3 Basic Pillars to Maintaining Healthy Habits

5 glasses of water with slices of oranges seen from above

Brought to you by the Learning Support Centre

Being stuck inside most of the day can be demotivating and frustrating, especially without a set structure to guide you. Right now, maintaining healthy habits is a self-motivated task, which can often seem quite daunting when you aren't sure where to start.

Healthy habits are important for your motivation and energy levels. 

The maintenance of overall health can be broken down into three basic pillars: Nutrition, sleep, and exercise. 

Nutrition

What we put into our bodies as fuel directly impacts our energy levels, which in turn determines how motivated we are throughout our days. While an unhealthy snack can be a nice treat, it's always a good idea to limit your intake of these so that you can maintain overall good health. 

A diet full of fruits and veggies does make a difference! 

Make sure you are getting adequate amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and fruits + veggies every day, as well as making sure that you are eating enough! Just like a car, we need a full tank to get through the day, and it needs to be "re-fueled" every day. 

Make sure to drink enough water, as well. 

Water intake is very important in overall health, and it can directly affect mental health. Dehydration can cause headaches, mood swings, and excessive fatigue. Try adding a lemon water in addition (or instead of) your morning coffee and see how it makes you feel!

Sleep

It's important to get enough sleep in order to stay physically and mentally healthy, as well as maintaining energy. Not getting enough sleep can make you irritable, struggle to your control emotions, and can even make you physically sick.  
 
A few ways to help you fall asleep are to turn off all electronics one hour before going to sleep, reading before bed, practicing a short meditation, or having a calming cup of caffeine free tea. 
 
Try to wake up at the same time every day, even if you find it difficult to go to sleep early. Waking up at the same time every day will force your internal clock to fix itself, eventually allowing you to fall asleep at an earlier time. 

Exercise

Even a little bit of exercise can help you to stay healthy and happy. If you are someone who is able to do long workouts, then that's perfect. Don't fret if you're not, though! Even a 15 minute walk can boost your immune system and your mood. 

Both exercise and seeing the sun can dramatically improve your energy levels, as well as your mental health. If you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed, consider taking a brisk walk or a short run in nature to clear your head and reset your emotions. 

Try fitting in some kind of exercise every day. 

You can take a walk, go for a run, go for a bike ride, even doing some yoga can be helpful. There are lots of exercise tutorials on the web that you can find for free if you need that extra bit of guidance. 

For more information on healthy habits, enroll in Keys to Success on MyCanvas or register for a workshop.