10 Habits To Build a Healthy Lifestyle in 2022

10 Daily Habits to Become Your Best Self

When every year comes to an end, we set large goals for ourselves, motivated to take advantage of a new start. After a few weeks (sometimes days), we lose that motivation and give up on those too-ambitious goals. I've been there. I would set unrealistic goals, like "sleep for 9 hours everyday" and "read two books every month." Then, I would give up once I realized my regular routine was not suited for these goals. Finally, two years ago, I noticed that the best way to accomplish any goal was to start small and make sure that the goal fit your schedule (not the other way around).

Starting small means developing habits, and it usually takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic.

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Why do we need to start small to achieve a healthy lifestyle?

When was the last time you set a huge goal for yourself and had actually achieved it? How long did it take you to achieve it? Or, and this might sound pessimistic, did you even achieve that goal? What if you had set up smaller steps to achieve it? Little by little, you could get closer to your final vision, even if it may have taken a bit longer than expected. These baby steps that I'm talking about are habits. Want to workout for an hour everyday? Start with 30 min for two weeks, then 45 min for another two weeks, and finally 1 hour. Changing your mindset is the key. Here are 10 habits to carry with you into 2022.

10 Healthy Habits for a Healthy Lifestyle in 2022

Remember: Not everyday will come out as you expect. If you forget a habit one day or don't have time for it, don't worry! You'll pick yourself back up again if you are truly determined to achieve your goal.

1. Wake up early

• connect with nature (watch the sunrise)

• get an early start on your day

• have some quiet moments to yourself to reflect and be in the right mindset

2. Meditate

• helps you build awareness about your feelings

• helps your mind focus on one thing at a time instead of running too many thoughts in your head (this well help your mind easily settle into focusing while studying)

3. Journal

• track progress and growth

• write down goals and intentions

• reduces stress (too much stress held in your mind can be detrimental to your health)

• helps you identify your feelings and opinions

4. Practice gratitude

• ask yourself what was something you wanted for yourself last year (material or nonmaterial), and if you have it now. You can even incorporate this into your journaling

• transitions you into a positive mindset

5. Move for enjoyment, not looks

• moving your body for the sake of its health and not looks will help you stay more consistent. Each person has different bone structures and genetics, and we can't control that! Plus, only 5% of the population looks like the model-like bodies we see on Instagram.

• Do what you like: cardio + strength, dancing, etc...it's about consistency

6. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet (THIS IS NOT FOR WEIGHT LOSS)

• this is for your physical health, not looks.

• vegetables have so many benefits (digestion, vitamins, nutrients, etc...)

• what has helped me is having my meals focus on 1/2 plate veggies, 1/4 carbs, 1/4 proteins, and whatever I want for dessert (cake, fruit, crackers, etc...). If you gain weight, just remember what else you're gaining (happiness, time with friends, less brain fog, nutrients, and more).

7. Read more books (fiction or nonfiction)

• improves the imagination

• be aware of your screen time

• read before bed (from experience, I know this helps me fall asleep more quickly)

8. Don't be afraid to drink more water

• sometimes we forget to because of how busy our lives are, or sometimes we don't want to because we hate feeling bloated, but drinking water is essential to our survival

• helps regulate our body temperature, prevents dizziness, and even helps your skin

• you could also start/end your day with a cup of tea.

9. Write a general to-do list for the day, then your goals for each hour

• whether you do it the night before or morning of, making a schedule gives you direction throughout the day and helps with organization

• schedule in break times!

• writing goals for each hour is much easier than writing a minute-minute, concrete schedule

10. Ask yourself and write down one lesson you learned from the day

• was it something specific, like something with your family?

• something general, like a life lesson?

• write it down in a notebook, and you can then look back on the lessons you have learned

The Bottom Line

These habits can apply to all people, no matter what their individual goals are, which makes these habits so great. They're simple, but over time with consistency, they can end up transforming your life, mindset, and mental health. Comment below about which content you want to see and if you liked this post!

Sending you good luck for 2022! You've got this.