It’s easy to get into a lethargic slump these days. There is barely enough time to sleep, let alone get to the gym. Health, however, should come first. Your health is the seed of your life. Much like a plant, if you do not take care of it, then everything else suddenly becomes lifeless. Not only does neglecting your health bring you into a lethargic hole, but it also takes a toll on your appearance. You know what I’m talking about: sallow skin, tired eyes, and dull hair. No fun.
If you find yourself in this slump, you must take action immediately. Have no fear, these 10 healthy habits are quick and easy to add into your daily routine. In no time you will be feeling bright, awake, refreshed, and energized. Make health a priority!
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Taking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar every day will provide you with multiple health benefits. To reap the most benefits, be sure to use raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. One of the most popular brands is Braggs, who claim that their vinegar helps with weight loss, supports a healthy immune system, promotes digestion & pH balance, helps soothe dry throats, and helps remove toxins from the body. An added bonus is that it is rich in enzymes and potassium. And that’s not all! Besides drinking the apple cider vinegar, you can also rub it on your skin to help with acne. Sure, taking a spoonful of apple cider vinegar burns and tastes unpleasant, but so does vodka – at least apple cider vinegar is good for you!
2. Lemon Ginger Shots
Regularly taking lemon ginger shots will give you limitless amounts of energy. Lemon ginger shots are an excellent way to boost your immune system because of the high content of Vitamin C. Lemon also detoxifies your body and boosts your metabolism – both great ways to increase your energy! Here’s the fun part, on top of your shot, add a dash of either turmeric or cayenne powder. Turmeric helps fight cancer, treat IBS, and improve liver function, while cayenne boosts your metabolism and improves your blood circulation. The Growl Pub sells a 3 oz lemon ginger shot for $3. If you only take 1 oz per day, your purchase will last you 3 days! This is quite a low price for how much energy and pizzazz will be added to your life.
3. Green Tea
I personally think that the first step into leading a healthy life is to start drinking green tea. Not only does green tea contain nutrients and antioxidants for your body, it also fights bacteria and cancer. It also helps burn fat, improve brain function, and prevent heart disease! Green tea contains a small amount of caffeine, so it works perfectly as an afternoon pick-me-up.
4. Spinach
Some people call spinach the world’s healthiest food. Spinach fights against cancer, is loaded with antioxidants, and can even help keep your bones strong. Spinach gets quite the bad rap in cartoons and movies, but spinach is actually your friend! When thrown into a smoothie, spinach is tasteless but still provides health benefits. Spinach is also delicious in a salad, on your sandwich, in your scrambled eggs, or even just sautéed. Simply adding this leafy green into your diet will help you to feel great and stay healthy.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is great because it can be a healthy replacement for sugary foods. Research shows that cinnamon improves brain function, heart health, and can prevent blood clots. Adding cinnamon into your daily diet is super simple. Add some cinnamon into your coffee grounds, oatmeal, yogurt, popcorn, tea, or on peanut butter toast!
6. Sunbathing
Your grandma knew what she was talking about when she told you to go outside and get some sunshine. The sun, despite the fact that its UV rays can be dangerous, is the ultimate healing source in our solar system. To safely receive the suns healing, sit in the sun without sunblock when the sun is just rising or just setting. These are the times when the sun’s rays are the least strong. Just basking in the sun for 10 minutes every day will help with skin ailments, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, increase oxygen flow, strengthen your immune system, and even cure some cases of depression.
7. Meditation
Regardless of religion, you should start meditating today! Meditation does not have to be intense – it can simply be sitting quietly for 10 minutes each day. There is scientific evidence that meditation can increase social connections and decrease loneliness. Moreover, it increases your memory, your positive emotions, and your overall satisfaction with life. Meditation also decreases depression, anxiety, and stress – something we all need during the changing tides of college.
8. Spicy Foods
Spicy foods actually release the feel good hormones in your body. Get through the burn, and you will experience a decrease in depression and stress. Also, no surprise here, spicy foods will increase your metabolism and therefore your weight loss. Eating spicy foods also fights against cancer. Disclaimer: the spicy foods you should be eating include peppers, salsa, and curries, not just Hot Cheetos and Cholula.
9. Warm Lemon Water
First thing in the morning, heat up a cup of water, squeeze half of a lemon into it, and stir in some honey (if desired). This amazing mix flushes toxins out of the body and ensures smooth digestion. Lemon, as previously mentioned, strengthens your immune system. The more you incorporate lemon into your diet, the less you will get sick. In addition, drinking warm lemon water helps to maintain the pH in your body.
10. Positive Affirmations
Did you know that you could erase all of your inner most fears through positive affirmations? Think long and hard about your biggest fears and write them out on paper. Your list could be 5 statements long or you could have 3 pages worth of statements, it’s all up to you. Now replace every one of your fears with something positive. For example, if your fear was that “Nobody likes me because I am weird”, change that to “Everybody loves me because I am awesome”. Repeat these self-created positive affirmations to yourself everyday until you believe them wholeheartedly. They are exactly the kind of statements that you need to hear. Love yourself – you are the only you there is and ever will be!