Want to learn how to kick start healthy habits this year?
How to Kick Start Healthy Habits
Many people who strive to have a healthy lifestyle or lose weight find it hard to know where to begin. They set lofty goals or try to follow complicated programs which may lead to failure and disappointment in the future.
The key is to kick start healthy habits using simple tips and tricks. Once you can follow these simple tips, you’ll lay the foundation for a healthy lifestyle or the weight loss system you desire.
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Start Today
Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Saying that you’re going to start being healthy ‘tomorrow’ is sometimes just procrastination.
Want a healthy lifestyle? Want to lose weight? Start today!
Set a Small Goal
What is it that you want to attain? Are you interested in weight loss or do you just want a healthier lifestyle?
No matter what your goal is, it doesn’t have to be anything drastic, nor should it span several months. Why?
- If the goal is too big, you might get discouraged should you have any setbacks, you’re more likely to give up.
- If the goal takes too long to reach, you might get bored with it and never feel satisfied in any progress you have made.
A goal like “lose 1-2 pounds a week” is easier to work on than “lose 100lbs in 1 year”. Or, even a goal like “eat home cooked meals 5 times a week” is easier to work with than “never eat out again”.
What is your small goal? By when do you want to achieve the goal?
Ask family or friends to help you reach your goal.
Ask your family and friends to join you in reaching your goal. You’ll get support, advice, encouragement, and perhaps even a little competition.
Each of you can have different goals or different methods to reach those goals, but having accountability will help you all reach your goals.
Try something new
Have you tried a healthier lifestyle or to lose weight before but didn’t like how you did it? Try something new! Trying new things will help keep it interesting for you.
Try:
- New healthy foods, like veggies and fruit that you have never tasted before.
- New ways to cook healthy foods.
- New healthy food plan.
- New exercise methods.
- New tracking system for food intake.
Drink more H2O
I know this might be a no-brainer for some of you, but water is so essential to our well-being. When you realize that all major systems of the body need water to function properly, you’ll find how important it is to keep yourself hydrated.
Water can:
- Increase your energy
- Promote weight loss
- Flush out toxins
- Maintain digestion regularity
- Boost your immune system
When your body feels better because it’s functioning better, you’ll be in a better mood! And when you’re in a better mood, you’re more likely to work harder toward your goals.
You can start with the standard recommendation of eight 8-ounce glasses to start. You could also try to work your way up to half of your body weight in ounces, which is often recommended for weight loss success. (Note: You’ll use the bathroom a lot at first, but then your body will get used to it.
Don’t like water? Try:
- Adding fruit for flavor
- Eating your water (fruits and veggies with high water content)
- Drinking sparkling water
- Drinking unsweetened tea
Get outside
Being outdoors has so many benefits, especially when you’re striving for a healthier lifestyle. Benefits include:
- More Vitamin D.
- Increased brain function.
- Improved mood.
- Less stress.
- More ways to exercise.
Just 15-20 minutes a day spent in the outdoors can help you toward your goal of a healthier lifestyle or even weight loss!
Get more rest
Getting more rest is something I strive for in my own life, as I am sure it is a goal for many of you as well. Why is sleep so important when you’re working toward a healthier lifestyle?
- Getting enough sleep lowers stress.
- Getting enough sleep can help with weight loss, helping you to feel less hungry and providing you with enough energy for exercise.
- Getting enough sleep helps to regulate your metabolism.
Need help getting more sleep?
- Turn off electronics 30 minutes before bedtime.
- Use a white noise machine to help you sleep.
- Buy a comfortable mattress and pillow
- Get exercise during the day
- Avoid caffeine after 4-5 pm
- Use blackout curtains in your room
Don’t be afraid of setbacks
This is a big one. Don’t be afraid of setbacks. Everyone has them!
Instead, learn from any setbacks you have. Fall back into the old habit of ordering out for dinner? Take a step back and plan your meals for the week ahead of time. Have one too many cookies? Put them out of reach so you’re not so tempted next time.
How Ibotta Can Help with Your Healthy Habits
The New Year is a good time to kick start healthy spending habits too, am I right? Start your New Year off right when you start with Ibotta. Take advantage of flexed up cash back from participating retailers like GNC, Under Armour and Blue Apron from now until 1/14!
Get the Ibotta App to get started and for more details.
Right now, Ibotta has these fantastic offers from these retailers:
- Blue Apron – new subscribers get $25 cash back (double the standard offer)
- Macy’s – 3% cash back for online purchases
- GNC – 10% cash back for online purchases
- Under Armour – 7% cash back for online purchases
- Vitacost – 8% cash back
- Home Chef – New subscribers get $10 cash back
- Hello Fresh – New subscribers get $10 cash back
Download Ibotta for free today and get started on your goals!
Many thanks to Ibotta for sponsoring this post about how to kick start healthy habits!
Shelly says
These are great tips. I LOVE sweets and I have a goal of making healthier choices. I’m not going to completely eliminate sweets but I believe it is attainable to significantly reduce my consumption. I just need to find some yummy alternatives. I also need to drink more water. I like the idea of adding some flavor.
Marissa says
You’re off to a great start! I don’t know if I could eliminate sweets all together either, but reducing them is definitely a great plan.
Melissa Chapman says
Great tips to keep in mind for weight loss and health. I never tried Ibotta but it seems like a good way to save money. I did well last year with my diey=t and finally lost those 5 lbs.
Marissa says
I love Ibotta. I use it every time I shop in-store and online!
Laura @ Mommy Dearest says
These are fantastic tips for living healthy. I agree that setting smaller goals with target dates is a big part of being successful. Too often do we make the goal, span over too long a period of time and it usually fizzles out. I’m the procrastination queen. I love the “Start Today”
Marissa says
I’m a big procrastinator too. If I don’t start something right away, it never gets done.
Krystal Butherus says
What a great concept! I would love to minimize my sugar intake. I’ve been reading about its inflammatory properties.
Marissa says
That’s one of my goals this year too. I didn’t realize it can cause inflammation!
Lynnette Joselly says
I like adding lemons or limes to my water just to give it some taste. It allows me to drink more water since it taste better.
Marissa says
I love lemons in my water. For some reason, I don’t like limes as much. Weird, right?
Britney Kaufman says
I’m totally guilty of not trying new foods. I did try new exercises last year and that helped me lose the weight that was stubborn!
Marissa says
Hooray for new things! Which exercises did you try?
Rebecca Bryant says
I have totally kicked up my H2O intake. I am feeling so much better for doing so. Really like these tips they are very helpful.
Marissa says
Glad you found the tips helpful!
empowerandhelp says
Water intake is definitely that can be done very easily and it helps big time, even though we might not realize it
Marissa says
So true!
kimberly lewis says
I’m trying to stick to my new habits. it’s so hard when everyday life get involved.
Marissa says
Everyday life can make things complicated, that’s for sure.
Bird says
I cut out sugar for a month before Christmas and did Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred. It’s totally about not putting it off — you just have to start!
Marissa says
Absolutely true!
Lesley says
Great list, and inspiring to start right now. I’ve never gone to bed early enough and I rarely drink enough water. That’s a great place to start.
Marissa says
Sleep and water are definitely needed for a healthy lifestyle and great places to start!
Rachel says
I need to do a lot of these things! Sleep is key for me keeping the rest of my life in order.
Marissa says
Agree! Not getting enough sleep can wreak havoc on my day.
Melissa Balgobin says
I definitely need to drink more water and get more sleep. I love all of these tips!