Habits to Cut From Your Life and How to Improve Them

Not getting enough sleep- Prioritize yourself enough to make sure you are getting the right amount of sleep for your body. Studies have shown that different people need different amounts of sleep to be fully functional the next day. For me, I realized I need at least 9 hours of sleep to feel my best the next day. If I sleep less than that, I am tired and unfocused. If I sleep more than that, I am tired and unmotivated. You have to figure out what works best for you and try to keep to that number. I would recommend keeping a sleep journal (or even a note in your phone) to record how much sleep you get and how you feel the next day.

Eating too much fast food- We've all been there. We have long days at work and don't feel like cooking so we decide to stop for food on the way home. More often than not we drive through a fast food restaurant and usually pick an unhealthy option. This can be avoided ahead of time if you make meals prior or buy food that can be easily and quickly made at home. My favorite foods to make ahead of time are chicken breasts and pasta. With these two easy (pre-cooked) ingredients you can easily make different dinners for yourself throughout the week by simply popping it into the microwave.

Drinking too little water- Realizing the different health benefits that drinking water can give you is a huge part of wanting to drink more of it. My initial motivator of drinking more water was to clear up my skin. I realized that when I did not drink enough water, I would have breakouts on my face. Once I started drinking more water, I not only saw my skin clear up, I felt better too! I now challenge myself to fill up my 40 ounce water bottle 3-4 times a day. I try to establish when I want each refill to be so I remember to drink it more often. On average, men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of water a day, whereas women should drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) a day.

Not managing your stress- There are so many ways to help manage your stress, you have to find what works for you. Personally, I try to see the bigger picture when I am stressed out. It helps me realize that even though it seems negative right now, in the future it might make a positive impact. It is also a good reminder that you are in control of your own emotions. Some other things that I have found helpful for managing stress is to take a walk, take a nap, make a snack, or even make a list of everything stressing you out and decide what you can control and what you cannot control. For the things you can control, make a plan to resolve it. For the things you cannot control, try to let it go.