Discover The Secrets To A Long Healthy Life

As the new year rolls around, don’t get bogged down by the same old resolutions. Instead, a wiser way to approach this new beginning is to commit to something more important and enduring. Many of us think that leading a long and healthy life is about specific activities like eating well and exercising. But in this article, explore the one theme underlying all these activities: Habits.

Habits are the small decisions we make and acts individuals perform every day. Research shows that they account for about 40 percent of any given behaviour individuals do in our daily life. In many ways, our lives are shaped by our daily habits, whether it is regarding our physical fitness, mental well-being, our social relationships or work commitments. Each of these areas in our life requires daily or weekly effort.

Here are essential tips for good habit formation:

1. Set specific goals. The more concrete and specific the plan, the easier it will be for one to stick to the goals as well as measure them. For instance, if an individual would like to start a writing habit, instead of the goal being “I will write something every day”, a way to reframe the habit could be “I will write for 30 minutes on a pre-decided topic”.

2. Make a detailed plan – with a start, middle and end to the habit. For instance, if one wishes to inculcate meditation into their daily routine, the start would be forming a trigger or a “cue” to get into the action. Cue to meditate could be an alarm at a specific time, the middle would be the actual meditating time, and the end could be signalled by time for a mid-morning snack.

3. Find something to like about it. The more individuals enjoy a behaviour, the more that individual is likely to repeat it. If you wish to get into a morning walk routine, find a way to make your walk more exciting, such as adding music into the mix, finding a scenic route to walk along, or finding a walking buddy.

4. Be flexible. Every day may not equal the same situation as yesterday. Find a way to be flexible and adapt to changes. If you overslept one day and missed the regular journaling time, try to make time for it just before bed that night. If there is no tea at home, make do with coffee.

5. Get social support. Finally, good habits are reinforced by positive feedback from the social circle and reduced by negative feedback. Do away with people who are likely to discourage and try to surround with positive people who can help stick to the goals for leading a balanced life.

What are some activities that one should consider making into a daily habit for a happier and healthier life? Here are a few, backed by science:

Start doing physical exercise during the day – walking, sport, dance or yoga
Include plant-based foods in the daily diet, eat in moderation and don’t follow fad diets
Practice good sleep hygiene and sleep for at least 7-8 hours a day.
Pay attention to mental health and practice mindfulness daily
Avoid smoking as it cuts longevity by a decade
Limit alcohol intake to protect the liver, the heart and the mind
Nurture social relationships as they are a big source of happiness
Pursue personal hobbies and interests and find me time
Do not engage in social comparison because it affects peace of mind
Pay attention to things that inspire : nature, music, art