Simple Swaps For A Healthier Lifestyle
Trying to push past a plateau or just getting a little healthier doesn’t have to mean going through a total lifestyle overhaul. Going from eating whatever you like and doing little exercise to hard core, daily workouts and living off salad is not going to be easy to sustain! Here at Neat we’re all about creating healthy habits that suit YOUR lifestyle, so we’ve come up with 10 smart swaps that will help you feel healthier, fitter and happier without making any drastic changes!
Eat Nice Cream Instead Of Ice Cream
Okay, so we know frozen bananas might not sound as tempting as that tub of Ben & Jerry’s, but we promise nice-cream really does taste amazing! Make yourself the perfect movie night sweet treat by blending up frozen bananas, protein powder, almond milk and any other flavourings that take your fancy!
Buy A Reusable Water Bottle Over Buying Drinks Out And About
Carrying a water bottle with you will make sure you’re choosing water over juice or fizzy drinks and will make sure you’re staying hydrated too. When it’s in your bag or sat on your desk it’s so much easier to remember to keep sipping! Want to know more about the benefits of drinking more water? Check out our blogpost, here.
Swap Lunch Dates For Outdoor Activities
Planning a big family meet-up or unsure of what to do with your friends this weekend? Instead of booking a table at the same old restaurant, try something new and head out for a friendly game of football or pack a picnic, grab some bikes and head off on an adventure…
Take The Stairs Over The Escalator
Okay, so we know you’ve heard this one a thousand times before, but it really is a great healthy hack! Try tracking your steps and see what a difference taking the stairs instead of the lift or walking up the escalator can make to your weekly activity levels.
Sprint Rather Than Jog
Next time you’re thinking about heading out for a gentle jog, try stopping in the part to do some sprints instead. The high intensity of sprinting means your workout will take half the time and will be twice as effective – it might be hard work, but the pay off is definitely worth it!
Stop Online Shopping And Hit The Shops
Need something from the shops? Instead of sitting on the sofa clicking away, take the time to actually visit the shops to clock up a serious amount of steps. It’ll be kind to your health and even kinder to your bank balance – it’s always seems a little harder to part with your hard-earned dollar when you’re there in person!
Swap Cocktails For A Slimline G&T
We’re not going to spoil all your fun and tell you to stick to soda water at the pub on a Friday night – realistically that’s not a swap that’s going to last very long! But we are going to recommend you try to make healthier decisions at the bar and swap sugary cocktails or that calorie-filled glass (or 3) or vino for a slimline G&T - that’s the kind of healthy lifestyle change we can totally get on board with!
Choose Balsamic Or Olive Oil Over Creamy Salad Dressings
Thinking that Ceaser salad is a super healthy lunch choice? Unfortunately, creamy salad dressing can be filled with added sugars and fats, so try choosing fresher dressing such as a balsamic vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil instead.
Do The Workout You Love Instead Of What You THINK You Should Do
Think you need to lift weights to be fit and healthy or to look a certain way? Has someone told you to do interval runs but you just can’t stand them? Although you might think their advice will get you the results you’re after, forcing yourself to do a workout you don’t enjoy is not going to motivate you to get out of bed in the morning! Doing something you genuinely enjoy will make it so much more sustainable – and in the long run will get you closer to the results you want!
Choose A Cup Of Tea And 10-minutes Of Calm Over AM Emails
Getting healthier isn’t all about what you eat and how active you are. Try swapping your habit of checking your emails or scrolling social media as soon as you wake up for a relaxing cup of hot tea and 10 minutes of calm before the madness of the day truly kicks in. It’ll do wonders for your stress levels and will set you up properly for a positive day.