Back to Natural Basics: 10 Healthy Habits to Carry Out Daily

If you were to ask me if I perform all 10 of the healthy habits (that I’ll be presenting to you shortly) every day, the answer is a big, emphatic NO! But if you were to ask me if these health habits are all near and dear to my heart and have been proven to be beneficial if practiced consistently, I’ll have to answer with a resounding YES!

And the fact that I’m not currently successful in carrying out all of these healthy habits on a daily basis doesn’t mean that I’m not free to talk about them and their importance in an individual’s life. Today’s discussion is not meant to be a “do as I say, not as I do” proposition. In fact, I’m a work-in-progress with my eyes on the prize of getting to a state where it’s totally natural and part of my impenetrable routine to engage in all 10 habits each and every day.

And to get closer to having a natural flow of regular healthy habits, here’s what I would suggest (for you and me both): let’s try to create a checklist or to-do list out of the 10 items I’ll be listing below and include check boxes next to each item on the list (to be checked off when the item is completed each day). We can, then, place our checklists/to-do lists in multiple, visible locations throughout our homes, such as: on the refrigerator in the kitchen, on our bedroom and bathroom mirrors, next to phones, and in any other high traffic areas we can think of. The visual reminders will help reinforce the healthy habits that should be reinforced throughout the day.

So, let’s go ahead and check out my top 10 healthy habits and feel free to use some or all of them in your daily living. Or, make up your own healthy habits list of the items that are personally more meaningful to your overall well-being.

1. Drink water. Chug down 32 to 64 ounces of water a day, if you can. Or, drink what you’re comfortable in drinking initially and increase the volume over time.
2. Get enough sleep. Get 7 hours a day if you can. Don’t fudge on this one, as appropriate sleep affects so many different factors of your well-being like being able to productively carry out your 10 healthy habits goals.
3. Get adequate exercise. Set up an exercise regimen that gets your heart rate up and commit to doing it. Maybe start with 30 minutes a day and gradually increase your work-out times over time.
4. Use natural cleaning agents such as salt, baking soda, and vinegar in place of chemical options. Did you know that these items can naturally fight bacteria on so many levels? Think: dental hygiene, household cleaning, clothes washing, and colds and sinus irritation cures.
5. Eat raw fruits and vegetables. Try to ingest some combination of superfoods each day. You might consider green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach, onions, garlic, berries, citrus fruits, apples, bananas, and avocadoes (to name a few).
6. Tell someone you love that you love him or her. Throw in a few hugs and kisses while you’re at it.
7. Be thankful when you wake up. Remember: there’s someone out there who didn’t wake up to see this day.
8. Be thankful when you go to sleep. Remember: there’s someone out there who didn’t make it through the day to arrive at the end of it.
9. Display an overall “attitude of gratitude” throughout the day. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have, consider all the many blessings that you readily have access to.
10. Work toward an important goal that you desire to achieve. Taking action is the only way to move your “have-nots” into a possibility of accomplishment.

Now, take a good look at the list above. This stuff is doable, guys. And once you’ve managed to skillfully slide these healthy habits into your daily schedule, then you can feel free to move on to some new ones. But initially, start with these 10 to-do items or the healthy habit items of your own choosing. And, turn each item into a goal created to be:

1. S (Specific) – the goal has a clearly defined expectation that is communicated.
2. M (Measurable) – the goal can be observed or compared and therefore assigned a number, value, amount, or estimation.
3. A (Achievable) – the goal is challenging yet attainable, where the necessary resources are accessible.
4. R (Realistic) – the goal has a relatable purpose and meaning to the desired outcome.
5. T (Timely) – the goal has a certain timeframe for completion or a deadline attached to it.

In other words, make your 10-item to-do list SMART. And try to stick to completing your list daily for one month and see where you end up. My guess is that you’ll end up closer to a healthier you, don’t you think?