Good habits can be hard to come by sometimes. We all know about our bad habits, of course, whether it’s snacking before dinner or chewing our fingernails. Good habits are a little trickier to pick up, and much trickier to keep up. Over the last couple of years, many of us have fallen back on those bad habits as we have looked for the easiest ways to get through the week. Now that things are back to normal, we are all thinking about how we can start putting our best foot forward more consistently and challenging ourselves to do and be better.
One of the most important things to remember about good habits is that they are not something to punish yourself about. No one ever got into a good routine by beating themselves up about something. Think about a good habit as a way to make things easier for you, not something that you are letting yourself down by not doing. From better dietary choices to getting more proactive with your health, from watching your spending to cutting down your screen time, here are a few tips to help you keep those better habits going.
Put Those Screens Away
How many times a day do you catch yourself mindlessly scrolling through your social media apps, unable to remember what you even picked up your phone for in the first place? Given the state of the world for the last two years, it is perfectly understandable. We are often looking for a distraction, looking for a connection, or looking for information.
But there comes a point where all that time looking at our screens starts to become unhealthy and it can impact your sleep. It is important to tap out before you start doom scrolling, and doctors advise that you stop looking at screens at least 40 minutes before bed. Think about setting a time limit on your screens to help you turn off.
Get Regular Checkups
No one ever complained that they caught a health issue too early. It is a fact of life that we start to become more susceptible to a range of different illnesses and conditions as we get older. While there is nothing that we can do to turn back our body clocks, we can do more to watch out for warning signs and get regular checkups.
If you are worried about an illness that runs in your family, or you feel like you may have a symptom of something serious, then talk to a doctor or consider getting a scan. A full body MRI scan will give you a comprehensive examination of your organs and other areas. It can be a crucial asset in identifying serious illnesses like early cancer. Ezra understands the importance of spotting warning signs as early as possible, and they have price plans in place to help you.
Cut Down On The Comfort Foods And Drinks
This is always a tricky one, and it is especially difficult if you are feeling stressed or overtired. But comfort foods and drinks have a way of coming back to bite you, whether it’s the huge crash from having too much coffee or feeling bloated and lethargic after a big takeout dinner. If you feel like your comfort eating and drinking has gotten out of control, it is time to embrace healthier habits.
To start with, think about what healthy snacks you enjoy, whether it is fresh fruit, rice cakes or something else that you like. Ensure that you have plenty of them in and that you do not have any of the problem foods in easy reach. Think about keeping to a regular snack schedule, so you have a healthy treat every day at 3pm, for example. If you are worried about overdoing the caffeine, then start switching out a cup a day for a decaf option. Going cold turkey is tough, and you may end up backsliding quicker than if you slowly wind down.
Stop Being Afraid Of Your Budget
There are a lot of people out there who find it difficult to sit down with their bank balance and look at what they are spending. However, it is important to remember that ignoring a problem never makes it go away, and not knowing where your money is going is a guaranteed way to lose control of it. The fact is that costs are going up everywhere from the gas pumps to the supermarket aisles.
If you get anxious about talking about your money, then it is time to take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves, and get started. The best place to start is by going through your last few months’ worth of transactions. Make sure that you understand each one, from the big expenses like your mortgage or rent all the way down to the cup of coffee on the way to work and the Uber ride to see your friends. Once you have a clear idea of your spending, you can start getting proactive about saving.
