Celebrate World Health Day with us at Dafi, incorporating these easy to practice habits to start a healthier life today.

April 7th is World Health Day, and there’s never been a better time than now to prioritize our health above all.

Taking on healthier habits doesn’t have to be complicated. A gradual process of adding a new habit in daily, or even weekly, can greatly add up to positive changes over time.

Here are seven approachable habits you can take on in your lifestyle to be healthier today, and for the lifetime ahead of you.

1. Learn something new

Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn Spanish. Or, you’ve been putting off taking that cooking class. Perhaps it’s learning how to property down dog. Well, today’s the day! With so much available at our finger tips on internet today too, there’s absolutely no lack of resources. Plus, learning new skills keeps our minds sharp and can enhance our current skillset. Pick a new skill to learn each month, or each quarter.

2. Eat Healthier

A good general rule: Eat more vegetables, eat more fruits, less processed foods, eliminate sugary drinks, less alcohol.

You don’t need anyone to tell you what you “should” be eating and drinking to be healthier. So, perhaps it’s better to focus on what’s stopping you from doing it. Learn your excuses, and then learn how you can work around them. A good tip, plan ahead your food schedule for the day ahead, so you’re less likely to make choices last minute and grab whatever is in front of you. Aim to fill your dinner plate at least half with greens, the other half a combination of proteins, healthy fats or clean carbohydrates.

3. Drink more water

This goes without saying, drinking more filtered or alkaline water daily can help your system and overall health in so many beneficial ways. You can increase your energy, hydration levels. healthy cellular structure, and mental focus, while cleansing and clearing out any toxins from your body.

A good way to keep track that you’re getting enough water can be to fill your Dafi Alkaline Glass Pitcher once in the morning, refilling your sports bottle to carry around with you. Drink at least one of these full pitchers a day to get your fill of high-quality pH alkaline water fresh from your home, single-use plastic-free. Aim to drink at least 8 8-ounce glasses of alkaline water a day.

4. Keep a journal

Journaling daily can be a creative and therapeutic way to get out thoughts and ideas. It can also be a powerful way to write down moments of gratitude or reflection that you can look back and reference whenever you’re in need of remembering how far you’ve come along in your wellness journey. Set aside 5 minutes in the morning, and evening, to write out your thoughts of reflection.

5. Meditate/Focused Breathing

Studies have shown that there are benefits to even five minutes of focused attention or breathing to reduce stress and calm the mind. Done daily, over time, these benefits begin to increase, as well as the time your mind is able to focus. Start out with 5-minutes, or whatever you can allocate to peaceful breathing time, and work your way up to 15 minutes from there.

6. Move your Body

Your body was designed to move, and we’re doing it a disservice keeping it sedentary for too many hours. Movement creates a flow of energy, which can increase your happiness, focus, productivity, and overall health mobility. Aim for 30-60 minute daily of movement.

7. Get good sleep

This goes to the top, as a high priority for overall health. Good sleep creates the restoration and energy to effectively do all of the above habits well. Good sleep gives your mind and body time to rejuvenate and restore itself physically, while processing emotions properly mentally from the day’s work. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Or, if you’re really sleep deprived, aim to incorporate 15-minute increments each night, until you’ve gotten to your minimum requirements.