Healthy Habits

Healthy habits, such as eating well, exercising regularly, getting restful sleep, hydrating adequately, practicing stress management skills, staying on top of health screenings, taking time to recharge and avoiding harmful substances are all a part of an important framework that is vital to you. Large or small, the impact of healthy behaviors is far-reaching, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Healthy habits not only improve your overall well being while making you feel good, but they actually combat illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, certain cancers and high blood pressure. Conversely, bad habits interrupt your life and prevent you from accomplishing your healthiest selves. They can jeopardize your health—mentally, emotionally and physically. So while developing good habits can be challenging as they require changing mindsets—the great news is you can make choices to build healthy, positive habits into your life. No matter how old you are or how bad your habits have been. You can systematically introduce small changes into what you do daily, that will have a far-reaching, positive impact on your health and wellbeing! Dr. Nina’s “What You Need to Know: About Your Habits” Key Understandings: Your habits are learned actions that you’ve developed and are automatically triggered when you encounter a situation in which you have repeatedly done those actions. It is a regular tendency or practice you have and can be broken down as a cue, routine, and reward. Habits become subconscious activity and can be either good or bad for you. A simple example is when you get in bed, you rub your eyes, and it feels good. The cue is your bed, the routine is rubbing your eyes, and the reward is the feeling of rubbing it. Or, it can mean when you get home you see your couch, you watch television to unwind, and it feels good. Here’s where the green, yellow or red flag is raised as each time you perform the routine, the link strengthens, and a habit is formed.

Article by: Dr Nina Radcliff

C/O Of XII XV Health and Fitness Magazine Volume 1 (to read more be sure to purchase digital download for 2.99)