10 GOOD PERSONAL HABITS FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH - ARTE - 2025

Developing good personal habits is one of the most important keys to living a long and happy life. What we consistently do in our day-to-day lives will determine the kind of existence we will lead. Therefore, it is necessary that we begin to develop healthy routines as soon as possible.

Your healthy habits can include all kinds of actions that promote your physical, mental or emotional well-being. When enough of them are developed, it is almost impossible to feel bad or have health problems. However, creating them can be very complicated, especially if you have never done it and do not see too important to do it.

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The key to developing good habits is to do it little by little. In this article we bring you a list of some of the most important actions that you can include in your day to day. All of them are easy to adopt, but they will cause big changes in your life.

How can you improve as quickly as possible? It is best if you choose one or two of these actions, work on them until they become unconscious, and move on to the next when you are done. If you do this long enough, you will end up living an existence that you will find it difficult to even recognize.

10 healthy habits to incorporate into your life

There are a multitude of activities that have the potential to completely change your existence. Therefore, it can be difficult to choose the most effective ones; One of the greatest dangers in wanting to improve is that of being paralyzed by the large number of options that exist to do so.

However, any of the 10 habits that you will find in this article will have a great impact on your life if you really adopt them. Pick the ones that resonate with you the most, practice them often, and you'll soon start making big changes.

1- Exercise often

We have all heard thousands of times how important physical exercise is, both for our physical and mental health. Incorporating it regularly into your life will help you alleviate the effects of aging, reduce your chances of suffering from certain diseases, and make you feel much more comfortable on a mental level.

What is the best way to incorporate this healthy habit into your day to day? The best thing is that you start small. The first thing is to find an activity that motivates you and that makes you keep moving: it can be from something as simple as walking, to a discipline as challenging as climbing or martial arts.

Once you find what you like to do, spend at least half an hour on three days a week. After a few months carrying out this routine, you will be able to increase the level of intensity, and you will begin to notice all the benefits of this practice.

2- Drink only water and infusions

Taking care of your diet is essential to lead a healthy and happy life. However, there are so many possible changes that we can make in this regard that many times we feel saturated and end up doing nothing. Therefore, it is best that you start with something very simple but that has a great impact on your health.

In this sense, one of the most absurd ways we have to spoil our body and mind is the intake of processed or alcoholic beverages. Humans are designed to drink only water; and yet numerous studies show that more and more people are abandoning this liquid for soft drinks or beer.

Reducing the amount you eat of these types of drinks will help you in several aspects. On the one hand, it will be easier for you to control your weight and lose fat; on the other, you will be more animated, have more energy and in general you will feel better. Try to include more and more water in your life, and you will notice the difference in no time.

3- Sleep at least eight hours

Along with food and exercise, the other pillar to achieve a healthy body is rest. Studies show that most of us need at least eight hours to feel really recharged; and yet it is very common to spend much less of this time in bed.

The problem is that little sleep affects all areas of our life. After a night of not getting enough rest, not only will you have less energy, but you will also be in a worse mood and have fewer mental resources. In the long term, it will also increase your risk of suffering from all kinds of problems and diseases.

So from now on, make it your goal to sleep at least 8 hours a night. In general, this just means making your rest a priority. If you really put your mind to it, in no time you'll be giving your body the rest it needs.

4- Socialize

Humans are social animals. As introverted as we can be, we need contact with others to really feel good. However, in our day to day, many times our obligations prevent us from relating to friends and loved ones as much as we would like.

One of the habits with the greatest impact on your mental health is spending time with people who encourage you. Therefore, propose to go out with your group of friends at least once a week. Talk to your family members or roommates as much as possible. Even if this is not enough, consider signing up for a group activity.

As soon as you are spending time with other people on a regular basis, you will notice your mood improve almost magically. Social contact really has great power over us.

5- Separate yourself from your mobile / smartphone

Smartphones are wonderful tools, without which many people can no longer understand life. However, if you are not careful with the way you use yours, it can become one of the biggest enemies of your psychological well-being.

Being connected all the time can end up taking a toll on your brain. Constant notifications and multitasking make it harder for you to focus on just one thing; And if you don't take a break from your mobile, you may end up developing problems as serious as anxiety or technoaddiction.

One way to minimize these problems while enjoying all the benefits of your smartphone is to set a schedule in which you can use it and respect it. The idea is to stop looking at your phone every second you have free; If you succeed, you will see how your life improves in almost every aspect.

6- Spend time outdoors

Our modern pace of life requires us to spend most of our time indoors. From the moment we get up, we go from one closed area to another, practically unable to enjoy the sun and the outdoors. And yet these two elements are fundamental to our well-being.

Spending time outside has all kinds of benefits for our physical and mental health. From the production of Vitamin D to the secretion of endorphins, this is another habit that can make a difference in how you feel physically and psychologically.

If your routine forces you to be indoors all the time, try to take at least a half-hour break in which you can get out to get some fresh air. This can be tricky at first, but like all the habits on the list, it's a matter of taking it seriously and making achieving it a priority.

7- have sex

This habit surely attracts you more attention than the rest. We all know the positive effect that romantic relationships have on our mood. But did you know that this is one of the best things you can do for both your body and your mind?

The latest research shows that having sex on a regular basis has many benefits beyond just momentary pleasure. It is something that can improve your health, strengthen your immune system, help you lose weight, and regulate your hormone levels.

On a mental level, maintaining relationships will help you gain confidence in yourself, promote the release of endorphins (the substances that make you happy), improve your relationship with your partner and allow you to better combat pathologies such as depression or anxiety.

So don't hesitate: whenever you can, include a little sex in your life. The benefits will exceed all your expectations.

8- Practice gratitude

One of the most common problems for most people is that we are never satisfied with what we have. Even when we reach a goal or achieve something that has cost us a lot of work, we quickly focus on what we lack and want to take the next step.

This, however, greatly prevents us from enjoying the present moment. By always being focused on what we lack, we generate large doses of unhappiness. Therefore, learning to be grateful for what you already have can become one of your greatest allies in the search for well-being.

The easiest way to do this is to find three things to be thankful for when the day is done. They can be very simple, like the smile of someone you appreciate or the cup of hot coffee you had in the morning; or as big as a promotion or good news you received.

Although at first it may be difficult to find three things to be thankful for, you will soon realize that the more you practice this technique, the more you notice all the positive things that happen in your day to day life.

9- Find a hobby that challenges you

Our brain is prepared to respond especially well to challenges. Because in ancient times our survival depended on developing our skills, our mind continues to reward us when we improve in any area and punish us if we stagnate.

The best way to take advantage of this innate reward mechanism is by looking for a hobby in which you can progressively improve. Thus, as your skill level increases, you will notice how you gain confidence in yourself and your level of self-esteem will rise little by little.

What activities attract your attention? Maybe you've always wanted to try playing an instrument, or you've been thinking about learning a new language for a long time. Whatever it is, find what stimulates you, dedicate a few hours to it every week, and in no time you will notice how your ability and your well-being increase at the same time.

10- Lee

Although it is not a very popular hobby in our society, reading has the potential to become your best ally in achieving an incredible life. Most successful people read a large number of books a year; and this fact is not a coincidence.

Books can help you improve your concentration; They will expand your imagination, and allow you to disconnect from your problems for a while. But also, if you choose non-fiction works, you can learn what you want on any subject using reading as a tool.

The best way to start taking advantage of this incredible habit is by incorporating it into your nighttime routine. Before going to bed, aim to read for half an hour uninterruptedly. If necessary, shorten the time you spend looking at your mobile or watching television to achieve this; reading will do you much more in the long run.

What kind of books should you consume? If you've never read too much, first focus on developing a taste for this activity. Later, when you are an avid page eater, you can move on to more complex topics that help you improve your life: psychology, finances, social skills, nutrition…

conclusion

This list of healthy habits for your body and mind is nothing more than an introduction to the world of personal improvement. There are many activities that can help you lead a better life; however, whichever one you choose, the key is to practice it consistently.

Are you ready to start changing your life?

References

1. "7 Habits for a Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body" in: Psychology Today. Retrieved on: October 16, 2018 from Psychology Today: psychologytoday.com.
2. "192 healthy habits" in: Develop Good Habits. Retrieved on: October 16, 2018 from Develop Good Habits: developgoodhabits.com.
3. "7 healthy habits for a healthy life" in: Living Magazine. Retrieved on: October 16, 2018 from Living Magazine: livingmagazine.net.
4. "11 Simple Health Habits Worth Adopting Into Your Life" in: Health Essentials. Retrieved on: October 16, 2018 from Health Essentials: health.clevelandclinic.org.
5. "11 Things To Do Daily For Your Mental Health, So You Can Stay Balanced & Happy" at: NAMI Montgomery County. Retrieved on: October 16, 2018 from NAMI Montgomery County: namimc.org.