We spend the majority of our time doing tasks that require sitting at desks for prolonged periods of time and resting on couches when we are not busy doing anything. It’s difficult to stay active with changing seasons. However, sometimes exercising for an hour 4-5 times a week still may not be enough if you’re leading a sedentary lifestyle. Then again, burning calories doesn’t mean you’ll have to own a gym membership. Making small changes in our daily routine can make a positive impact in the long-run. Below is a list of healthy habits for an active lifestyle that you can incorporate in your daily routine.
Adapt healthy eating habits
We have all heard this and while this may sound repetitive, the path to achieving an active lifestyle starts with having healthy eating habits. That being said, don’t be afraid of eating. Your body needs its daily dose of essential energy and nourishment. One of the best healthy habits for an active lifestyle is to eat home-cooked meals. Preparing a meal requires time but that means you will be selective with what you want to put in your body. Moreover, you can save a lot of money by bringing home cooked meals to your office instead of putting a dent on your wallet by going to places for lunch with your colleagues every other day. Junk food will only harm your body whereas a home cooked meal might be the the solution for a various number of problems.
Schedule active family time
Create a productive home environment. Instead of heading for the TV right after dinner, use that time to divide chores among your family members. Cleaning is also an activity. Doing the dishes, dusting around awkward corners, setting the table or even taking out the trash every day means doing small activities instead of lounging around on the sofa with eyes glued to several screens. This way, you will be able to reduce screen time and also have family bonding time.
Moreover, instead of spending a ridiculous amount of money on diet plans, try out gentler forms of exercises such as Yoga or Zumba which you can easily do at home. It’ll also give you a chance to gather your family member, even it’s for half an hour.
Create an active work environment
This goes especially for the ones who have home offices. When you think of decorating a home office, think about placing furniture in a way that’ll increase productivity. Desk jobs require at least 60-80 hours per week. The end result is bad posture, back pain and strain on your eyes. Instead, find the time in a busy schedule for small physical activities. If you have a desk job, consider taking a 5 minute walking break every one or two hours. Some offices even have standing desks where you can get your work done by standing which burns calories faster than at a sedentary position. Improve your overall fitness level by keeping small tasks that require you to be on your feet.
Add ergonomic elements in your home
Ergonomic furniture is known for improving productivity. It happens by increasing the association between the task and the one who is performing the task. One of the best habits for an active lifestyle to constantly move around. The modern lifestyle that we have now makes us sit idle, almost motionless, while we carry out our work. Having ergonomic elements in your surrounding might help you to finish your work in more efficient, less tiring ways. For instance, a kitchen is an area for physical activity. You can avoid backaches and strains by keeping it properly organized. Install cabinet drawers so that you don’t have to get jars from hard-to-reach areas. Make sure that the height of the counter is below your elbow so that everything is easy to access.
Be selective about social activities
Opt for hiking, salsa lessons, pottery classes or even exploring a new art gallery instead of trying out the new pizzeria joint down the road. There are many fun activities you can do that doesn’t involve food or going to a party. Think about activities you can do that will add fitness into your daily routine. Pick up a hobby that requires another person. This way, you will be able to spend quality time with your loved ones but also make staying active fun!
You don’t have to make sudden dramatic changes in your routine to have an active lifestyle. Instead, prioritize fitness and get a jump-start on the process by adding small practical changes that will show positive results in the long-run.
What did you think of our list of our healthy habits for an active lifestyle? Let us know in the comment section below!
