Lifestyle

Healthy Obsession: 5 Habits That Will Drastically Improve Your Life

by Lori Hil

Habits, negative or positive, make our days, our weeks and our lives.

As Aristotle said:

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

The great news is we can use habits to our advantage. In order to change unhelpful habits, like overeating or obsessive worrying, we must cultivate new, healthier habits.

Here are five healthy obsessions you can integrate into your life for a better all-around human experience:

1. Take walks.

Walking can become an addiction, but it's certainly a good one. Whether you choose to rise a bit earlier and take a morning gratitude walk, or opt for a short one on your lunch break, the fresh air does the body and mind good.

Even better, enlist the ones you love and enjoy a soul connecting conversation while you are at it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise even as simple as a brisk walk can help you maintain a healthy weight, prevent heart disease, boost your mood and improve coordination.

Be sure to stretch afterward and drink plenty of water. Drinking adequate water throughout the day is also a wonderful obsession.

2. Drink smoothies.

I don't know of a much better way to pack in the nutrition than with smoothies. You can find smoothie enthusiasts everywhere, from your local gym to recipes shared on social media. And this healthy obsession is for good reason.

You can easily incorporate so much nutrition into these blended drinks. Eating a cup of spinach may seem tedious, but blending it with a bit of coconut milk and a slice of pineapple? Delicious!

Smoothies are a wonderful way to fuel your busy mornings. No time to cook breakfast? A green smoothie has your back. Just throw in some base ingredients, add some powerhouses like green powders and chia seeds, and then blend to your heart’s content.

3. Chat with your BFF.

Those friendly chats filled with laughter are not just great for bonding. They’re good for your health, too!

Oprah magazine even called it the “talking cure.”  Uplifting friends provide great health benefits that reduce stress, and leave us with better outlooks on our lives.

4. Take a class.

The thirst for knowledge is a wonderful obsession. It’s time to take that glass you have been considering, whether it's pilates, art or business. You can find courses via your local chamber of commerce, online or through group referrals.

Continuing education in adulthood can improve the grey matter in your brain, while fighting off degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Continued learning cultivates curiosity and can be a lot of fun. You may even make some new friends.

5. Cultivate a self-care routine.

It’s time to stop the go, go, go and take some time to rejuvenate. Cultivating a self-care routine leaves your body and soul nourished is a lifelong practice.

Self-care is not self-indulgence. Self-care is self-respect.

Your self-care routine can include anything from indulging in a bubble bath, eating some dark chocolate, reading a novel or whatever gives you the restored feeling you are ready to take on the world again.

I think most of us can agree our mental health affects our physical health, and vice versa. Developing good habits and healthy obsessions can go a long way in giving you a fulfilling life.

Combine these five healthy obsessions, and you will be feeling like a superhero in no time!