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein? Are you eating three balanced meals a day? This is the easiest first step you can take. Look at your dinner plate tonight and assess how you shape up.
We can't forget the silent assassin, snacking! We've included some great swaps for favourite cheeky snacks.
| CHEEKY SNACK | BETTER FOR YOU SNACK |
|---|---|
| Potato crisps |
Handful of almonds or homemade kale chips
|
|
Bag of lollies
|
Your favourite berries (add some goji berries for a superfood kick!) |
|
Kit-kat
|
A cube of 90% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
|
|
Caramel slice
|
Dates
|
|
Corn chips and avocado dip |
Carrot or celery sticks and homemade guacamole
|
|
Muesli Bar
|
Homemade bliss balls
|
|
Bottled iced tea
|
Hot or cold green tea
|
Don't forget to drink around 2 litres of water a day!* Not only does it reduce headaches and is great for dry skin, but helps you lose weight!
Exercise
According to the Heart Foundation, adults should be doing a minimum of 30-45 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days, as well as muscle-toning activities twice a week.
If you're new to exercise, don't overthink it! This can be anything from a brisk walk with a friend or your dog, to carrying and digging (e.g. gardening or carrying shopping home). If you're young or relatively active, consider joining your local gym or a social netball team.
So much of our lives, especially if you work in an office or are studying, is spent sitting, so its so important to get your body moving. Regular physical activity makes you less likely to have a heart attack or develop heart disease, as well as prevent cancer and type 2 diabetes. It is also proven to reduce dying prematurely… if that's not motivation, we don't know what is.
Sleep
We've all groaned as our alarm clock bellows when we swear we were only struggling to fall asleep 5 minutes ago! Experts recommend those aged 18 and above need seven to nine hours sleep a night***. Make sure to prioritise your sleep schedule just as heavily as you prioritise a 5am boot-camp wakeup or a late night tanning appointment (no shame, we know it's a great self confidence boost). If you don't take time to recover, the rest of your amazing healthy lifestyle journey will not be as effective.
Mindset
Old habits sure do die hard, however positive thinking and optimism has a proven impact on your health, including increasing life span and lower rates of depression and anxiety. Discover what works best for you, whether it's listening to a podcast on your commute to work, planning some time to have meaningful conversations with a friend or family member, or taking regular walks in nature to reflect.
It's also important to celebrate your achievements, no matter how big or small, both inside and outside the workplace. It's not just about the new promotion, it's important to celebrate events such as getting through a tough week, a big project or making amends in a strained relationship. In no time, the day-to-day wins will help you become a brighter, more content individual.
