We all want to live our best lives, but knowing what healthy habits to start isn’t always easy. You might be wondering what to prioritize and what to let go of. In fact, having good habits in place is one of the simplest and easiest ways to change your life for the better. Habits are unbelievably easy to start and can have profound impacts on your life. Plus, if you start young, and find healthy habits to start in your 20’s or 30’s, you’ll be setting yourself up to succeed for the rest of your life!

Now, let’s jump into 6 healthy and positive habits to help you feel like your best self.

Re-fill your glass or water bottle as soon as you take your last sip.

Let’s start with a couple of healthy habits to start your day. This simple habit has made such a huge difference in my life! As someone that used to struggle to drink enough water, this changed the game for me. Once I take my last sip of water, I immediately go over to the refrigerator to fill up my glass again. By doing this, I always have a full glass of water on hand. I also recommend filling up a glass of water before you go to bed so that you are ready to go as soon as you wake up. To be a healthy and vibrant person, it’s so important to stay hydrated.

Start the day with 15-20 minutes of movement. 

At 6 AM each morning, my husband and I head to the gym at our complex for 15-20 minutes on the treadmill or spin bike. I find that this is the perfect amount of time because it eliminates a lot of the resistance to going. Now, if I told myself I needed to go to the gym for 60 minutes daily, it would be much harder to get out of bed. For you, morning movement could be anything from a home workout on YouTube, some stretches, or a quick walk outside. Just get your body moving. And, if you can, try to find at least one type of exercise that you actually enjoy.

Listen to an audiobook or motivational podcast while you’re getting dressed.

It’s so important to begin your day with inspirational and healthy content. Rather than listening to the news or scrolling on social media, find an audiobook or podcast to listen to as you get dressed or do your skincare routine. Doing this for 15 minutes each morning can add up to hours over the course of a month. And, if you are frugal or want to save money, you can use the Libby app through your library to borrow thousands of free audiobooks. 

Set a wind-down timer on your phone before bed.

When you don’t have a reminder, it’s easy to let the evening slip away from you. Before you know it, you’re 5 episodes into your new show, and it’s 2 AM. How did that happen? On my iPhone, I love having a wind-down alarm. Sunday through Monday, at 9:14 PM my phone, lets me know that it’s time to wind down for my 10 PM bedtime. When you have a strict routine like this it’s so helpful for your mind because you don’t spend time overthinking when you should go to bed.

Check your food labels and shoot for 5 ingredients or less.

Another great healthy habit is to try to switch out some of your processed foods with either fresh foods or foods with fewer ingredients. Believe it or not, once you get into the habit of doing this, it becomes like a fun game. Now, will you be able to do this 100% of the time? Probably not. However, see if you can slowly begin to switch out a few of your processed snacks or other foods with better alternatives. For instance, instead of eating a cookie, try going with some organic peanut butter for a sweet treat. 

Get your worries and stress out of your mind and onto paper or on your phone.

Rather than letting things build up until you’re overwhelmed and burnt out, get into the habit of regularly writing down your frustrations. Whether it’s on your iPhone, iPad, or in a notebook or piece of paper, begin to write things down as soon as you’re hit with something that is bothering you. Things often feel so much worse in our minds than they are in reality, and getting it out can feel so good. I do this myself for almost anything, for both little annoyances and much bigger adulting issues. You can also go back to your previous lists and give yourself a pat on the back for overcoming problems and for making progress. Or, if you’re like me, you might also laugh at yourself and wonder why you made such a big deal over things that weren’t that important. It happens to the best of us.

Keep tracking systems for your habits and goals

One of the best healthy habits for 2022 that you can get into is tracking your progress. Most people set big goals but never make any progress on them. When you actively track your habits and goals, you are holding yourself accountable and also give yourself the motivation and encouragement to keep going. With the 2022 Yearly Flourish Planner you’ll have all the tracking templates that you need to get started from financial trackers, mood trackers, and habit trackers. Having a system in place will take you from dreamer to doer.