How Do I Get Back on Track With a Healthy Lifestyle?

Getting back into the swing of things after a break from healthy eating or a regular fitness routine can seem like a huge feat — but, if we looked at getting back into living a healthier lifestyle as a marathon and not a race, things start to get a little easier.

So, if you’ve been out of your usual healthy routine and are ready to get back on track, we have you covered.

We’re sharing five simple and stress-free hacks that can help you get back into the swing of things.

#1 Focus on Eating Clean

We can’t talk about healthy living without addressing nutrition. The foods we eat play such a huge role in our overall well being, so it makes sense to start by looking at your diet.

But, don’t feel super overwhelmed and like you have to make radical changes overnight. Start with one area of your diet at a time. Maybe you want to start by cleaning up your breakfast routine by enjoying a green smoothie each morning or want to start making healthy on-the-go snacks like nuts and seeds instead of eating something sugary on the go.

Pick one thing, tackle that goal, and then move onto the next area until you have completely transformed your eating habits, bit by bit.

#2 Move Your Body

Another huge part of living a healthy lifestyle involves exercise. Our bodies are meant to move, not sit at a desk all day. So, if you have fallen out of your typical fitness routine, now’s the time to start thinking about getting started again.

Start by looking at your daily schedule and see where you can pencil in a workout, even if it just means doing an at-home workout video for 20 minutes or getting outside for a 30-minute walk.

The key is to actually schedule these workout times in and set some goals. Once you reach them, reward yourself! Rewarding yourself with something like a new pair of sneakers or a new fitness outfit may actually help you stay motivated to keep moving! (1)

#3 Get Enough Zs

When talking about a healthy lifestyle, almost everyone knows about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, but sleep is just as important. And, unfortunately, many Americans simply aren’t getting enough each night. A report showed that 70% of Americans stated that they had poor sleep at least once per month, with 11% of people having sleep issues every single night. And, with 50-70 million Americans dealing with some sort of sleep-related issues, we have to take it more seriously. (2)

Not getting enough Zs each night has been linked to: (3)

High blood pressure
Heart attack
Diabetes
Obesity
Depression
Low sex drive

On average, adults between the ages of 18-64 need 7-9 hours of sleep per night, and older adults 65 years plus need 7-8 hours. (4)

If you have difficulties sleeping, here are a few hacks that may help:

Keep your caffeine intake to just that cup of coffee in the morning.
Turn off electronics as early as possible before bed, and if using your phone at night, turn on the blue light filter or night mode setting.
Wind down with a calming evening routine to help support your body’s natural circadian rhythm.
Set a calming environment with the lights dimmed, loud noises (like the TV) turned off, and even consider diffusing some calming essential oils like lavender as you wind down for the day.
If you have a hard time calming your mind before bed, try sipping on some herbal tea and read a book.
Get to bed earlier! You don’t want to stay up too late only to let an evening cortisol spike kick in, leaving you feeling wired and tired.

If you continue to struggle, it’s important to speak with your doctor to determine if there are underlying issues and to start to take some steps towards improving your sleep hygiene — this is a huge part of supporting a healthier lifestyle.

#4 Bridge the Gaps With Supplementation

Healthy eating should always come first, but supplementation can serve as a complementary approach to filling in any potential nutritional gaps.

And, with that being said, even with the healthiest diet, soil depletion, and agricultural practices have led to a decline in the nutritional value of food over the years. (5)

A whole foods multivitamin is a great way to make sure that your body is getting all of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to function at its best!

#5 Reduce Stress

There’s no denying the fact that chronic stress can make us sick, and while we all have stress in our lives, it’s how we deal with it that makes a difference.

Each day, try to practice one form of stress reduction. For some, this may look like getting outside and walking, while others may enjoy waking up before everyone else in the house and drinking tea while listening to a positive, uplifting podcast.

Just pick one thing and commit to it each and every day — it may make a massive difference in your overall well being.

Get Back Into Living Your Healthiest Life

There are busy times in life where many of us get out of our usual routine, and this can make living a healthier lifestyle tricky.

But, if you’re ready to get back into it, start with these five simple and easy to implement hacks. They may be the stepping stones you need to get back to living your healthiest life.