10 Healthy habits that make a difference in your day

Where does your time and energy go every day? Every now and then, it is nice to reflect on our habits and create awareness over how we spend our moments. After all, how we spend our days is how we spend our lives, no?

Below I share some healthy habits we can cultivate daily to have a positive impact in our lives with immediate and guaranteed results.

1. Making the bed in the morning

There is something satisfying about making the bed in the morning. There is no mess, the bed is cleaned and organized – it just feels like an achievement. Also, if the day turns out completely shit, at least we can come back to a well-made bed and congratulate ourselves for doing at least one thing right. Oh, and remember to air your bed out, too!

2. A good stretch

I know it sounds intimidating, but yoga is no less than stretching and paying attention to the sensations that happen when we are doing it. Think about it: How many times do we wake up with back pain or are only able to straighten our legs halfway when getting off the bed?

Now imagine doing a quick round of yoga and facing the day without this soreness and tension. No less than life-changing. Our mood improves, we are more mobile, and are not carrying as much pain. Who would not want that?

And there is no need to do longer classes, take complicated postures, or even be flexible to loosen and relax the body. A quick 10-minute deep stretch can make all the difference in the world.

3. Eating fermented food

Did you know that the quality of our gut bacteria influences our mood, personality, and overall health? They were not joking when they said we are what we eat, and if we are going for health, adding more fermented food into our diets helps in an almost effortless way. Cultured milk, yogurt, tempeh, and kombucha are not just woo-woo ingredients – science actually backs up their health benefits.

I personally experienced a big improvement in my mental health once I moved my diet from processed food-heavy to more whole food and probiotic options. For most of my life, I was powered by fast food, coffee, and Pringles. No wonder the quality of my life then amounted to a KFC combo meal.

4. Drinking more water

When we are dehydrated, we have more headaches, muscle cramps, and mood swings, and less energy, concentration, and balance. A cup of water can easily make us feel better. When was the last time you drank water?

A big game-changer for me is a reusable water bottle from my sister that I just carry everywhere I go. We become dehydrated faster than we realize and having water next to me is an instant fix.

5. Playing

Similar to yoga, exercise can be intimidating. But isn’t exercise just like play? We run around, jump up and down, spend time outdoors, and create shapes with our bodies. Starting is the hardest part. Once we are doing it, exercise can actually be a lot of fun. It lifts our spirit, clears our mind, and makes us healthier. Let us work to overcome our minds – our bodies are capable of so much more!

6. Protecting our energy.

In an ideal world, we would all be mindful of the energy we bring into a room and how we affect others. Unfortunately, it is all too common to encounter people who pass their stresses, bad mood, and negativity to the innocent around them.

It is not fair. If we had a bad encounter or experience, let us not pass it on to others, and on the same vein, let us learn to protect ourselves from those who consciously or unconsciously drain us and use us as doormats or buckets.

It is one thing to be an empath but that is different from allowing another person to treat us badly because they are upset over something entirely unrelated to us. It is toxic and we certainly do not need this in our nice day.

7. Putting our phones down

Do you ever wonder how many minutes in a day you are separate from your phone? It is a very curious thing. I find that when I am engaged with activities and people, I am not on my phone as much as when I am bored, uninspired, and pretty much catatonic.

There is also plenty of benefit to a digital detox, as we have seen on our magical 9-day digital detox retreat in Bali in 2018 and 2019. Participants were more present, open to experiences, and connected to each other. By the time we were returning their phones, nobody wanted to take them back!

Of course, there is nothing wrong with being online and using technology. Problems arise with how we use them and the habits we create around them.

Out of curiosity, let us pay attention to how long we are using our gadgets and if there is any instance in our day when we put our phones down. We can also try to have a mini digital detox and make a point of not using our phones at certain times of the day and just see how this makes us feel and what opportunities open up for us.

8. Having a relaxing ritual

For me, it is working with my plants and having tea. It could be anything really – reading a book, having a hot shower, or eating a slice of cake. The point is we set a time of day doing something just for relaxation, one thing to take our mind of things, and simply enjoy.

There are 24 hours each day and it is no less than a crime if we do not treat ourselves to a breath of fresh air, even just for a moment!

9. Sleeping really well

Few things in life are as priceless as waking up naturally in the morning, feeling rested and ready to energetically face the day. The magic of a good night’s sleep is infinite, from glowing, clearer skin to being more productive at work or in school.

Honestly, not feeling like shit throughout the day is enough. But why do we often skimp on sleep? This is an instant feel-good trick that we must always prioritize. Are you not curious at all what kind of person you are when you are not in zombie-mode? Just sleep more. It is life-changing.

As for the 10th tip, I leave it to you, my friends. What healthy habit do you practice every day and how has it improved your life and well-being?

I can honestly keep going with this list but I am keen to hear your contributions. We all have something valuable to add, even if we do not automatically realize it. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

PS. Our beautiful friends at Flow Retreats are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year! Nourish, heal, and treat your body to wellness gifts and offerings on 28 November 2020. More details can be found here. To more love and light!