5 simple habits that can give you better long-term health
- 25 Apr 2021
Gulf Today Report
Let’s admit it. Our busy lifestyles don’t permit us to wake up at the break of dawn to run a half marathon or have the afternoon free to leisurely take a yoga class, akin to the average life of celebrities and influencers.
These health-enhancing practices are undoable for most of us with work and family commitments.
But while it’s hard to maintain a balanced lifestyle every day, sprinkling it with micro-habits — small, sustainable routines that don’t eat up too much time — can make you feel more in control of your life.
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Below are five habits that take less than five-minutes but make a world of a difference.
1. 5-minute journaling
Journaling has many great benefits, but it’s especially notable for its effect on stress, as well as its ability to help us to reframe our thoughts positively.
You don’t have to pour your heart out and fill the pages to reap the benefits.
Simply taking a moment to pen down a handful of thoughts can help you to check-in with your frame of mind, and work towards personal milestones and goals.
2. Cold water therapy
Taking a cold shower might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but according to wellness guru Wim Hof aka The Iceman, braving chilly water can give us more energy, better sleep and improved focus.
Turning down the temperature dial in your morning shower can also help you to recover after an intense workout session, as it’s believed to help reduce muscle pain, soreness and swelling.
3. Declutter one thing
The start of the summer season makes us yearn for clean and calm spaces to relax in, but tiding your home doesn’t have to be a deep-cleaning all-day mission.
Focusing on micro decluttering is a much sensible approach to healthy living.
Simply take five-minutes to sort through one thing each day, whether that’s a closet drawer, a food cupboard or a pile of unwanted clothing.
4. Make your bed
Nothing feels more demotivating than coming home to an unmade bed.
Taking a moment to tidy your bedroom starts the day off right and sets you up to accomplish the rest of the tasks on your to-do list.
A study conducted by the The Sleep Foundation found that people who make their bed in the morning are 19 per cent more likely to have a good night’s sleep every day.
5. Drink a glass of water each morning
Drinking water in the morning isn’t just about starting your day off well-hydrated.
Studies have found that it can help to aid digestion, keep your skin clear and boost your concentration levels.
Although it might be tempting to head straight for the coffee pot, taking the first five minutes of your morning to sip on a glass of water can give your body a head start on keeping your fluids balanced throughout the day.
