To ask for your best small changes to improve health and lifestyle?

[Tiamaria86]

I have been feeling so rubbish lately and really just want to start to be a bit healthier but whenever I have made changes in the past I think I have gone to big and just not been consistent.

So what are your best tips for small changes that I can be consistent with?

This is interesting!

Agree with the walk every day, even if it's 20 minutes round the block.

I did dry January and realised I didn't miss the alcohol. So now I don't drink at home unless it's a special occasion.

I stopped drinking caffeine after midday and it has made a massive difference to the quality of my sleep. I fall asleep quicker and sleep more deeply, it's really helped. I'm also starting to realise processed food makes me feel more sluggish and hungry, I'm finding it harder to cut that down though.

Some great tips here. Interesting about the caffeine on an empty stomach.

This morning I had a pint of water first thing and then a bit of greek yoghurt before I had coffee. That's an easy change.

I will definitely go for a walk at lunchtime as well and that should get easier with the nicer weather.

Go for a 30 minutes walk everyday. I drive to a nice park to walk around because it's nice and flat to walk.

Just switched my 80% chocolate to 100% and my taste buds have obviously adapted as I love it!

Done 5000 steps at lunch time really easily so I'm hoping that's something I can just incorporate in my day without really thinking about it.

That's massive, well done! You'll get faster too.

Oh, I'm doing the green tea. Michael Mosely one. I swear it actually chills me out. Always avoided as it's a bit caffeinated but it doesn't seem to affect me, and indeed seems to be calming.

Listen to your body.

Broadly, you want to aim to exercise more, eat better, improve sleep. Easy to say those things but important to remember that they're all very individual, they're not one size fits all.

For me, the one thing that makes me sleep better is going to bed when I'm feeling sleepy. As simple as listening to my body clock. I don't need black-out blinds or a screen ban. That may not work for you!

In terms of exercise I run and do simple resistance work, but I do one or the other most days. I don't time myself running and I hate gyms, but that all works for me. You can start small and gradually increase your load, listening to your body. Again, it may not work for you! Some people thrive with a more regimented approach.

The thing you'll stick with and build into your daily routine is the thing your body and mind enjoy doing. Listen to them and don't feel you have to take the same path as other people to get to the same destination.