How To Make Some Hassle-Free But Healthy Lifestyle Swaps In 2023
Recent research conducted by none other than Bassetts Vitamins has revealed that, here in the UK, acquiring plenty of healthy habits is something that many of us aspire to. However, at the same time, we are capable of coming up with some quite inventive excuses not to cultivate them that would quite easily trump our children’s unfinished homework stories!
The good news is that if you’ve found yourself wishing that you could make some more positive lifestyle choices, if only it was just a little easier – it can be! With the right incentives, some helpful suggestions, and a new approach to your way of life, making those wellbeing boosting swaps can be hassle-free and, dare we say it, even enjoyable. Read on to find out how!
Start Off Gradually
While some people may be capable of making sweeping lifestyle changes right away, for others, the best approach is often to start off gently and make a series of small steps toward their goal over a period of time. This method can be particularly useful if the habit you want to get rid of (or, at least, reduce) is one that you also rely on for comfort on a regular basis – for instance, those packets of chocolate digestives you snaffle on the sofa at the end of a long tiring day, or the cigarettes you smoke to help you deal with workplace stress or arguments with your other half.
By slowly but surely reducing the unsavoury habit over time, you give yourself the opportunity to find new and more sustainable ways of boosting your mood and your well-being. For instance, instead of a few glasses of wine or some cream cakes, you can unwind at the end of the day with a bubbly bath surrounded by scented candles, or perhaps give a meditation app a try to put you in a more positive frame of mind. There are so many different mood-lifting options that can help to pull you out of a funk in a healthy way.
By gently swapping out your old coping mechanisms for these newer and more healthy ones, you may find it easier to craft the happier (and healthier) lifestyle you’ve been craving.
Stick To Your Guns – Even On Vacation
Sometimes it can be relatively simple to make healthier lifestyle swaps at home, and you may find yourself making steady progress. But then, a bank holiday arrives, or that eagerly anticipated pre-booked vacation to Spain or Thailand. Now, the pressing question is, how do you stop all of your progress from going out the window when you set off on holiday? After all, when you’re on vacation, there is so much temptation around, not to mention your desire to let your hair down and forget about rules, guidelines, and what you ‘ought to be doing’. In this case, preparation can be really helpful to keep you on track with your healthy swaps. For instance, if you’re a heavy smoker, instead of reaching for a pack of cigarettes while on holiday, you can try disposable vapes instead.
Wondering to yourself, “what are disposable vape pens?”, these lightweight, portable devices can help you wean off smoking gradually, at your own pace. In other words, they are designed to provide a more flexible and manageable way to get your nicotine fix, and they are convenient to take away with you on vacation.
When it comes to eating or drinking unhealthily on holiday, there’s no harm in indulging yourself now and then. After all, that’s part of the appeal of getting away from it all. The key is to intersperse those indulgences with more nourishing choices that will feed your mind and body while still allowing you to enjoy yourself.
Buddy Up!
If you’ve ever taken scuba diving courses, then you’ll be familiar with the concept of the ‘buddy’ – someone you’re paired up with to make sure both of you stay safe and well during your underwater explorations.
If you’re finding it difficult to stick to your new lifestyle changes – whether it’s getting more exercise, cultivating a healthier sleep schedule, or eating more fruit and veg – then you may find it helpful to get a ‘buddy’ of your own.
It could be a close friend, a relative, your partner, or even a neighbour. The key is to find someone with similar lifestyle goals, who can support you on your wellness journey, and who you can support in return.
Get The Whole Family Involved
Making healthy and sustainable lifestyle choices isn’t just something we should be exploring for ourselves, but also for our families. In particular, making nourishing mealtime swaps can make a truly significant difference to the wellbeing of our bodies and those of our children – not to mention setting a good example for our kids that they will hopefully continue into their adult lives.
Not sure where to start? Here are some of the top healthy food swaps that families across the UK are being encouraged to make. The great news is they don’t involve making any sizeable or unpleasant changes. In many cases, it’s as simple as picking up a bottle of semi-skimmed milk rather than full-fat or choosing a low-fat spread rather than butter.
Portion size is also something that many of us may need to look into, as we can often be guilty of eating more than our bodies actually want or need. Sometimes we can even mistake the signs of thirst for hunger, and feed ourselves when what our bodies are actually shouting for is more water. By learning to listen to your body – in other words, by eating more mindfully – you will soon begin to find out what you actually need and what you don’t.
Final Thoughts
Switching to a healthier way of life may seem like a daunting proposition at times – and, as we already know, it’s easy to make all kinds of excuses to put off doing it! However, as you can see, there are plenty of ways to make painless and stress-free changes to our lifestyle that will benefit our minds and bodies in the long-term, while still being simple to stick to.
Give it a try – you may be pleasantly surprised by how easy it can be to switch up your life and embrace a healthier, happier you!