Do you ever feel like there's too much to do in terms of living a healthier life? You might feel like you have no idea where to start or that so much needs to change you feel discouraged. While I understand those feelings completely, I want to encourage you that there is a more effective and less stressful way.

Lasting change happens one decision at a time. While you don't need to change everything on your to-do list at once, start with a few small changes in your day that can start to compound and make a difference. Once you get the ball rolling, you'll be encouraged to continue down your to-do list and keep working toward those goals.

Here are a few simple swaps you can do to start feeling better.

Make hydration important

Is that warm cup of coffee the first thing you think about when you hop out of bed in the morning? You don't have to give that up - but start your day with a tall glass of water first. This will help jumpstart your metabolism and help to rehydrate you from your night's sleep. If you struggle with this, try leaving a glass of water on your bedside table so it's the first thing you see in the morning.

Practice listening to your body

Often, if we choose to move our bodies each day, we stick to a strict workout schedule. Cardio on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Weight training and yoga on Tuesday and Thursday. This rigid schedule can sometimes burn us out and cause us to ignore what our body is asking for at the moment. Instead, make a "workout menu" of options that sound enjoyable. Then, each day, check-in and see which option sounds most appealing and most beneficial.

Healthier food options

Making a healthy food choice can sometimes feel overwhelming when it doesn't have to be. Each day, choose one area to make a swap. This may be using zucchini noodles instead of traditional pasta. Or it could be grabbing a square of dark chocolate instead of a candy bar. They may seem like insignificant decisions at the time, but they can really add up in the long run, and the practice of making these small decisions will start to stick.

Create a sleep routine

If your evening routine could take a tune-up, now's the perfect time to create a healthier routine focused on sleep hygiene. Turn the lights down, take a hot bath, use clean sheets, diffuse a relaxing scent, enjoy a full skincare routine, read a book or journal. It doesn't matter which activities you choose -- any of them are better than spending time scrolling on your phone before bed. A better nighttime routine will not only get you to sleep earlier, but your quality of sleep will also be much better.

Lasting changes don't happen overnight -- it takes one small decision after another to build a healthy lifestyle that sticks. So be intentional about small efforts, and you'll start to see lasting shifts that lead to the desire for more healthy swaps.

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