Being healthy is not a one-day gig. Building a healthy lifestyle takes time, and it is more than just a New Year’s resolution. When it is easy to build healthy living habits, then why wait till New Year’s Eve for a start? When you maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can easily prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses. Add up the benefits of feeling good about yourself and supposedly, a better self-image.

Here’s a checklist to help you achieve the optimum level of nutrition and well-being, everyday.

  1. Drink enough water

Water in our body, helps energize muscles. When you reduce the water intake, the cells fail to maintain their balance of fluids. As a result, causing muscle fatigue. In fact, the natural liquid (H20) offers many benefits like hydration, cell nourishment and efficient metabolism. Water also helps release cleanse toxins and elevates brain functioning. If weight-loss is one of your priorities, proper intake of water can also help you regain your physique.

  1. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

Fruits and veggies are the natural supplements to your diet. Green vegetables, and fruits, for an instance, contain many nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins that strengthen your immunity system. A regular intake of these natural supplements also helps promote digestion and keeps you rejuvenated throughout the day. Make a note to consume at least four to eight servings of different vegetables or fruits per day.

  1. Wake up early in the morning

Are there any benefits of getting up early? Apparently, yes. Getting up late in the morning implies your day will be rushed, which may have to stress and anxiety. In fact, the first hour of the day and how you spend it, often sets your pace and mental state for the rest of the day. By waking up earlier, you can exercise, which will help reduce the stress levels in your life.

  1. Indulge in physical activities

Being physically active doesn’t imply that you have to hit the gym every morning. Technically, all you need is 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week to maintain optimum level of health. Physical activities have many benefits-they help improve your mental health, boost your immunity, and enable you to live longer.

  1. Sleep well

After a hectic day, it is quite crucial to have plenty of sleep. At least seven hours of sleep per day will help you maintain optimum health. A good sleep may help lower your risk of getting ill, which may include heart diseases, diabetes or obesity. A good sleeping mattress is equally important to help you regain your body posture – visit Sleeping Culture. A good body posture regulates the blood flow and rejuvenates you for the day ahead.

  1. Know how to de-stress

Stress is momentary. A sudden bad news may get your stress hormones pumping, but you have to power to de-stress, almost instantly. You can exercise or meditate to help de-stress your body and mind. You can also breathe deeply at the moment you are stressed, or take a gentle stroll to help clear your mind. Alternatively, you can put on some music or play a game to put your mind off the stress-inducing factor.

  1. Maintain positive thoughts

There is no such thing as a perfect day. Almost every day, you are going to encounter obstacles. When you do, focus on the brighter side, no matter how dim it is. There are many positive ways to deal with negative thoughts. Or, simple hacks such as taking a walk in the park or listening to music may help wave off negative thoughts. For example, if you are stuck-waiting for someone, you can try and listen to your favorite podcast.

It is tough to get out of old habits. But, maintaining healthy habits has many more perks when you pitch it against your current set of habits. In short, a healthy lifestyle boils down to stepping out of the comfort zone. Believe us, there is no hack to maintain your health. It takes a lot of determination, grit, and courage to adapt healthy habits. You may find it hard to implement and follow this checklist. But once you do, a healthy life and a better self-image await you.