Most of us would like to live healthier. Getting to that point requires the development of routines—it’s making a healthy lifestyle a pattern that really creates the results you’re looking for. Then, a healthy lifestyle becomes part of your, well… lifestyle, rather than something you’re always thinking about.  

 

Here are some quick tips to develop healthy lifestyle routines:  

Start small.   

Don’t set your goals too big right off the bat. Rather than committing to running three miles every morning, think smaller: eat a healthy salad for dinner instead of fast food, take a walk on your lunch break. You’ll feel good about the small victories you achieve, and you’ll feel as though you’ve accomplished something—because you have. 

Consider your schedule.

Keep in mind that we don’t all have the same schedule or routine to begin with. Some of us are morning people, and some aren’t. Some of us like to exercise after work, some before. When creating a healthy lifestyle routine for yourself, design it around the schedule that works for you. If that doesn’t align with others’ routines, that’s perfectly fine—it’s about you.  

Add to the routine you already have.   

Think about all the little things you do every day that are a part of your routine. Sitting with a cup of coffee before getting started in the morning. Walking the dogs when you get home from work. Try adding healthy habits to these routines that are already in place. Do some aerobics before sitting down with your coffee, for example, or indulge in a quick 10-minute yoga session before the dog walk. 

Reward yourself.

Reward yourself occasionally when you incorporate healthy lifestyle habits into your routine. Indulge in that candy bar after a week of healthy meals; take a cheat day and order a pizza because you’ve exercised regularly. It’s okay to give yourself a small reward now and then. You need something to look forward to in order to keep your goals on track. 

Give yourself time.

Remember that making healthy lifestyle habits a routine won’t happen overnight. Give yourself time to incorporate these habits into your schedule and life. It may take weeks, months, or longer before these things start to become truly routine. The important thing is that you don’t give up. 

Make Health a Habit

When you make healthy habits part of your routine, you no longer have to think about them every time. It simply becomes natural. And that’s a good thing for your health and happiness.