Getting healthy isn’t something you should wait until later to do. In fact, in most cases, the longer you wait to do something, the harder it becomes to actually make it happen. Here are 5 healthy habits you should start practicing early on in your life in order to build a strong foundation for health that will last.
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Cook for Yourself
Whether you have a family to cook with and for or not, learning to cook for yourself is an extremely beneficial habit for your health. It will ensure that you don’t eat out as often, allowing you to avoid the heavy intake of the extra calories that still remain in most fast food chains. It will also allow you to control what you eat better so you can make sure to eat healthier and smarter.
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Cut Out Soda
Soda is delicious, and many women in their twenties feel they need the energy boost in a Coke or (sometimes) even a Red Bull to get through a long day. But soda is one of the places where we receive the highest intake of unnecessary sugar. Tea and coffee are so much healthier than soda as well, if you’re looking for a pick-me-up in the middle of the day.
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Drink Lots of Water
Drinking plenty of water is one of the best things you can do for your body. In your twenties, it may seem like getting that all-too-important water intake isn’t necessary (especially when there are so many other tasty beverage options available). But, trust us, it’s so hard to build this habit later in life.
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Embrace Rest and Sleep
Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do to make sure your body and your mind stay healthy. We tend to run ourselves ragged in our twenties, making the old joke that we will sleep when we’re dead. But developing a good sleeping schedule when you’re young will keep you from feeling dead-tired in your thirties.
Also, don’t be afraid to take an hour (or a day…) to rest when you really need it. We’re constantly told in our twenties that we need to stay on our hustle, that nothing will get done if we aren’t constantly working hard. But everyone needs a break, and learning to give yourself one every so often is essential to health.
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Be Mindful
Portion control, knowing when and how to exercise, being able to recognize toxic relationships… These can all fall under the category of mindfulness. Learning to be more mindful in your life is a way of being able to recognize what you need, whether it is in the moment or in the long-term, as well as being aware of your feelings and those of others. The earlier you can train yourself to be aware of your own thoughts as well as what’s going on around you, the happier and healthier you will become.