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 However, these incredibly important aspects of
daily life have significant influence on our long-term quality of
life. With Americans living longer, it is more important than ever
we strive to live a healthy lifestyle to truly enjoy our golden
years.
How do we live better? We live better by adopting healthy daily
habits, which then become routines helping to prevent and manage
lifestyle diseases. Lifestyle diseases are any disease associated
with the way a person or group of people live. Obesity, type 2
diabetes, heart disease and diseases associated with inactivity,
smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse are all examples of lifestyle
diseases. They result from a combination of factors such as our
genetics and physiology as well as our environment and personal
behaviors.
We should all strive to live a healthy lifestyle, no matter our age.
A healthy lifestyle includes consistently consuming nutritious
foods, engaging in regular physical activity, effectively managing
stress, and getting adequate sleep.
Our lifestyle consists of many daily routines and habits.
Establishing and maintaining healthy routines and habits, may sound
like they are the same. However, they are two different behaviors.
A routine is a repeated behavior involving a brief
time commitment, requiring little conscious thought. A habit much
like a routine, requires little conscious thought, however it
requires a cue. And after a prolonged absence of the cue, the habit
may gradually no longer exist. Whereas a routine is not dependent on
a cue. [to top of second
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A study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology,
reported it took on average 66 days before habits became automatic for
participants. However, more complex combinations of behaviors, such as physical
activity behaviors took 1.5 times longer to become automatic compared to eating
or drinking. Therefore, when adding new health behaviors (habits) to your daily
routine it is important to understand it will take time and persistence to make
them part of your overall lifestyle.
Tracking your habits is a great way to develop healthy routines. Tracking
motivates you to act by providing a visual cue about your accomplishments. And
it allows you to see your progress on the days you need reassurance. Tracking
also holds you accountable. Knowing you will need to track your activity for the
day will help you to stay consistent, while providing a great sense of
accomplishment when completed. Tracking will also allow you to gain
self-awareness to help you live your best life.
[Source: Diane Reinhold, MPH, MS, RDN
References: Arlinghaus, K. and Johnston, C.
Lally, P., Jaarsveld, C., Potts, H. and Wardle, J.
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