It can sometimes feel as though maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an impossible task that does not fit into the reality of everyday life. You can’t hold down a job full-time, meditate an hour a day, train for a half marathon, drink homemade green juice, and spend time with family or partner.

Healthy living is a lifestyle that can incorporate these elements (if desired) but does not have to be characterized by glorious displays.

A lot of what we do to maintain a healthy lifestyle is small, everyday things. These small actions, when done regularly, can add up over time.

Tips to a Healthy and happy life

Here are 31 simple tips for a happier, healthier lifestyle. They can all be easily incorporated into daily life.

Drink a glass or two of water in the morning

Drinking coffee is okay, but you should start the day with a glass of water. Morning hydration can help digestion, improve skin health, and increase energy.

Take the stairs

It’s a great way to add physical activity to your day by taking the stairs rather than the elevator. While at it, it also helps strengthen and tone your legs and core!

Make half your plate of veggies

Make half of your plate vegetables at every meal. This is a simple trick for healthy eating and portion control. These vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients essential for good health. They are also rich in fiber, which helps to keep you regular. You’ll feel fuller for longer.

Get a fitness tracker and track your steps

A fitness tracker, such as a Fitbit or Apple Watch, can be used to ensure you get enough physical activity every day. We strive to achieve 10,000 daily steps. This has many benefits for both physical and mental health. You can also use a fitness tracker to remind yourself to walk 250 steps per hour (another measure of your health, see tip #9). Here are the best fitness tracker smartwatches for 2021.

Switch to non-toxic cleaning products

Conventional household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that are bad for our health or the health of children and pets. It is easy to reduce the environmental toxins in your home by switching to cleaner alternatives. Check out our Guide to Healthy Cleaning. It contains a list of all the recommendations and what you should look for when selecting safer cleaning products for your home.

Take a daily probiotic

A healthy gut can significantly impact digestion, skin, immunity, and mental health. Take a probiotic daily with water in the morning. This is a simple way to improve your gut health and benefit your overall health. Please learn more about probiotics and how to incorporate them into your diet. Shop our favorite probiotic here.

Eat real food

You should aim to consume real food, which you can find in your kitchen or that your grandmother will recognize. This does exclude most packaged foods, sorry! It’s slightly different from saying you should only eat “health food” (many are becoming increasingly processed!) Real food includes unprocessed foods, such as an apple, cucumber, soybeans, or steak, and foods that have been processed loosely from a few natural ingredients, such as butter, olive, yogurt, or tofu. Aim for foods you can reasonably make in your kitchen, and avoid foods only made in labs.

Stand up every 30 minutes when working

Standing up and moving for a few minutes every half-hour will reduce the harmful effects of sitting.

Get sunlight every day

Vitamin D is essential for good health. Sunlight is an excellent source of this vitamin. It would be best if you aimed to get 30 minutes of sun each day, preferably in the late afternoon and without sunscreen. (Read more about this). Do you only gain a little sun in winter? Consider taking a Vitamin D supplement or eating other food sources of this essential nutrient.

Fill your home with plants

They’re beautiful, they purify the air in your home (sadly, you probably need it!), and they can even improve mood, creativity, and problem-solving!

Sweat every Day

It would be best if you aimed to sweat every day, whether it’s through running, cycling, dancing, hot yoga, or other physical activities you enjoy. For more ideas on how to get fit, check out our fitness guide. It also includes tips and tricks to help you incorporate regular exercise into your life. You can even download a fitness planner to create your fitness plan.

Have a green smoothie every day

Green smoothies are a great way to include more greens into your diet. Visit our list of (vegetable-packed) healthy smoothie recipes for our favorite starter green smoothie recipe ideas.

Cultivate a positive attitude

The mind is everything. Recognize negative thought patterns, and replace them with positive affirmations or thoughts. You can find more resources to help you develop a positive mindset.

Get enough sleep

Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Quality of sleep is just as important as quantity! Our tips for getting quality sleep include keeping your room cool at night and avoiding blue lights after dark.

Start your day right with a healthy routine in the morning

Check out our ideas for a healthy morning routine to start your day right. Start your day with our list of ideas for a healthy morning ritual!

Eat the Rainbow

Eat all the colors in the rainbow every day. (Natural colors only, no Skittles!) Use our fillable/printable Eat The Rainbow weekly & daily tracker to keep track.

Floss your teeth

For good health, floss your teeth every day. Not only will flossing protect your gums and teeth, but it is also essential for heart and immunity health.

Spend time alone

Regular time alone can help you to stay in touch and get to know yourself better (we are all constantly changing and growing!). You can use alone time to reflect on your life and see what you need. Many people enjoy spending time alone by hiking, running, meditation, or sunbathing.