‘I am going to quit smoking’ ‘I am going to join a gym so I can live a healthier life’ ‘I am going to lose 20 pounds before the wedding reception of my brother’- these are some of the many thoughts that a lot of us go through. It could be when you are making New Year’s resolutions, or a friend of yours has made up the decision to lead a healthy life, and you seem impressed by it. A lot of times, we think that leading a healthy life is associated with getting a gym membership or doing more exercise.

While it is true that following these steps is a great way to maintain physical health, it is not all there is. Achieving a better life doesn’t mean you have to go through major steps. The steps you take don’t need to be big, they just have to take you in the right direction. There are a lot of small steps that you can incorporate in your life, especially if you are just starting. At first, they may seem trivial, but if they become your habits, they can create a significant impact on your health:

Following are some tips that you can follow to lead a healthy life:

Healthy diet

Considering food is the fuel which powers your entire body, you should pay a lot of attention to the food that you are putting in your mouth. Avoiding overly fatty and salty foods should be your first step here. Moreover, you should also refrain from eating processed food, since it is the main cause of a lot of health risks. For instance, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), bacon, hot dogs and other such processed meat is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer.

Healthy foods to help you through drugs/alcohol detoxification

Alcohol and drugs can cause serious health problems if one gets addicted to either of them. There are a lot of institutions that offer drug rehab treatment, which can help in recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. Fortunately, for people who are looking to break away their addiction, there are some healthy foods they can enjoy, which will help them in their road to recovery.

The first step in eliminating all the harmful chemicals you may have accumulated in your body is eating fruits and vegetables. Since fruits and vegetables contain high-fibre content, it will be easier to digest them. Moreover, these foods are also rich in nutrients like minerals, vitamins, and healthy fats. Other healthy foods include low-fat foods, fluids, whole grain, and protein diet.

Get sufficient sleep

This is something that a lot of us know. Your teachers, doctors or even your parents must have told you how you need at least 8 hours of sleep every day to function properly. But not a lot of us follow this advice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends to take care of some things sleep properly. It includes having dinner way before going to sleep, avoiding alcohol and nicotine and making a schedule of your sleeping timings.

Fresh air

In this busy world, where most of us are sitting inside our offices in front of computer screens or playing with smartphones before going to sleep, fresh air is a necessity that you seem to ignore. We have become so addicted to technology that we have forgotten how healthy it is to get some sun and sit in the fresh air. In fact, there are a lot of benefits that are associated with getting fresh air, including fresh air, is better for lungs and skin, making you happy and energetic and strengthening the immune system.

Have some ‘me’ time

It is completely fine to give yourself some time, every now and then. Sure, helping others is a noble thing to do but to help others, you need to help yourself first. To do so, you need to take out some time every day for yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything big. Going to your favourite restaurant, reading your favorite book, watching a favorite TV show- these are all activities that you can enjoy doing alone. Do activities that give you a break from all the tiring things you do in your everyday routine.

Try something new

Routine life can make you boring and banal. Doing the same thing every day for the rest of your life sounds unhealthy. You don’t have to start at something big, start with the small things, such as drinking coffee instead of tea or once a week, try walking to work instead of driving. Trying new things brings you out of your comfort zone and gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Remain hydrated

It goes without saying how imperative it is for your body to remain hydrated, considering it is 60% water. Japanese people drink two glasses of water right after waking up, and they say it rehydrates your body, flushes out toxins, increases brainpower and improves the immune system.