#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)

#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.