Despite knowing what we need to do, we struggle to make the necessary changes. We know how to exercise. We know how to eat healthily. But we can’t seem to follow through we these things for longer than a week or two.
The only question is: Why?
Because we tend to take on more than we can handle and find ourselves overwhelmed quickly. We are conditioned to expect instant gratification, therefore, building healthy habits can be challenging.
Here are some guaranteed ways that YOU can implement healthy habits into your life at your own pace!
Create a Daily Routine
First, make a list of everything you need to get done daily, both at home and at work. This is a brain dump, not a to-do list, so don’t worry about how you organize it. Take 30 minutes with a notebook to write down everything you do and should accomplish each day.
Next, think about what time of day you work best, and group your tasks by the time of day that makes the most sense for you to complete them. Lastly, start detailing. Organize a routine list with your tasks and the time allotted for them.
Grab a Book
Reading helps to:
- Improve your focus and memory
- Develop new skills that can help you excel at your job or in your relationships
- Reduces stress and improves mental health
- Empathize and communicate effectively
Daily Exercise
You already know how beneficial exercise is for improving energy, mood, sleep, and lowering anxiety, stress, and depression. Here are a few daily activities you can do:
- Grab a friend and go for a walk
- Ditch the elevator, take the stairs!
- Yoga
- Play a sport
- Weight lifting
Practice Self-Care
Although prioritizing self-care may seem obvious, it is typically the first thing to go when facing challenging situations. For many, it has been the ongoing global pandemic. These are a few ways to begin implementing self-care:
- Eat healthy
- Try to do one thing you enjoy each day (i.e. watch your favourite show, get outside, call a friend)
- Practice good hygiene to reduce illness
- Manage stress (i.e. meditate, take a bath, listen to a podcast)
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep
Claim your Wellness Kit!
CSI has curated a kit with essentials for your wellness. We are giving students a free wellness kit for attending and participating in events and talking about Health and Wellness Week on social media. Students must be full-time, fee-paying students to be eligible. Kits are offered on a first-come, first-served basis while quantities last.
Each Wellness Kit includes: pocket first-aid kit, colouring book, gel pack, no-touch tool, jump rope, travel mug