Although each person is unique and has a different lifestyle, there are some common daily habits that everyone can implement to improve their health. In this post, you will discover 10 healthy habits that you need if you have a busy life and how to achieve them.
Developing healthy daily habits takes time, dedication, and determination, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It may take some time to form a healthy lifestyle, but it’s worth it because the quality of your life largely depends on your health.
When you take the time to develop these healthy habits, the pressure you put on your body, mind, and relationships will go away.
Start where you are and work your way up to a habit that works for you. Focus on these 10 habits and keep working to incorporate them into your daily routine, and over time, your progress and motivation to achieve your goals will skyrocket.
“Start where you are and work your way up to a habit that works for you.”
Why do you need these 10 healthy habits if you have a busy life?
Adopting new healthy habits can protect you from serious health problems like obesity and diabetes. Bad habits are certainly hard to break, but once you learn to practice healthy habits, you won’t regret your decision to put in the effort.
Healthy habits are the foundation of your success, improving your overall well-being and making you feel better. The good news is that creating healthy and positive activities in your life is easy. And living a good lifestyle can definitely add years, make you feel good, and have time for everything else.
10 Healthy Habits You Need if you have a busy life
When you’re busy, it’s hard to recognize when you’re not feeling well, it’s easy to let work consume you and forget to take care of yourself. But with a few changes to your lifestyle, it’s possible to establish a routine and create healthy habits that last forever. If you constantly say “I wish I had more time in the day”, these healthy habits are for you.
#1 Think of 3 or 5 things you are grateful for as soon as you wake up
Starting your morning with gratitude will set a great tone for your day. You will feel more positive and your mood will be better. Since your mornings are so busy, just take 2 minutes and while you’re in a bed think of 3-5 things you’re grateful for that day.
If you find it hard to come up with ideas, think about this: What would your life be like if the people and things around you weren’t with you? That question will give you all the answers you are looking for. This is one of the easiest healthy habits you need to create if you have a busy life.
#2 Write down your emotions/thoughts after waking up or before bed
Another way to start or end the day in a healthy way is to write your thoughts or emotions on a piece of paper. This is an easy tip that will help you when you are overwhelmed or have too much on your mind. Writing is often overlooked, but if you make it a daily practice, it can make a world of difference, even if it’s just for 5 minutes every day.
It is not necessary to do it on paper, but it is the most recommended. So you won’t have to use your phone very early in the morning or before going to bed.
#3 Take a walk at lunchtime or after work
Taking time to exercise can be difficult for you if you work all day and want to spend time with family and friends. But taking a short walk (10-15 minutes) would make a big difference to your health.
Getting a little movement, especially after meals, helps your body digest food better and relax at the same time. You don’t need to do vigorous exercise to stay healthy, a little activity every now and then works too. This is a healthy habit that you need to incorporate into your busy life.
#4 Have a morning movement routine
Moving around a bit in the morning can be beneficial to your health. This doesn’t mean you need to do a 45-minute workout if you don’t have time or don’t want to.
Another way to get moving in the morning is to stretch or do light yoga. You can do a short stretching session while you make coffee or jump rope while breakfast cooks. When you want to be healthy and there is not much time, you must learn to be creative and identify how to use your time in the best way.
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#5 Use your phone after 10 am every day
Waking up and looking at your phone is never a good idea. That’s because checking your phone first thing in the morning can raise your cortisol levels. That puts your body in a very stressful state making you feel tired, get headaches, and reduce your productivity during the day.
Therefore, try to check your phone at noon or at least after 10 am and see how much time you save when you do so. This is a healthy habit that you need to adhere to if your life is very busy.
#6 Take 10-minute breaks during work hours
You will not have more results the more you work. Your body needs rest to really be more productive. That doesn’t mean sitting around all day, but taking a few minutes during work to rest your eyes, stand up, and move your legs and arms will make a world of difference.
Sedentary jobs are very common now, and sometimes there are so many things to do that it’s hard to stay active. But there are plenty of ways to stay active in a sedentary job even without leaving your desk.
Try them, move your body and see how you feel after a few days.
#7 Eat a serving of vegetables at every meal
The basis of any healthy lifestyle is nutrition, if you eat well you will feel good. Not only add one vegetable to your plate for each meal, but also make sure you include enough fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
All of them are necessary to feed your body in the best way and if you eat satisfying meals you will not have to search for snacks and you will stop your sugar cravings after dinner or any meal. But if you do, make sure you have some healthy snack options in your house to munch on when you’re hungry.
This is a healthy habit that you need if your life is very busy and it will give you many more years of life and health.
#8 Clean your sheets and towels once a week
A healthy lifestyle can start with something as simple as cleaning your house more often. Since you are busy most of the time, you will need to set reminders to do so.
One simple thing you can start doing is washing your sheets and towels at least once a week. And that’s because these two things are favorites for bacteria. Bacteria can affect your skin, your sleep, and even your concentration, so you want to make sure you keep them under control. You should find the time to put this healthy habit into practice even if your schedule is busy.
#9 Go to sleep at the same time
Adjusting your sleep cycle can be a bit difficult at first, but once you see the benefits you’ll wish you had done it sooner. Going to bed and waking up at the same time is about the only way to do it. Something that will also help is getting sunlight first thing in the morning.
Set alarms and don’t postpone them, so you can create the best routine for your body and create healthier habits. Avoid using electronic devices two hours before bed. That way you ensure you will rest better at night. When your sleep cycle is synchronized, it will be much easier for you to concentrate during the day and rest at night.
#10 Stay hydrated throughout the day
This is a healthy habit that you need to add to your busy life. And for many, it can be difficult, because they forget to do it or because they just don’t like the taste of the water. Drinking plain water isn’t the only way to stay hydrated. If you don’t like water add a little fruit extract and you will see the difference.
Various fruits and vegetables have large amounts of water, so be sure to include those in every meal. Try to keep your body hydrated and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink some water.
How to create these 10 healthy habits that you need if you have a busy life?
Here are two important things to keep in mind when creating new habits. Neither is more important than the other, so pay attention to both.
A. Start with small actions to create these 10 healthy habits in your life
Sticking to the concept of small steps will give you more confidence and move you towards goals that will further improve your health. When you combine dozens of these small changes, you can lay the foundation for a healthy life. What we do every day defines our life, so small daily healthy habits contribute to a healthier life.
B. Use my 5-step system to create these 10 healthy habits in your life
Think about what conditions you need to create for yourself so that healthy habits become permanent, not temporary. For this, I have created a simple system that you can use to develop any healthy habit:
- Define: Identify what you want to do and how.
- Anticipate: Modify your environment to support your new habit.
- Take action: Start developing your habit.
- Reflect: Review your process and identify the positive immediate effects.
- Adjust: Change whatever is necessary to improve your process.
Are you ready to create these 10 healthy habits you need in your life?
Are you ready to make changes and start a healthier lifestyle? This is a question that seems obvious, but few ask themselves. When you don’t find the motivation to start something, it is because you are not ready. So how do you know if you’re ready to create healthy habits? There are four stages of change you need to be aware of:
Stage | Description | Are you in this stage? |
Contemplation | You know you need a change, but you are not sure yet. | You are thinking about it, but you are not ready to start. |
Preparation | You decided to make a change but haven’t started yet. | If you are here, you want to start within a month to do what’s necessary to live better. |
Action | You are taking action and making the changes you want. | If you are here, you have been practicing your new behaviors for at least three months |
Maintenance | You are trying to be consistent with your new healthy lifestyle. | It’s been six months since you started your new habits. |
What stage are you in?
Most people are in the first two stages, and that’s fine. If you are in either of those two, it means that you are aware that you need to change something. You need one last push to make the jump. And that confidence to take the next step comes when you know what to do.
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Conclusion
These were the 10 healthy habits you need if you have a busy life. Remember that healthy eating, regular physical activity, and other healthy habits are lifelong actions, not one-time events. Avoid extreme decisions, take your time and develop personal healthy habits to stay healthy and successful. Once you’ve decided to change your habits, make a plan and set goals for action.
Tell me in the comments if you do any of these habits daily or which one would you like to start.
Curated by Noelle says
Love these!! I am so busy as a mother and I will definitely be using all of these tips.
Nury - Her New Habits says
So glad you liked them! I’m happy to hear that you will add some of these healthy habits to your life 🙂
Christine says
Great article! I must admit that I struggle with #5. Using my phone after 10 am every day is not easy. I didn’t realize how wired we are regarding our phones. Thanks for sharing!
Nury - Her New Habits says
I’m so glad you liked it! Adding any of these 10 healthy habits to your life can be challenging. But start with only one and see how you do.
Jimmy says
i am going to try not to check my phone until 10 am
Nury - Her New Habits says
Great! You will see the difference almost inmediately.
Amanda says
Im about midway… have done great habits but struggle as limited time with the kids!
thanks for this!
Nury - Her New Habits says
You’re welcome! I understand how challenging it can be when you have so many other responsibilities that need your attention. But adding at least one of these 10 healthy habits in your life can make a big difference.
Amanda says
Wrote emotions down… going to try that one!
Nury - Her New Habits says
Good! That’s a simple but effective habit.
The lifestyledove says
Love each one! Very impressive and will definitely try to incorporate them move into my life
Nury - Her New Habits says
So glad to hear that. Any of these 10 healthy habits would be a great addition to your life. You will see.