How to start developing your healthier habits now.
If you’re new to Vitality Vibes, I started the WSJ Healthy Habit Challenge about 5 weeks ago. It’s simply a series of emails with the last email of the challenge encouraging participants to reflect on their experience.
I’d like to share a few of my reflections because it was a valuable experience for me.
Four insights to develop healthier habits now.
1 | Exercise Habit
The challenge encouraged us to do morning walks even if for only 10 minutes. Walking is something that I love to do but morning walks have become challenge for me because the flow of my day has changed since the pandemic. Maybe you can relate.
Rather than changing my flow to accommodate the challenge, I walked on the mornings when I had more flexibility in my schedule. Most of my walks were through Stanley Park which gave me the added mental benefits of being in nature. Nature is a good reminder that something can be imperfect but also very beautiful.
Nature is imperfect but also very beautiful.
The walks also did wonders to calm my nervous system and improve my mental state. It’s the first time since the pandemic that I feel like my old self again which is a welcoming feeling.
If you don’t like walking: try different types of walks, explore organized walks to learn the history or wildlife, walk with a friend or group or listen to books on your reading list.
The Stanley Park Ecology Society has organized walks in Stanley Park and an app to record wildlife sightings in the park. It’s similar to the app for bird watchers in NYC Central Park that connects the community and helps to preserve the park for all to enjoy.
2 | Food Habit
The word diet is a non-starter for many people because the thought of adhering to a strict regiment is a turnoff. Talking about food is different because everyone loves eating good food.
The challenge was simply to make the food you eat healthier. For many that means cooking at home more, using higher quality ingredients, incorporating more whole foods into meals and cutting snacks. It’s the hardest frontier of health and wellbeing for most of us.
Admittedly, I don’t make a lot of things from scratch and some argue that what I make doesn’t qualify as cooking. I eat whole foods that mainly just require heating or chopping and mixing. Call it what you want but for the most part, it’s working for me.
One thing that I am doing more since the challenge is reading the labels to understand the nutritional value of plant-based products. Plant doesn’t automatically mean healthy. Many of the plant based foods taste good but don’t have the same nutritional value as traditional food sources.
Plant doesn’t automatically mean healthy.
3 | Sleep Habit
Sleep should be something that we all look forward to doing but stress and/or poor bedtime routines can make it a challenge to do. That’s why the third week of the healthy habit challenge focused on sleep hygiene.
You may already know one of my favorite new sleep habits because I shared it and was acknowledged by Linked In for it. The bedtime function on the Apple Watch, Series 9 has improved my sleep hygiene.
My watch tells me when it’s bedtime and my screens go dark. It gives me time to wind down with a cup of chamomile tea and some quiet time before bed. I use the time to reflect on my day and capture ideas in my journal to clear my mind. In the morning, I don’t turn off the bedtime function until I’m ready to start into my day. It gives me time to catch up on the news and prioritize my day which makes me more productive.
4 | Kindness Habit
I explained acts of kindness last week which is good to review if you missed it because acts of kindness don’t have to be grand gestures.
Simple acts of kindness include follow up to ensure issues are resolved or a loved one feels better, treating someone homebound to lunch and/or researching support services available to them, expressing gratitude to those who support and love you etc. So simple but such an effective way to improve your relationships and increase your level of happiness.
I ended the WSJ healthy habit challenge with a Postcard from Earth at The Sphere in Las Vegas. It really brought home the point that our environment matters to our health and wellbeing.
I shared a few short clips of the experience on the Shannon Smith Living social channels but don’t want to ruin it for you in case it’s on your bucket list. With that said, if there is one clear message, it is to conserve like your life depends on it because it does.
Conserve like your life depends on it.
Kindness & conservation
Softening your environmental footprint is another act of kindness that warrants your thought. One area that my partner and I discussed is being really mindful of purchasing only the things that we love and that will use. It’s not about limiting us to only what we need but rather avoiding the purchases that we may or may not use so that we don’t end up with “more stuff”.
In the past, I’ve put thought into how I can dispose of things that I no longer need or use. It continues to be something that I put thought into whether it’s donating or recycling mattresses, furniture, household items or clothing. There are a lot of good resources that can help you keep your unwanted stuff out of landfill and soften your footprint. Search for the resources in your community.
More resources to develop healthier habits and lifestyle
If you’re interested in more insights and ideas for creating healthier habits, join me for the Mind & Body Self-Care Online Workshop. It requires only one hour per week and starts on September 13th for 6 weeks. Register early to save 50%.
