We do the same thing in the same context almost every day, she says.
And we do it without thinking about it.
Intentionally or not, you’ve spent the past year or so creating new, often unhealthy habits.
Here are 60 ideas fromhealth experts.
But the biggest gain comes during that first month, Wood says.
So it’s important to stick with it initially.
Be persistent: The habits you set now may be the habits you stick with for life.
Boost Your Brain Health
1.
Overall, aim for 150-plus minutes of weekly moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.
Exercisers are 45 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation reports.
Have a superberry dessert.Dark-colored berries like blueberries and blackberries contain compounds that fight inflammation and help protect your brain.
Try berries and plain yogurt as your go-to after-dinner treat.
Develop a green tea habit.Especially if your favorite drink is soda.
Go to Sleep Easier
7.
Change your bedsheets every Sunday.Allergens can disrupt sleep.
To cut down on buildup, wash your sheets weekly.
Face your alarm clock toward the wall.And place your cellphone facedown.
Artificial light disrupts sleep.
Instead of night-lights, keep a flashlight next to your bed to use when needed.
Turn the fan on when the lights go off.Or invest in a sound machine.
A source of white noise, like a fan, can help modulate that problem.
Pump Up Your Heart Health
12.
Try doing 10 minutes of resistance training every morning.That adds up to a truly healthy week of muscle strengthening.
Even cardio exercise doesn’t appear to protect you if you allow your strength levels to deteriorate.
Replacing saturated fats with MUFAs can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Walk off your cravings.Smoking puts you at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke.
You might just want to keep going!
Add bananas to everything from breakfast cereal to nighttime desserts to PB&J sandwiches.
While you’re at it, squeeze in more sweet potatoes, tomatoes and oranges.
Shake Off Stress
17.
Even five minutes will feel wonderful!
Enjoy a daily play snack.Remember what you used to enjoy doing as a kid, and go do that.
Play with a yo-yo or Rubik’s Cube.
Go outside and skip rope or swing a golf club.
Doodle, build a tower with toy building blocks, fold origami, draw with colored markers.
Inject fun in five- to 10-minute chunks during your day as a way to let your brain relax.
Clean Up Your Diet
21.
The minute you pop swing open the fridge, it will prompt you to eat some.
The problem is that people often overindulge and eat them straight out of a large bag or can.
Prepack them into individual serving sizes in zip-close bags so you have just one serving, not five.
If chocolates are on the table, you’ll eat them.
Hide the less-healthy snacks and put fruit and nuts on the table within reach.
Snack before you shop.
26 Drink your fiber.
Throw some fruit into the blender right before it goes bad.
