Healthy Habits for a Healthy Tomorrow by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC
When you’re busy business professional, it can be easy to develop some poor eating or health habits. But, the operative word here is “habit”, meaning that you can create new, healthier habits just the way you developed the bad ones. Healthy habits are all a matter of routine, and just take a little time to implement. 
Simple, healthy habits can pay off big time in the long run. Little changes can lead to less stress, lower blood pressure and less risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Here are five simple habits to develop.
- Eating regularly and eating balanced meals. Regular meals that have a healthy balance between carbohydrates, proteins and fats will help you to maintain level blood sugar, which reduces your risk of diabetes and helps you to have better focus. Regular, balanced meals also help you to avoid extreme hunger, which leads to unhealthy food choices, and, often, to weight gain.
- Walking for 30 minutes a day. Taking 30 minutes out of your day for a walk has numerous health benefits. You’ll find that you sleep better, maintain your weight more easily, and reduce stress.
- Sleeping for 7-9 hours a night. Many busy people don’t get enough sleep. Most adults need somewhere between 7 and 9 hours each night to be fully rested. Chronic fatigue decreases mental focus and impairs your immune system in the short run. In the long run, it shortens your life.
- Drinking plenty of water. Dehydration causes lack of focus and impairs the ability of major organs, like the liver and kidneys to do their jobs. Drinking enough water will make you feel better, sleep better, and may reduce your cravings for unhealthy foods, too.
- Having down time. Down time is as important as sleep. Recharging your batteries by spending time with family, reading a good book, playing a sport, or even watching television can help you to de-stress from your day. Over time, keeping stress in check helps reduce your chances of serious illness.
These five healthy habits are ones you can implement immediately. Some studies show that it takes 21 days to create a habit. Being diligent during this transition period can help you to ingrain the new habits into your regular routine. Once you’ve become accustomed to these new habits, you’ll find that these fit normally into your day, and that you have more clarity and balance in your life.