5 Everyday Habits to Improve Your Health

Thanks to books like Better Than Before,The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and The Power of Habit, we now understand that our everyday habits are a powerful driver of change in our lives. This year, resolve to make a few small changes to the tasks you do every day and reap the benefits for a healthier, happier life.

Healthy Habits to do Every Day

1. Always fix a plate (or a bowl). Eating directly from a bag or package of food invites mindless noshing and limits your enjoyment. Keri Glassman, a registered dietician and author of The New You (and Improved!) Diet, recommends that you make it a habit to always fix yourself a plate or bowl of your meal or snack. "You will eat slower and more mindfully," Glassman told CBS News in a recent interview .
2. Wash your hands often. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that Americans make washing their hands more often a resolution for the year. Per their guidelines , make it a habit to always wash your hands:

   · Before, during, and after preparing food

   · Before eating food

   · Before and after caring for someone who is sick

   · Before and after treating a cut or wound

   · After using the toilet

   · After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

   · After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

   · After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

   · After handling pet food or pet treats

   · After touching garbage

3. Go outside. “Most of the wealthiest and healthiest people admit that each and every day they try to go outside and connect with Mother Earth,” exercise physiologist and athletic trainer Scott Weiss, C.S.C.S. told Men’s Fitness . Research has shown that daily outdoor time can reduce stress, alleviate symptoms of depression , and boost your mood. Make it a habit to get some fresh air, even if that just means a deliberate walk across the parking lot or a few extra blocks when walking the dog, no matter what the weather.
4. Drink water. Drinking more water can actually be two positive habits in one – you’ll consume more water and stay hydrated, and you’ll (ideally) replace sugar-sweetened beverages, which experts agree have no place in a healthy diet. CBS News recently highlighted a study from Virginia Tech , where researchers found that people who drank two cups of water right before eating a meal consumed between 75 and 90 calories fewer during that meal.
5. Schedule annual check-ups. Making it a habit to schedule your annual check-ups and screenings at the same time each year helps to ensure you’ll remember critical preventative care. The CDC promotes regular oral and medical exams and tests as a way to help find problems early or even before they start, improving health outcomes.

Looking for one more healthy habit to start? Make it a habit to carry your Free FamilyWize Prescription Discount Card in your wallet or download the app for Apple or Android devices , so you always have it with you for every trip to the pharmacy!

Sources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Make Health Your Resolution in 2018.”
• CBSNews.com, “8 Simple Habits to Change for a Healthier 2018.” January 2, 2018
• MensFitness.com, “13 habits healthy people do every day.”