Adopting Healthier Habits

(っ◔◡◔)っSerious Question: Do you think it is strange how the simplest, and often healthiest daily practices, are often the hardest to stick to long-term?

Lately, I have been “forgetting” to do the simple things, such as drinking a minimum of 8+ glasses of water each day and waking up early on my days off. I much rather take comfort in sipping my orange pekoe tea all day than chugging bottles of water. These days, I am feeling burnt out, sick (I am sick right now), and tired with a pinch of brain fog which makes it difficult for me to do anything productive whenever I do have free time. I know that being stuck in a rut and feeling incompetent in life is no excuse to be lazy, but at the same time, I am not functioning at my very best.

As some would say, “Practice what you preach.” Admittedly, I am not very good at sticking to long-term, lasting habits even though my mind often convinces me that I’m crushing my goals. Trust me, if you listen to your mind often enough, you’ll eventually begin to believe your own BS. The mind is capable of convincing you of anything that you want to believe, otherwise known as confirmation bias. Most of the time, I believe that I am hydrated, that I am healthy (right now I have a sore throat), and that I am 1% happier each day. LIES! Sure, I am alive and my heart is beating at 90bpm right now, but am I really healthy? How am I supposed to know what “being healthy” means unless there’s some way to quantify it? Unless I am habit tracking or journaling daily, it is easy for me to lose track of time, and ultimately lose myself. How about you? Do you lose track of time too, or is it just me?

(っ◔◡◔)っBefore we get started, I highly suggest investing in a simple habit tracker or journal. Just pick something that works for you and start taking control of your life. The choice is yours! 🙌

Today, I want to share with you a list of 5 simple yet effective habits that you can start incorporating into your life ASAP! I promise you that there is more to life than chugging water and remembering to go outside every so often. Let’s get started, shall we?

5 Simple, Healthy Habits

1. Wake up early We know that it is a good thing to wake up early so that we can tackle the day. Many successful people wake up early so that they have an advantage over their completion. It doesn’t sound too hard to implement, right? Easier said than done! Some days, I have to wake up as early as 0425 and I struggle with resisting to hit snooze.

2. Drink lots of water I am not here to convince you to drink more water. Deep down, we all know that we need to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated and healthy. I am guilty of not drinking enough water and this particular habit is something that I really struggle with. I try to aim for 2L of water a day, and on days when I am tracking water consumption, I am able to drink 1 gallon of water. This habit is difficult to implement unless you are mindful and actively habit tracking. In an older blog post, I talked about downloading the Plant Nanny app if you need some extra cuteness in your life.

3. Have a proper sleep schedule It doesn’t matter if you wake up at 0500 or 1100. What matters is that you stay consistent each day and aim for six to eight hours of sleep each night. If you do shift work, you probably already know how important it is to have a consistent sleep schedule. Staying up late sounds like a great idea, but trust me, you will regret it the next day.

4. Connect with nature Remember to spend some time outdoors even if you don’t feel like going outside. Nature helps rejuvenate your mind and soul. It’s easy to forget to leave the house these days, especially given the pandemic situation that we are still dealing with. I am tired of the pandemic too, and there seems to be no end in sight. If you really can’t spend time in the great outdoors, then I suggest bringing the great outdoors inside. In 4K.

5. Give quality time to yourself Quality time can mean different things to different people. For me, quality time means doing something that lifts my spirits and rejuvenates my body. These days, burnout is so common, and unfortunately, stress takes a toll on the mind, body, and spirit. Therefore, it is important that we spend time doing things that we love so that we can find joy, meaning, and fulfillment in our lives ♥ Do you enjoy adult coloring as much as I do?

Almost Perfect….

Maybe it is time for us to unlearn some of our unhealthy habits that we have acquired over the years and replace them with healthier ones. I ask myself these questions: 1. Am I ready to give up my steeped tea addiction? 2. Am I ready to join the 5AM club and commit to it once and for all ⁉

Probably not, but I am ready to give up some of the luxuries that may have been doing more harm than good to my health and wellbeing. That being said, it has been months since I ate a donut 🍩 And for what it’s worth, that donut was free! Free food is where I draw the line. Where do you draw the line? What are some things that you absolutely cannot live without? Please leave a comment by joining the conversation below 🠓

Thanks for stopping by! 

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.png
Advertisement

Published by Hilary Tan

I am currently in the process of finding my inner goddess as I search for inner peace, find mental clarity, develop mental toughness, and crush goals. Come join me on this journey so we can live our best lives!

37 thoughts on “Adopting Healthier Habits”

    • Hilary Tan says:

      Yes, plain (and flavored) bubbly water counts! That’s awesome that you’ve mastered the art of drinking water!👏😇

      Sometimes I add a slice of lemon to my water to make it taste a little less like water LOL

      Liked by 1 person

      • ZeroSpace says:

        You know, I never used to have a problem with plain water. Bubbly water is yet another weird habit I developed that ran concurrent with the eating disorder. It started as a way to stay full without being full. Then it became a freaking addiction! Now I am training myself back to plain water to save money… which I know money saving is something you can appreciate 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      • Hilary Tan says:

        I think it’s okay to enjoy flavored sparkling water! Spindrift is a splurge for me, but Canada doesn’t sell it. Sadly, the border is still closed so I haven’t had Spindrift since 2020. All the more reason to hoard boxes of it.

        They say that bubbly, sparkling water can make you feel full and calms and upset stomach. Coffee has a similar effect for me, except it’s so acidic that I don’t drink coffee on a regular basis. I would love bubbly sparkling water but we’re stuck with a Soda Stream and it’s a pain to use. It’s just not the same as a can of soda. Saving money is a good thing, but it’s okay to live a little and spend a few extra cents on your favorite sparkling water, especially if it brightens your day!

        Addictions are sneaky like that. The “experts” say to replace a bad habit with a good habit, but I understand the obsession/OCD aspect. Is it a habit or has it morphed into an addiction? I love steeped tea and buy it a few times per week. It’s a waste of money for sure, but I force myself fo walk there. It’s one of the few things I have to look forward to. Pathetic, I know 🙇‍♀️

        Liked by 1 person

      • ZeroSpace says:

        What tea flavors do you like? I also read that soda water (even plain) is bad for our teeth. Something about how it disrupts bacterial and acid balance if you drink it excessively. And I drink it damn near exclusively. So I am going to try and resist buying more when I run out.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Hilary Tan says:

        I mostly drink orange pekoe tea as well as coffee. It’s bad for my teeth but it’s difficult to quit. I have a very hard time drinking plain water unless I have lots of crushed ice in it. I don’t have an ice machine at home and really wish I did. But eating ice is also bad for your teeth – we just can’t win. 🙄

        Liked by 1 person

  3. AP2 says:

    The secret to getting up when you want is a consistent bedtime + evening routine. I often find how I spend my final two hours of the day determines how well my morning goes. Great advice Hilary 🙏

    Liked by 2 people

    • Hilary Tan says:

      Thank you for your insight, AP2! 🙂 Yes, having an evening routine really does help me unwind as well. I find that if I shut off my phone 1-2 hours before bed that I’m able to fall asleep faster. It’s staying asleep that I struggle with the most 🙇‍♀️

      Liked by 1 person

  5. bosssybabe says:

    Ugh so many great tips, only I could follow them!! :/

    I’m a terrible habitual late sleeper.. Even though I regret it so hard the next day..
    I regret it even as I lay down to sleep how late it is lol but I can’t seem to get my mind to shut off therefore I stay up late to get my mind in a state of sleepiness so I can just fall asleep right away when I hit my pillow, rather than trying to fall asleep…. Thinking away…

    Nature and exercise have definitely helped me get my body moving and all in all does good for the mind!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Hilary Tan says:

      Tbh I am still struggling to follow my own advice. Do as I say, not as I do. 😂 My sleep schedule is horrific these days. Last night/this morning, I went to bed at 0500. It’s totally out of control and I don’t feel good on very little sleep. Running off of <5 hours of sleep in the last 30+ hours. I get it, I really do. My mind tries to solve the toughest problems when I am trying to fall asleep which is frustrating. Sometimes, the best prescriptions are from Mother Nature: sleep, water, sunshine, exercise, healthy food. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. ceponatia says:

    I’ve been thinking about writing about this but maybe a comment on your blog will suffice, lol. I used to be very “A-type” in that I was so obsessed with goals and all those pro health lifehack tips that all the Instagram experts told me I was supposed to do, and around Covid-time last year I just gave it all up. I have never been happier and honestly, I feel healthier. Way healthier. I’m not saying I went nuts and started bingeing on McDonalds or anything but I don’t try to stick to some fad diet or count calories or any of that jazz anymore. And, admittedly, adderall has helped me kick the snacking habit so that’s why I’m in the best shape of my life… I can’t take credit for that aspect. But I don’t work out aside from daily stretching and I don’t really care lol. I’m okay with who I am and how I look, finally. If it turns out that I am supposed to be doing yoga every night and jogging 5 miles a day, and not doing so means I’ll die at 70 instead of 90… well, I’m ok with that. I won’t be ok with it when I’m 70 but that’s a future Brian problem. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hilary Tan says:

      Thank you for your comment! Tbh I thought about adding “eat healthy” to the list but then I was like, well no. I don’t believe in diets either and occasionally get into debates over whether diets should be implemented or not. The only “diet” I do is intermittent fasting which works well for me! But I follow it very loosely and don’t count down the hours. I don’t like using fancy apps either. I believe that lasting habits are things that come effortlessly to us and don’t require willpower. I still need to work on drinking adequate water – it’s not something that comes naturally to me like intermittent fasting does.

      There’s nothing wrong with eating at McDonald’s. You can eat anything you want in moderation – but knowing when it’s becoming neurotic behavior is key. I feel like I’m not explaining myself very well. We can become obsessed with things, and it’s these obsessions that can do more harm than good. I think it’s great that you’ve ditched a lot of advice from advice giving gurus and that you’re doing things *your way.*

      They say that we don’t know how long we will live for. This sounds weird but I’m going to live to be 64 because that’s what came to me in a dream. It’s hard to explain why I’m set on this number – wish I knew the reason why!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle says:

    Man, tell me about it! I know the benefits of exercise are great but I can’t seem to find the discipline to do it regularly. I’ll be great for a week or two, then go basically a month with none. Also, my water game fluctuates highly but I still try to practice healthy habits where I can.

    The only one I don’t struggle with is waking early. My boyfriend’s and my circadian rhythm has been hopelessly programmed to wake us by 6am every single morning without fail, even when we stay up late and pull the curtains and would like to sleep in late.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Julie says:

    I think another way to connect to nature is to buy some indoor plants or maybe plants for the patio. But don’t buy more plants than you can care for (*points at self* guilty :-P).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hilary Tan says:

      I would love to have some indoor plants but I have a cat and he’ll try to eat them. We can’t have nice things. Plants sound lovely – I have always been fascinated by houseplants. You’re doing your best plant mama! 😊🌱

      Liked by 1 person

      • Hilary Tan says:

        My cat jumps on countertops and fridges. I just don’t trust my cat when it comes to house plants🪴 He eats earplugs and chews on cable cords 🤦‍♀️ Pet friendly is definitely the way to go. Maybe I can find one that he won’t munch on! LOL

        Liked by 1 person

  10. winteroseca says:

    I agree with you about it being hard to stick to healthy habits. I think there are too many pressures in life and sometimes, you just have to listen to your body

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hilary Tan says:

      I think that humans often forget how important it is to go back to the basics. We live in a society where everything is at our fingertips, and this constant stimulation can be very overwhelming, and I’m sure I am not the only one who feels this way! The basics seem so obvious and boring, but they are often the most difficult to follow because they are so “easy.”

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hilary Tan says:

      #1 and #3 really do go hand in hand. Have you tried setting an alarm on your phone? I’d start with that. If I don’t set an alarm, I will almost always sleep in the next day.

      Like

  12. Lily-Anne says:

    Trying to wake up consistently is literally my downfall!! I was doing so well for a good week or so and then I went on vacation and messed it all up. But obviously I’m still grateful for the vacation I was able to take 😂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hilary Tan says:

      You are so lucky that you went on a vacation. Even though it may have messed up your sleep schedule, it was a good way to rest. Without rest, we will end up burning out which is why I think taking breaks/vacations is essential and very much needed.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Pooja G says:

    I totally think it’s the little things that we always end up putting off. I do that so often- I’ve been promising myself I’ll wake up an hour earlier and I haven’t been doing that very often. I really liked the list and I enjoy adult colouring too- it’s so fun and calming!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hilary Tan says:

      Don’t feel bad about sleeping in. I sleep in until 1050 and some days 1100 and I don’t regret it. It works better with my schedule. Not all of us were meant to be early birds and that’s okay. Tbh my sleep schedule right now is really, really bad. For example, I went to bed at 0600 yesterday and 0500 the day before, so you’re doing better than me 😁😂

      Yes, I completely agree that it’s the little things that we end up putting off until it become a snowball or mountain of added stress and overwhelm. Tackling one important thing each day is still better than doing nothing at all. We often overestimate how much we can get done in a day. Thanks for stopping by, Pooja!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Lotus Laura says:

    Awesome tips!!! I also relate to being good at starting healthy habits, yet struggling to follow through. Lately I am trying to focus on giving myself permission to fail. That way, when I inevitably slip back into unhealthy patterns, it makes it easier to shift back towards healthy — letting go of that shame makes a difference. We are only human. Also, my work often offers free junk food like donuts, which I do let myself eat because 1) it’s only occasionally and 2) like you said FREE!

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.