When we think about a healthy lifestyle, our minds immediately shift to the 'weight loss' stereotype. To some extent, this may be applicable, but we often fail to see that healthy living is much more than that. It's about your mental state, peaceful living, healthy routines, and long-term sustainable practices. The 2020 COVID-19 lockdown took a significant toll on the normality of our lives. Disrupted routines, schedule clashes and working from home schemes left many people resorting to a laid back and lazy lifestyle. While a small fraction of the 7 billion population used the time in productive ways, the other half decided to dedicate time at home to relax, rejuvenate and Netflix. With the new academic year just around the corner, it's time to start fresh and engage in productive, healthier routines. Here are Liberty Belles top tips. • Get planning- Staying put together doesn't just happen. Planning and introspection go hand to hand. Start by using a blank calendar and jot down your goals. It's good to push your limits if you plan to achieve maximum productivity, but simultaneously, don't be over-ambitious and set realistic goals and plans. ▪ Write EVERYTHING down- Write down everything you plan to get done in a day. Nowadays, Google calendars and iCalendar are incredibly useful in noting down your daily tasks, and they can also remind you of tasks to be completed. So, it might be wise to plan your days digitally to help you stay on top of work, erasing any prospect of forgetfulness. • Exercise -Be it a morning jog, mild yoga, or high-intensity cardio workouts, get your body moving for a good hour. This helps release stress and refresh your mind that can get you going the entire day. Even a walk around your local park or home workouts are great ways to release energy and sharpen your mind. • Incorporate sustainable and ethical shopping practices- Now more than ever, engaging in ethical shopping practices is imperative. The method of sustainable shopping involves purchasing goods that have a less negative impact on the environment while using quality products using minimal pesticides, chemicals, additives, and preservatives. This practice does not just benefit your physical, mental, and financial aspects as a consumer. It also has its environmental advantages, which is a rather important factor given the dangers of climate change we're significantly exposed to in this day and age. ◦ Shop at clothing companies that practice sustainable production- The fashion industry is reportedly the second-largest polluter globally- following the oil industry. You learn how to shop smarter Brands such as- H&M, Zara, JPL Atelier over even browsing thrift stores, garage sales, and online markets; all offer a selection of sustainable fashion elements that will only spice up your wardrobe but will also enable you to shop ethically. • Follow minimalistic living- Yes, this is a difficult lifestyle to incorporate. But, you don't have to change every bit of your life to minimalism. Incorporate the logic of 'Buy what you need' and learn how to make do with those products. Minimalism helps you focus less on materialistic possessions, while dedicating time towards having peace of mind, building confidence, and learning the importance of adjusting- a powerful tool when you get out into the outside world.
• Remove toxicity-Anything that disturbs you and gets you spiraling, cut them off. From toxic friends, habits, practices to negative self-talk. Replace these with healthier actions- if you've cut off old friends, join a social group that engages in some activity; you'll definitely make new friends who have the same interests as you. Replace negative self-talk with visuals of you achieving your goals. In some cases, toxic habits can lead to severe psychological damages. Get professional help by booking a therapist, joining support groups, or sharing your concerns with someone trustworthy. You want a healthier life; you need to take the first step!
• Monitor sleep and nutrition- Monitoring your sleep patterns and food consumption goes hand in hand to enable a healthy routine. The key here is all about balance. To enhance productivity, rest and fuel for the brain is significantly important. Get away from that horrid late-night Netflix routine and snacking binges - these make you groggy and sluggish when you wake up the next day. With this in mind, it is also important to give in to your cravings now and then. Whether it's an extra lie in bed or indulging on greasy takeout food. Always remember- balance is key.
• Practice meal planning- As university students with the never-ending workload, we barely get time to ourselves, making it almost impractical to cook healthy meals. Moreover, we're prone to overindulging in comfort food on hectic days. However, it's essential to learn how to cook meals and invest in environment-friendly measures to store them. Buy some mini zip lock bags to create your own portion-controlled on-the-go snacks, or glass containers to store cooked food. You can even peel and store fresh fruits in ziplock bags, making it convenient to pull out of the refrigerator and snack on full days. While this helps to incorporate a healthy diet choice, you also end up saving money that you would've alternatively splurged on some takeout.
The primary element of switching to a healthy routine is to ensure that there is a balance in everything you do. It takes a good deal of conscious effort and the ability to stay true to yourself, to switch to healthier lifestyle practices. But once you get the hang of it, you'll find yourself much more productive and disciplined. And remember, lifestyle changes take a while before they become a routine. So expect setbacks, resort to your comfort activities and spend time with people who motivate you.
Good luck and Take Care!
Words by Michelle Almeida, edited by Vicky Sales
Comments