Beat Your Bad Health Habits

Everyone has a few bad habits but some can have a serious effect on your health. Happily they can also be easy to fix so read on for a few common issues and how to tackle them…

The problem: Often without realising we can consume lots of extra food in small but frequent quantities during the day. These extra calories are often sugary and fatty snacks and sweets that we use to break up the monotony of a long afternoon at work or as a pick-me-up in the evenings.

The solution? Stay away from where the donuts or birthday cake are put out in your office and banish the food you want to avoid from your home. It’s much easier to not have it around in the first place than to try ignoring it.

There are lots of healthy alternatives to snack on during the day so keep those around instead – trail mix, nuts, fruit or yogurts will give you something better to graze on. Drink plenty of water to stave off headaches and tiredness rather than using sugar to give you a boost.  

The problem: If that new gym membership is going unused and you are busy, tired and frustrated, you might be tempted to throw in the towel. You come home from work with the best of intentions but sink into the sofa and don’t make it back out.

The solution? If you get your gym gear together and waiting in a bag by the door you won’t be put off by the organisation and will be ready to go. You might take it with you so you can go straight to the gym after work or try going first thing in the morning or around lunch if you are too tired at the end of the day.

Use a sequence of triggers to establish a routine. Just like you associate brushing your teeth with washing and using the bathroom in the mornings you can attach going to the gym with dropping the kids off at school or getting home from work. It then fits naturally into your schedule.

The problem: 45% of adults suffer from sleep disorders and even more than that will feel tired day to day. Sleep deprivation can cause health issues such as obesity, depression, diabetes, stress and even heart disease.

The solution? Sticking to a regular bedtime every night helps your body get into a good rhythm. That might not always be practical but you can avoid caffeine and alcohol in the hours before bed to avoid stimulating your body.

A bit of downtime before bed away from housework or the computer will help you relax but be careful if you are using a phone or tablet to read or browse the internet. The blue light they emit mimics sunlight and tricks your body into thinking it is still daytime and that it should be awake. WaveWall Sleep is a blue light filter and screen protector that blocks that bad light and improves your sleep as well as protects your phone from everyday scratches and scuffs.

What bad habits do you want to beat?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below!