10 Easy Ways to Build Healthy Habits

Reach for long-term success.

overnight oat recipes for busy mornings

Creating healthy habits is all about setting yourself up for success. If you have the right tools at your disposal and you know how to keep yourself motivated, you’ll find that making lifestyle changes is not as difficult as it seems. These 10 ways to build healthy habits lead to long-term success. We’ve found that these tips and tricks are the difference between dreaming and doing.

So if you want to learn more about ways to build healthy habits that will truly change your life, check out these tools we’ve found the most helpful.

1. Create a routine to make your mornings more productive.

The night before, pick out your clothes, pre-program the coffee maker, and plan your breakfast. It’ll make your morning roll by smoothly. While it doesn’t always seem that way, we are more productive during the mornings because we’ve just recharged our batteries. Many top executives are known for having early morning wake up times. Make the most of your mornings by having a quick and efficient routine that will cue your brain for bigger tasks. Then prioritize your to-do list so that you complete key items first. To cut down on busy morning tasks, you can even do all your breakfast prep the night before with Overnight Oats or a Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole.

2. Find books you love.

If you’ve never been a big reader, chances are you simply haven’t found the right books. Put away school reading lists and instead find something you’re really interested in. Whether it’s A Game of Thrones or a suspenseful mystery such as Gone Girl, reading can help you build healthier habits. Reading keeps you busy during your down time, but unlike television it doesn’t lend itself to mindless snacking. Nobody wants chip dust on their books! Additionally, reading keeps your mind alert which will help you be more productive throughout the day.

3. Pick one habit to improve, then track your progress.

Pick one habit you want to improve. This can be anything from drinking enough water to stretching before bed. Using a calendar or a habit-tracking app, check off every day that you accomplish your task. Research shows that it takes 21 days to create a habit. Aim to accomplish your task for 21 days in a row. If you fall off the wagon, don’t worry. Take a breather and try again.

4. Take it slow with the workouts.

Fitness has become trendy in the last couple of years, and while it’s one of the most positive trends in our community, it can also put pressure on us to be healthy all the time. Don’t expect to become a gym rat overnight. If you push yourself to do too much, too fast you can burn yourself out and even put yourself at risk of injury. Instead, find a workout you love and commit to doing it once or twice per week. As you get more comfortable, try different activities, such as Zumba, yoga, CrossFit, or sports. And don’t worry if you fall off the fitness wagon. Even professional trainers have bad weeks. Even bad years! Check out our Beginner’s Weekly Workout Plan and this 7-Day Morning Challenge, which takes just 10 minutes of your day and is designed specifically for beginners.

5. Find healthy foods you genuinely love.

It’s easy to eat healthy when you genuinely enjoy the food. Try different healthy foods and find the ones that work for you. Don’t force yourself to eat plain yogurt or drink green tea if you really don’t like the flavors. You might be more of a butternut squash soup person, or a mango lover. Browse our recipes for great meal inspirations.

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SkinnyMs.

The SkinnyMs. team believes that all people, regardless of age, size, and fitness level, have the power to transform their lives — they just need the resources to do so. The SkinnyMs. method promotes healthy living through a combination of clean eating and regular exercise. We offer everything you need to be successful.

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