Spring Into Healthy Habits
Published Monday, June 12, 2023
By Haley Shipston, Health Promotion Project Assistant
Spring is the perfect time to introduce new healthy habits into your routine. With the snow melting and the sun beginning to shine, you may feel the urge to clean, organize and spring into action. While it may be tempting to create and tackle an entire list as soon as the sun’s rays become a little warmer, it is important not to overwhelm yourself, but instead start slow.
While deep cleaning your fridge may be satisfying, it may be beneficial to use that springtime motivation on yourself. Start with the basics. This could be as easy as making water your drink of choice to up your hydration or reading a book to improve your mental health. It could also mean making proper sleep hygiene a priority (seven to eight hours is best for most people) or consulting your health care provider about which vitamins could work best for you.
Healthy habits and healthy eating seemingly go hand in hand together. Food is fuel for the body and can help nourish bones, muscles, organs and skin. Canada’s Food Guide suggests eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and protein foods. Canada’s Food Guide has also recently placed an emphasis on plant-based protein and limiting highly processed foods. One of the easiest ways to improve healthy eating habits is to replace sugary drinks like pop, juice and sports drink, with water. Another easy way to up your nutrition game is to add a variety of colours to your plate in the form of vegetable variety, and have them consist of half of your plate.
Now that your basics have been taken care of, you may find yourself asking ‘now what?’. Each day, challenge yourself to do these three things:
- Do one activity for your body. Get active taking a walk after work or parking farther from your office building to get in some extra steps. Fueling your body with healthy food and staying hydrated by drinking water are other examples of activities to benefit your body.
- Do one activity for your mind. Engage your mind by doing a puzzle or reading a book. If you’re feeling adventurous you can take up a new hobby like learning a language or a musical instrument.
- Do one activity for your soul. Do something that truly makes you happy and brings you joy. That can mean getting outside to soak up the sun or spending time with family or friends. Volunteering is another way to boost your mood and help those in your community.
The change of season can be a great time to adjust your routine and try new things. Simple changes and habits can lead to great benefits for yourself and for others around you.
For more information about eating to fuel your body, visit https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/