30 Days to Better Habits

Posted by Healthy Bitch Daily on Jan 8, 2013

You spent the past month (or two) thinking “After the new year, I'll get my ass back on track.”

I know this because I’ve been saying it myself.

It's okay to fall off the wagon every now and then, sure. Jane becomes a very dull girl if she never lets her hair down. But wishing yourself back into your favorite LBD (or that skanky glitter getup, let's be real) before Valentine's Day date night ain't gonna hack it.

It only takes 30 days to form a habit—even a bad one. Read: Whatever you did from Thanksgiving to Christmas is your new routine. You need a different plan, sister.

Gym Time

Get your booty back into the gym, on the trail or into a yoga studio. Choose your activity of choice and schedule your workouts into your cute little iPhone. Make it fun. Gather a few like-minded gal pals and agree to go to that high-energy spin class with the bumpin' tunes every Monday night. Show off those cute new yoga pants at the studio by your office. Schedule a hike followed by brunch with your hunky piece of ass on Saturday mornings.

Practical tip: Make sure you have a plan at least 3 days a week and then keep a bag with your tennis and lulus in your car, so you never have an excuse to say no when one of your sporty friends calls for a last-minute run.

Breakfast, Babe

This is the most important meal of the day.( I know you’ve heard this all of your life, but still you don’t listen.) All the reasons you've heard are true, dummy. It gets your metabolism started, it gives your body fuel and it gets your digestive system moving. But it's also an important habit to keep you on track.

Practical tip: If you start your day with a green juice or a tofu-veggie scramble before you leave the house, you'll be much less likely to buy that shitty sugar-filled pastry at Starbucks and less likely to make poor decisions the rest of the day. If you start your day with the donut your assistant was kind enough to buy you, you're gonna give in to temptation more easily all day long. No bueno.

Plan Ahead

Keep snacks in your bag. Nuts, granola bars, a piece of fruit—all of these will keep you from making bad decisions on the run. If you're really serious about staying on track in 2013, pack your lunch and all of your snacks. If you avoid the heavy lunches and mid-afternoon treat, you have more leeway at dinner.

Practical tip: Plan out your "menu" for the week on Sundays (or whatever day you start your work week), hit the store and buy what you need to prep lunches for the whole week. It's easy to pack some hummus and veggies, an apple and almond butter, and a salad or veggie wrap for lunch.

Hydrate, Honey

Start your day with a glass of water with fresh lemon, and carry a bottle of water with you all day. Not only will your skin and body thank you for the hydration, you'll stay more full and satiated all day long.

Practical tip: These Camelbak bottles with the bite valve and straw have been proven in studies to help you actually drink more. Keep one at your desk, one in your car, one by your bedside, etc., so you're always stocked with wa-wa without having to lug one bottle around.

Get Your Z's

It's not cool anymore to be sleep deprived. It does not mean you're busier, more successful or more hard-working than other people if you're pulling an all-nighter and buzzing into work the next morning jacked up on caffeine. It just means you're stupid. One 2012 study found that lack of sleep quadruples your risk for stroke, and that chronic sleep dep causes all kinds of sucky stuff, like inflammation, high blood pressure and weight gain.

Practical tip: Eat and booze well before bedtime to avoid interrupted sleep patterns. Hit the sack progressively 10-15 minutes earlier each night until you're clocking in an extra hour or so of sleep. Give yourself a reason to want to hit the sack, too, like cute new jammies, sexy lingerie or a good book with some tea.

What habit would you like to change this year? Tell us in the comments sections below!

Lori Kenyon, Certified Nutrition CoachFormer corporate attorney and master of the loop-hole, in 2010, Lori co-founded the kick-ass raw organic juice company, Ritual Wellness. Lori now spends her time producing a healthy alternative to chemical ridden, nutrient void drinks in the market, and writing  to help educate people about healthy food choices.