The Power of Routine for Positive Lifestyle Changes
“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” — John C. Maxwell
All too often, it can be easy to overlook the impact that having a solid routine in place can have when it comes to positive lifestyle changes or sticking to a new wellbeing plan. Here are a few tips for your week ahead to help you get started.
1. Set a daily water intake goal
Hydration is key when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. However, with busy schedules it can be super easy to forget to drink enough. Try setting yourself a daily water intake goal to help guide you as you get started – downloading a water reminder app can also be a great help too.
Check out a section on the NHS website here for further information on the importance of getting enough fluids in every day.
2. Set a workout plan that works around other commitments
Fitting in work, daily movement and other commitments can be overwhelming without a solid plan in place. So, breaking down your daily routine to see where’s best to fit in a workout at a time that suits you goes hand in hand with staying motivated.
You could even start with a goal like increasing your daily step count for more movement each day, then try low impact workouts, and then work your way up to fitting in a high impact workout. It’s all about taking it at your own pace and doing what works best for you and your schedule.
3. Set a solid sleep routine
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for staying on track with a healthy lifestyle. Although, setting a solid routine to ensure that you get plenty of z’s can prove to be difficult during day-to-day life - that’s why it really helps to get a solid routine in place to help you wind down. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Play some ambient music
- Avoid exercise near bed time
- Limit screen time 1 hour before bed
- Read a book to help you wind down
- Limit caffeine intake throughout the day (particularly after 3pm)
For more tips on getting a restful nights sleep, view ‘How to fall asleep faster and better’ by the NHS here.
4. Set a time to do a healthy food shop once a week
Finding the time to plan what sort of food you’re going to be eating for the upcoming week is so important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you’re struggling to think of fun ways to be healthy with your meals, try using things like Pinterest for inspiration, or meal prep pages on Instagram such as @themealprepking.
Top tip, use the diary in the Best-You app to add reminders, prompts and notes to stay on track with your meal plan and to also find inspiration from like-minded people in your online community!