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Going Healthy, Life

You Are More Than Your Bad Habits!

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Summer is well and truly here (unless you live in Australia- where it’s still pretty balmy). For most of us, the urge to be the best version of ourselves is at its strongest at this time of year. We feel a sincere desire to get outside, be more social, take our kids on more days out and exercise a whole lot more. Sure, they say that summer bodies are made in the winter, but the great thing about fitness is that it’s never too early or too late to start making positive changes. But despite this overarching air or positivity and pro-activity, many of us still find ourselves faltering. It’s not because we’re lazy, indolent or flighty. It’s not because we don’t care or we don’t want it bad enough. And despite what we may tell ourselves it’s not because we’re too busy and can’t find the time (you can always make the time, even if it means getting up an hour earlier). It’s because however noble our intentions, it’s all too easy to let our habits dictate our behavior.

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We tend to underestimate the impact that habit can have on us, but as we will discuss, habit may seem innocuous enough but it can exert a powerful hold over us…

Why habit has a hold on us

John Dryden said that “First we make our habits, then our habits make us”. Argue with that if you can. We tend to shrug habits off as semi voluntary procedures that we choose to go through. But this massively understates just how powerful and damaging an effect our habits can have on us. We may tell ourselves that we’re in control of our habits or that we can give them up any time we want, but the neuroscience of habits says otherwise. Bad habits needn’t be limited to smoking, eating too much bad food or drinking too much. Sometimes they can be much more quotidian but no less damaging. Every time you shrug to yourself “I’m such a procrastinator”, “I deserve this little treat” or “one more won’t hurt”, or worse still convincing yourself that you’re stupid or worthless, you’re letting your habits dictate your behavior.

Addiction is not a bad word

Habits and addiction go hand in hand. Habits facilitate addiction and once addiction takes a hold of us, it can be difficult to break that hold. The first step is to admit that your habit has become a problem. Get out of the habit of telling yourself you like the taste of cigarettes or that you need four coffees to function in the morning. Addiction does not make you weak, not does it make you deviant or wayward. It simply means that you have a functioning human brain that’s reacting to stimuli. Treating addiction might need relying on outside help, whether it’s through trained professionals or enlisting the aid of friends and family. The good news is that bad habits can be broken.

Consistency is key!

Breaking bad habits is simply a matter of consistency. Replace bad behaviors with good behaviors and repeat them until they become habit. The neurological process is exactly the same. Don’t beat yourself up about it if you fleetingly fall off the wagon, but resolve to get back on it as quickly as you can.

Remember, you are more than just your bad habits. Have a great day!

Going Healthy, Life

The 3 Biggest Health Problems We Face

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As our lifestyles and habits change, new health problems emerge all the time. There are a lot of health issues that we’re struggling with right now that simply didn’t exist 100 years ago but changes to our way of life have created them. Understanding what these problems are and what is causing them in the first place is the key to avoiding them and living a happy, healthy life. These are some of the biggest health problems we face right now.

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Obesity

Weight issues are a huge problem amongst adults but more importantly, in children. Children are being classified as obese at a very young age which is incredibly worrying because it means they’re likely to maintain that weight in later life. There are a lot of different reasons why we’re struggling with our weight which makes it very difficult to tackle the problem. Food is increasingly confusing because, even if you avoid the mountains of fatty and sugary food you can still get caught out. Things that are advertised as low fat are often packed with sugar so they’re causing weight gain anyway and a lot of things like fruit juices that people use as healthier substitutes are high in sugar as well. The only way to really know what you’re eating is to make your own healthy food with fresh ingredients rather than relying on pre-made stuff.

As well as what we eat, the amount of exercise we’re doing is a big problem. When you’re competing with computers and phones it’s difficult to get kids outside and adults with a busy work life find it difficult to fit it into their schedules. Even if you’re just doing ten minutes of exercise and trying to be a bit more active generally, it’s better than nothing. Exercise has so many health benefits so you should try to make time for it where you can.

Opioid Crisis

Opioids have been in the news a lot over the last couple of years as doctors have come under fire for prescribing them too readily and the companies that manufacture them have been accused of downplaying the risks and using incentives to encourage doctors to prescribe them. This has led to the opioid epidemic which is having devastating effects. People that are prescribed these painkillers quickly develop an addiction to them and often turn to harder street drugs or illegally buy more pills once their prescription runs out. Now that the extent of the damage is known, opioids are controlled far more tightly but we still need to deal with the fallout from a period of over subscription.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a health problem that is often linked to weight gain. A bad diet, particularly one that is high in sugar, leads to type 2 diabetes which comes with a whole host of dangers. People often make the mistake of thinking that they’re not at risk if they aren’t overweight but you can still eat a high sugar diet without gaining loads of weight. As companies continue to produce high sugar foods, it’s getting harder to avoid. Always be mindful of what you’re eating and double check ingredients.

These health problems are beginning to spiral out of control so always be aware of the risks and make sure that you avoid them.

Going Healthy, Life

Get Back On Track After A Stressful Year

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Stress is a horrible thing. It can leave us feeling powerless, trapped and in a place where we have no control over our lives. If you have had a stressful war recently and you need to find a way to get back on track, here are some ways to deal with your stress.

Take A Walk


It might seem like going for a walk is on every stress busting list ever, but the reason for that is that it works. If you feel stressed out and you feel as if everything is on top of you, go outside and take a walk in your local park. While you are out in the fresh air you will be able to relax and refresh your mind, and think about something else for a while.

Healthy Mind

Mental health is an issue which goes hand in hand with stress, and you will often find that stress is the root cause of mental issues. Therefore, looking after your mental health and happiness can give you more confidence and a sense of control back into your life. You will be able to look at Rehab Center Reviews and find help, join groups to talk things out, and even do meditation at home to relax your mind. Mental health should be one of your main priorities.


Get Away

When you are stuck in the same place and in the same routine every single day, you sometimes need to get away and be somewhere completely new for a while. Think about booking yourself a trip to somewhere you have never been. You’ll be able to get out of your everyday routine and be in a totally new environment. The power of being somewhere unfamiliar is incredible and you will notice how much more open and relaxed you feel.


Take A Breath

 

When you are having a day, month or even a year where you feel stressed out you need to make sure that you always take the time out to breathe. Get home at the end of the day and have some me time. Have a bath, watch a movie and just switch off from the world. This will allow your brain to calm down and it will do wonders for your mental state.

Take a Mental Break

 

Switch off your phone! If you have been stressed out for a long time and you struggle to cope with everything going on in life, you need to take a breather from social media and your phone. Being online is great most of the time, but you have to give your mind the chance to relax completely. Switch off your phone at least an hour before bed, and don’t make it the first thing you check when you wake up in the morning.


Take A New Perspective

It always seems difficult to put a positive spin on a hard situation, but a lot of the time it can be exactly what you need. Is it pouring it down on your morning commute? Enjoy the water! Stuck in traffic on your way home? Put on some music and be glad you aren’t walking! Bring a positive spin on things in life and it will make a huge difference to your life.