5 Steps to be healthier and sustainable this year
You know that you want to improve your lifestyle, ditch some unhealthy practices, become more environmental friendly… but don’t know where to start. Improving your health doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. It’s actually way simpler than you can imagine. Ready to find out?
Here are a few things you can easily incorporate into your lifestyle to meet your goals:
1- Walk, walk, walk
If getting fitter or moving your body is one of your resolutions for this year, this is a great place to start. First, because it’s something you’ll already have to do every single day. Second, it’s free. Third, you don’t need to go somewhere fancy to do it.
How can you add some extra steps into your day? Easy, peasy!
Take the stairs instead of the elevator: yes, even if it’s 11 floors. And yes, I’ve already done it myself… just in case you were wondering.
Get out of your desk and move: if you have an office job, you can easily sit down for hours without even noticing. Which is terrible for your health at so many levels. Wearable devices like Fitbit and Apple Watch are a huge help when it comes to this, as they’ll buzz if you haven’t moved enough during that hour.
Leave the subway (or the bus) at the previous stop: you’re almost at your location, so why not to take this opportunity to walk a little and get some fresh air? Also, it’s usually less crowded!
2- Plan your meals
Going to the supermarket and doing some meal prep are two of the best things you can do to keep a healthy lifestyle. If you have delicious foods in the fridge you’ll feel less tempted to eat out or to order something on Uber Eats.
Here are some tricks:
Cook once, eat twice: batch cooking is a complete life saviour. By cooking bigger portions you don’t have to cook every single day. Which means: more time for you and less stress during the week.
Mix & match: keep some canned and frozen ingredients in your pantry. This way you can easily put something together when you don’t have much time or can’t afford to go to the supermarket.
3- Drink water
I know, this one is an oldie but goodie. But we tend to forget about it, somehow. If you have an office job, the best way to keep your hydration levels up is to have a water bottle in your desk.
If becoming more sustainable is also one of your priorities, get a reusable one. There are so many nice designs out there, made out from different materials (glass happens to be my favourite) and at different price ranges.
This way the probabilities of you getting your hydration levels up are higher than ever, while saving money and the planet at the same time. A total win-win, right?
4- Carry a tote bag with you!
Refusing a plastic bag is one of the best things you can do for the planet. By carrying a tote bag with you, you’re not only saving the planet. You’re also saving money (as most places charge you for a bag these days) and you’ll have less stuff to deal with in your flat.
The best part? Totes are in fashion. They’re versatile, easy to carry around and there are so many cute designs out there. But before you pay a visit to the nearest Tiger (or Target, if you’re in the US), just look around your flat. Because I am pretty sure you might already have one of these.
5- Get a reusable coffee cup
With such a busy lifestyle, getting a coffee to go is probably part of your commute. Which is totally fine and understandable but… coffee cups aren’t recyclable. Say what?! Yes, they might be made of paper but there’s one tiny layer of plastic inside that prevents the liquid from leaking.
In order to separate this layer it would take a special machine and an awful amount of time. Which isn’t sustainable at all.
The solution? If getting a coffee to go is a need, get a reusable coffee cup and take it with you during your commute. Coffee chains like Starbucks are making a special discount for customers who take their drink to go in a reusable coffee cup. And if you if you have a few minutes to spare, sit down and enjoy your cup of Joe quietly at the Café. Is there a better way to start the day?
