People tend to put all the blame on genetics for all their health problems, but in reality, your genetics is only one factor of the equation. Instead, the way you live and the habits you form throughout your lifetime are the biggest indicators of how long and how well you’ll live. Therefore, it’s important to develop some healthy daily habits.
These daily habits will not only benefit your health physically, but emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually as well. If you’re not sure where to begin, we’re here to help. We’ve listed five of the healthiest habits you can develop that will increase your chances of living to be a centenarian (if that’s your goal, anyway). Here are five of the healthiest habits you can develop.
#1: Focus on your mental health daily.
When people think about the idea of being “healthy”, they usually picture being physically fit and having a beach body. However, health is much deeper than just physical. We live in a very fast-paced world nowadays, so it’s very important to be mindful of your mental health.
To begin, try meditating for ten minutes each morning or taking a walk out in nature. Alternatively, if you want to break a sweat in the process, opt for a daily yoga session. There are many ways to destress and compose yourself, so just find one that works for you.
#2: Live with purpose.
If you ask just about any elderly person in a retirement home what their biggest regret in life is, they’ll almost certainly tell you that they regret wasting time – or their life. Most of the happiest and healthiest people in the world live with intent and purpose. They wake up everyday feeling inspired because they know that their lives are served for a bigger purpose, whatever that may be.
If you feel like you’ve been simply coasting through life, maybe this is your wake up call. Think deeply about what you want in your life, and make it a daily goal to work towards that.
#3: Drink lots of water.
The truth is, most of us are constantly dehydrated. While we load up on the bad-for-you snacks with no problem, we tend to not drink enough liquids. When we do drink liquids it’s the bad kind, such as sodas, energy drinks, and milkshakes. Your body is comprised of at least 70% water, so it comes as no surprise that drinking water is extremely important for good health.
A good and easy rule of thumb is to drink at least 2 liters of water each and every day. It's okay if you miss that mark every now and again, but 2 liters per day is a safe average to aim for.
#4: Get enough sleep.
Lack of sleep is linked with increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other world-leading causes of death. With that being said, if you’re accustomed to late nights and early mornings, stop. Everyone’s body is different but aim to get anywhere between 6 and 9 hours of sleep each night. If you’re not sure how many hours of sleep you need, start by sleeping 8 hours and adjusting downward each night until you feel a major difference.
#5: Eat a largely plant-based diet.
The healthiest people in the world, those found in the Blue Zones (such as Okinawa), are known to eat a heavily plant-based diet. Their typical diets consist of a large amount of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. When they do eat meat, it’s in smaller portions, and these people tend to stick to healthy protein options such as fish, chicken, turkey, or even tofu.
Plants contain large amounts of vitamins, minerals, water, and fiber, which all help to keep the body fresh and youthful as they grow older.
Nothing beats the real thing when it comes to eating greens. However, if you want a nutrition boost that’s also great for improving your digestive system, try our Organic Super Greens + Digestion supplement!
