11 Simple Health Habits — For the Busy Human

We all know that living healthy is a (long) process, without a quick fix. Hours in the gym will always trump hours behind a screen. However time can be tight. When you work an office job 9–5:30pm, you can get a little lazy. I know I have.
Yet it’s forced me to be more creative. Creative to find a routine, to ensure I’m a healthier human. I don’t always succeed but in the process of trying, I have stumbled across a few little health habit nuggets. Which, if applied alongside a hectic lifestyle, could at least tilt your ‘scales’ in the right direction…
- 10,000 step rule — Humans were built to walk. Whether it’s crossing the Savannah to hunt antelope or navigating your way through the aisles at Tesco. My mum recently got me a Fitbit. I love/hate the notifications, which jolt me into action, when I’ve been sat on my arse for too long. 10,000 steps is no way near as much as it sounds.

2. Embrace ‘blue’ milk — Controversial I know but it really annoys me when a coffee shop only stocks semi-skimmed. Why? As part of a nutrition course, I leant that skimming milk is a bit of a consumer con. It’s sold as a healthier option, when in fact “Before processing, skim milk has a very unappetizing blueish colour, a chalky taste, and watery texture. To whiten, thicken, and make it taste a little more normal, powdered milk solids are often mixed in” I’ll stick with organic blue milk, thank you very much. It also tastes so much better. More on the full fat debate here.
3. Sleep naked — It feels great and is good for the soul. It gets air circulating around your body and can help you avoid all types of nasties.
4. Buy a house plant — they are like £1.38 from Lidl or Aldi. Far superior to any synthetic product which pumps contaminated air into your home. A house plant is a real life living thing. It makes your air better, according to science anyway.

5. A press-up a day — Who doesn’t have the time or the facilities to do one press-up. Technique completely up to you. If you do one, you might do a couple more while you’re down there. Try it every day and it could become a habit. Before you know it you’ll be taking on the 100 press-up challenge. Idea nicked from Tim Ferriss & Matt Mullenweg — one of the simplest ‘Tools of Titans’.
6. Cold shower bursts — Painfully simple. Didn’t say they had to be fun! All you have to do is move your hand and turn the shower dial, to the side you never use. Hint, great before bed as can send you to sleep like a tracer bullet. Check out Wim Hof for some real inspiration and the health benefits. Health Warning — I did get sick after swimming in a ‘baltic’ Cornish sea pool back in April. My girlfriend will testify, it was not worth the 5 minute dip and moment of male pride.
7. Cut out shampoo — Note and reflect on the first five ingredients on back of girlfriend’s shampoo below. You’d need a 1st in Chemistry to even decipher any of these. Putting them on your precious scalp?

8. Do a physical activity you actually enjoy — For me it’s football & swimming but the options are endless. From gardening to yoga to quidditch, whatever takes your fancy. If you’re enjoying an activity, you will be in flow. Plus, you won’t be fretting about how many reps you’ve done.
9. Cut sugar from your cuppa — Ridiculously simple. Takes a couple of weeks to move on and mourn the loss. The best thing about this is that I now want to barf if someone accidentally puts sugar in my coffee.. It doesn’t taste right. Once you’ve cracked this you can then attack your other sugar cravings. My friend has even built an amazing business around this #GlugUgly.
10. Build a playlist of new music — Invest 20 minutes a week in this and the result = chores become fun, your run or walking gets a boost + you can sound cool at work, when you hum the latest Ed Sheeran tune (maybe choose a different artist though).

11. Sleep like a baby — Okay this is a definite fail for me (see stats above). Yet everyone who knows me well, knows how much I love a good sleep. Back in the days of lads holidays, I was always one of the last to rise, after a night of failed ‘sharking’ and too many Jagerbombs. Side note, I can’t drink those things anymore. Back to sleeping. I have tried eye masks, ear plugs and sleep teas. Yet I’m still searching for better sleep. Maybe this is one that simply can’t be hacked?
Disclaimer — these are not prescriptions.
I am though trying to curate a list of 100 ‘hacks’. Let me know if any others spring to mind. They must be painfully simple & inexpensive.
Thanks,
Jim
x
