Improve your life with small changes

Improve your life with small changes

Improving your life doesn’t mean changing it drastically. It could include things that you are constantly working on and making small changes to help become the better ‘you’. Rather than starting all the changes all at once, try changing one or two unhealthy habits and see the difference whether that is a boost in confidence, less stress or a boost in energy through a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some good habits to start today to improve your quality of life:

• Develop a regular morning routine
  Waking up at a reasonable time to give yourself between 30-90 minutes in the morning to allow yourself enough time to benefit from your routine is extremely important. Scheduling the tasks you need fulfil each day will reduce the time wasted in the morning and boost productivity as our minds are more focused.
• Fix your sleeping routine
  It is recommended to sleep around 8 hours per night and it’s for good reason. Sleep is important to improve your concentration and productivity so you are able to carry out your daily activities. By improving your brain function through good sleep, memory is enhanced and problem-solving capabilities are maximised. There has been a link between good sleep and improved immune function meaning you are less likely to catch a cold. Read more in our article: What happens to your body when you are sleeping?

• Start exercising
  Being active is beneficial both for your mental and physical well-being. Regular exercise causes weight loss, boost energy levels and increases muscle mass. Building muscle strength reduces the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Exercising improves brain function, helps to improve quality of sleep, delay signs of aging and reduce risk of chronic diseases.
• Quit smoking
  Smoking increases your chances of having a heart attack or stroke and the nicotine and carbon monoxide present in cigarettes causes strain on your blood vessels as your heart rate increases. If you don’t smoke, don’t start and if you do smoke, quit now. Stopping smoking allows you to breathe easier, boost your energy levels and stops lung damage. In just two weeks of not smoking you’ll be able to notice a difference just walking up the stairs as you will be able to breath better. See our Quit-Smoking treatments available here

• Achieving mindfulness
  Mindfulness cultivates our ability to be fully present and aware about what is happening inside and outside ourselves, allowing us to become more aware of our thoughts and feelings. Being present in the moment improves your well-being by being able to be engaged in your daily activities, and are able to form better relationships with people. Achieving mindfulness can also help with physical health by reducing stress and anxiety, reduce chronic pain and improves quality of sleep. Also, it improves mental health and is an important part in treating a number of problems such as eating and anxiety disorders.
• Start reading
  Reading keeps your brain active by expanding your knowledge. The more knowledge you have, the easier you will find it to tackle challenges. Reading is linked to stronger analytical abilities, as it gives you the ability to consider all aspects and stating your opinions clearer. By immersing yourself in a book, you improve your writing skills, memory and vocabulary expansion. Reading 15-20 minutes on your morning commute each day, you will see an improvement in your concentration and you are able to focus clearly in the office.

• Set goals
  By setting goals, you are able to enrich your lives by providing it with a direction giving you something to aim for. It focuses your mind on the important aspects of your life giving you better clarity in your decision making. It gives you more control because once you set your goals, you devise a plan on how to reach them giving you a perspective on what to prioritise. Attaining short term and long-term goals gives you a sense of personal satisfaction because ultimately you have accomplished what you planned out.
• Have a positive attitude
  Changing your mindset to a ‘glass half full’ concept will help you cope easier in life by instilling optimism and eliminate stress. This allows more opportunity for self-growth and development and give you the motivation to be able to accomplish your goals.

• Eat healthy
  Although it may be hard to initially develop healthy habits, but all you need to do is change your mindset. Living a healthier lifestyle means you have more energy for physical exercise boosting muscle strength and endurance. By eating more foods containing high levels of Vitamin E (almonds, peanuts, green vegetables), the risk of heart disease and stroke reduces. A well-balanced diet contributes to a longer life by lower stress, disease and delays aging especially when you eat foods with higher water content as it keeps the skin moisturised and hydrated. Read more in our article: Read more in our article: Why Weight Loss Takes Time
• Drink more water
  Staying hydrated and drinking around 2 litres of water a day has a wealth of benefits, including with improving digestion, helps with blood circulation and reduces fatigue. Increasing your water intake increases the brain power helping you stay alert, focus your mind and improve concentration, so you’re able to tackle problems easier. Water improves your complexion, boosts your immune system and improves mood.