No one needs another lecture on why getting fitter and practicing healthier habits is beneficial. I’ve never met a person who admits to waking up and declaring, “Today I’m going to do something detrimental for my health.” Instead, we greet each new day with a vow to be a bit fitter and a tad healthier, but find it’s hard to break such big ambitions down into achievable goals.
We’ve compiled a baker’s dozen of do-able actions designed to feel better, move better, and stay better as we stride into spring and boating season. Add one or more into your routine at a time and don’t get frustrated — give each new activity a chance to become a habit.
- Go to bed 30 minutes earlier and wake up 20 minutes earlier. Take a morning walk, stretch and dance to music, or do a short workout.
Top view of four happy fitness people standing on pier near the sea and looking at the camera - Assemble a healthy breakfast the night before and enjoy it before you start your day.
- Drink a glass of water with a squeeze or two of lemon, lime, or orange instead of a soda.
- Add probiotics to your diet, especially if you were on antibiotics over the colder months.
- Buy local foods through a CSA (community-supported agriculture) or farmers market.
- Add a fruit and a vegetable to one meal, then a second, and then a third meal.
- Choose what healthier afternoon snack you’ll consume before you get hungry.
- Move temptations out of view in the house and the office. Place healthier snacks towards the front of counters, shelves, and the refrigerator.
- Get outside often. Eat lunch outdoors, plant a garden, walk the beach, and visit your boat just to say hello. Getting dirty and walking barefoot are bonus activities!
- Park further from your destination and walk briskly to where you’re going.
- Walk an extra block with your dog, jog an extra half-mile, or do squats while you’re waiting for the microwave to beep.
- Swap get-togethers with friends at restaurants for movement-based activities. Socialize while bowling, taking dance lessons, a yoga class, learning a craft, or paint night.
- Sit still for five minutes per day. No screens, no chatter, no thinking about the past or the present. Just breathe evenly and say, “I’m here now.”
Please consult with a medical professional before undertaking any activity or dietary change.
