Looking to become a fitter, happier and healthier version of yourself? Keep reading!

To celebrate World Health Day, we’ve provided 5 life-changing tips to get healthy from home. Follow our healthy advice to lead a fit and happy lifestyle.

#1 Make Working Out a Habit

It’s easy to say, “I’ll train tomorrow,” or “my schedule is really packed, but I’ll start training after the weekend.” What’s not easy is creating consistency. When we think of “consistency,” the term, “willpower,” also comes to mind. But willpower isn’t the biggest issue in trying to develop (or change) a habit. Most of us have the willpower to make it through the first week or two of training. The main problem is that most of us haven’t conditioned our habits deeply enough to switch the behavior on autopilot.

So, if working out is a chore, you’re probably not making the habit consistent enough. If you find yourself making excuses, try these helpful tips:

1. If possible, exercise at the same time every day. Your daily routine will soon become a habit because you’re training your brain to think your day won’t be complete without it. It won’t!
   
2. Make gradual changes within your daily schedule. If you haven’t been exercising at all or very infrequently, don’t overdo it on your first day. Start with 15- or 20-minute workouts and gradually work your way up. Making yourself sick on the very first day is a surefire way to give up. Start easy and progress.
   
3. Find a workout partner who will hold you accountable and help you achieve your fitness goals. Studies suggest you’ll be less likely to quit your routine when you find the right training partner. It’s also way more fun!

If you don’t know where to start, fitness apps like Gymondo offer a wide variety of training programs perfect for beginners.

#2 Take a SoMe Break

Study after study indicates that social media leads to depression, low self-esteem, body image issues, anxiety and the list goes on and on. On the flip side, social media can bring communities together and provides us with a platform to meet new people and share important snippets from our lives. But sometimes we need to shut down and recharge.

When you find yourself needing a break from social media, try these strategies:

1. Put your phone down and out of reach. Leave your phone in another room so you won’t have the urge to grab it. Out of sight, out of mind.
   
2. Schedule SoMe-free hours. For the phone-obsessed, start off gradually. Set a 30-minute phone-free timer. Once your obsession subsides, gradually increase the time. Before long, maybe you’ll make it through the entire weekend without checking your updates. SoMe-free hours or days allow you to spend more time being productive, engage with others and start new hobbies.
   
3. Delete social media apps from your smartphone. This may seem like cruel and unusual punishment but it will do wonders for your mental health. You can finally start living in the moment instead of constantly feeling the urge to check your phone and disengage in the present. Your friends and family will thank you for it!

#3 Try a Fitness Challenge

If you’re struggling to prioritize fitness, try a fitness challenge. Research suggests the length of time it takes for a new behavior to become automatic varies from 18 days to 254 days. Targeted, short-term fitness challenges (4-week, 8-week, 12-week) are connected to a number of positive behavioral changes, increased productivity habits and overall better quality of life.

Using apps like Gymondo provides a solid support system that allows Tribe members to connect with one another, share success stories and boost motivation. If you’re ready to kickstart your workouts, lose weight, get toned and feel fit and happy, find a fitness challenge that’s right for you.

#4 Eat Mindfully

Mindful eating is all about paying attention to what we eat and the way we eat it. Research suggests eating mindfully improves digestion, regulates our appetite and helps us enjoy our food much more. It’s even been dubbed the antidote to dieting. Focusing on what we’re eating helps us make better choices and avoid overeating.

Here are a few helpful tips:

1. When hunger strikes, focus on what your body is telling you. When you listen to your body, it will tell you if you’re actually hungry and what you’re hungry for. Tolerating hunger will keep you from making knee-jerk responses to eating foods you don’t actually need.
   
2. Become aware of your food choices and what each one offers. Consider different food varieties, what they’re made of and how they’ve been prepared. The choice is yours when it comes to what you fuel your body with. By opening our eyes to the array of food choices, we can make better-informed decisions on what should nourish us.
   
3. Be mindful when you’re preparing your food. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re preparing—pay attention to the textures, smells and sounds of the food. Preparing food helps relax our body and focus our energy on an important task. If your mouth is watering, you know you’re on track!
   
4. OK, now comes the fun part—eating! Start off by looking at what you’re about to eat. When you take your first bite, notice the texture, temperature, smell and flavor of the food. Be aware of how the food feels in your mouth. Focus on your chewing and breathing. Take your time to enjoy the wonderful meal you’ve created. Try to focus solely on the food—nothing else. Let your worries diminish and give yourself a break from everything else going on in your life.

If you’re looking for inspiring and easy-to-make recipes, explore 1000s of healthy and delicious meals in Gymondo.

#5 Start Your Day With Silence

There are hundreds of things demanding our time and attention each and every day. Most of us spend our time running around as fast as we can just to keep up. We’re overwhelmed and many of us struggle to cope with the stress. So, what can we do about it?

Start by taking 5-10 minutes out of your day to meditate—preferably right when you wake up. Research suggests that the ideal time to meditate is first thing in the morning because your mind is free and clear before the stresses of your day begin.

And you don’t have to be a yogi, a monk or deeply spiritual to get life-changing results. No matter who you are or what you’re into, you can benefit from meditation. Try it. You won’t be disappointed.

Takeaway

World Health Day will soon pass, just like every other regular day of the year. But, your intention to make this day life-changing is your call. Let’s come together to get fit and feel happy, so we can make this world a better and healthier place to live in.