“Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” Shaquille O’Neal

We all have good habits and bad habits. Step-by-step we can introduce healthier habits into our lives with positive health outcomes and increased happiness as a direct result.

Here are 5 simple ones for us to start, continue with, or improve upon.

1. Two Glasses of Water First Thing Once You Wake Up

It is important to hydrate after fasting overnight as your body needs water in order to start functioning properly.

Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day too. Drink some iced green tea and try your coffee without sugar.

2. Eat a Nutritious Breakfast

If you start the day right you are setting yourself up well for the day. You will feel full, energetic and ready to face the challenges of your day ahead. I try to eat nutritious food like more vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs, protein and good oils like olive and coconut in our Primed Lifestyle. If you start the right way you are more likely to finish the right way too.

Pictures of Banana Pancakes with home-made coconut flour (is an alternative to the more expensive almond flour), Pink Fruit Smoothie and Omelette of Kale and Cheese.

I now generally eat my breakfast at around 11:00am so it has morphed into more of a brunch. Because I am so satiated with my Primed Lower carb Higher Fat Lifestyle I prefer to eat around 2 main meals per day as part of my Regular Intelligent Fasting/Restricted Eating Window. When you eat less sugar spiking food items you can feel happy and satisfied eating just 2 main meals per day with less snacking. I am enjoying my restricted eating window when convenient.

3. Move More

Try and build more standing and walking into your daily routine by: walking wherever possible; using the stairs if you can; refilling your water bottle every hour; try a stand-up desk; find an exercise or sport you like; and simply trying to be more active. If your increased activity involves some sunshine then that is an added bonus. Here are some hints to be fit, not fat, at work.

I personally love to run!

Why not organize a group of colleagues to do a fun run or a more adventurous trail run and experience the joys of nature.

4. Bring Positive Thoughts and Energy into Your Life

You need to love yourself to love others.

Bring positivity into your life and say the following sentences to yourself daily: “I am happy.” “I am prosperous.” “I am healthy.” Surround yourself with good fiends who are also positive and who have similarly healthy habits. Being positive is also a key ingredient to longevity.

5. Get a Great Night Sleep (at least 7 hours)

A few hints on getting a more restful sleep include getting your bedroom as dark as possible (invest in dark curtains if you can). Avoid having your cellphone next to your head by putting it in a drawer so you are not disturbed by the glowing light or messages that can wait till the morning. Try to wind down properly by reading instead of playing video games, watching tv or surfing the internet.

The Final Word

“Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.” Stephen Covey