Bad habits are something most of us have to contend with at some point in life, and while some vices are easy to eliminate over time, others aren’t quite as simple to kick to the curb. At a time when we’re prioritising our health more than ever in light of the recent global pandemic, many of us are looking for new ways to boost our vitality and prove our sense of wellbeing, and while implementing new, positive habits is a great way to go, papering over the cracks of the things we do that are detrimental to these ultimate goals is only ignoring the problem.
From reaching for your phone or your cigarette packet the moment you wake up to enjoying a few too many glasses of champagne throughout the week, there’s no time like the present to make the changes you’ve been considering for so long – particularly with the season of excess looming. Here are some of the most common vices, and how to go about eliminating them from your life now to feel instantly refreshed and renewed.
Indulging in too much champagne? Try Sober October
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a tipple, and fine wines and quality spirits are an indulgent source of pleasure for many of us – but if you’re finding yourself topping up your glass a little more often than you’d like, then now is a great time to consider cutting back.
According to the NHS and various other health organisations, the recommended alcohol intake is no more than 14 units per week, and regularly exceeding that can put you at risk of a raft of health issues – from unwanted weight gain to high blood pressure, liver disease and more. But the good news is that reducing your consumption now can quickly begin to improve your physical health – and within just a couple of weeks, you may notice some subtle changes such as better sleep and feeling less anxious.
With Sober October – which takes place every year in aid of MacMillan Cancer Research – looming, it’s a great excuse for a detox. Of course, if you’re struggling with addiction then it’s important to seek medical advice as opposed to going cold turkey alone, but if you’ve simply been living it up a little too much, then why not sign up to the challenge and raise some money for a great cause?
Find yourself reaching for your phone each morning when you wake? Reduce your screen time by doing this
Over recent years, we’ve all become heavily reliant on technology – not least of all, our smartphones. But reaching for yours the second you wake up in the morning, whether it’s to check emails and messages or do a bit of shopping at your favourite designer boutique, is an unhealthy habit that can be detrimental to your mental health and overall sense of wellbeing, leaving you feeling anxious and stressed before you’ve even set foot out of bed. Not only that, but excessive screen time can result in eye strain, so if you already work in front of a computer all day, then cutting back where you can is wise.
An easy way to do just that is to switch your phone off at night and leave it outside of your bedroom. Doing so an hour before you plan to go to sleep and spending that time reading and relaxing instead will ensure you sleep better and wake up feeling well rested – and having it out of reach will mean you can’t start scrolling immediately upon waking up the following morning. Give yourself an hour – or 30 minutes, at the very least – to wake up at your own pace, and try using the time to meditate or do a journaling exercise so that you start the day feeling calm, collected and ready to face anything.
Smoking more often than you’d like? Get a strategy in place to help you quit
Smoking is another unhealthy habit that can bring with it a raft of unsavoury health issues, including lung disease – but on a brighter note, if you quit now then you can enjoy an instant improvement on your respiratory health. Not only that, but you’ll likely see your energy levels surge and your hair and skin will look all the better for it – and even better, because the lungs are self-cleaning, they have the ability to gradually heal and regenerate once you stop reaching for the cigarettes.
There are a variety of different ways to quit – from using a stepping-stone approach like vaping with e-cigarettes or using nicotine patches to bridge the gap before eventually weaning yourself off. But before you stock up on vape juice, pay your GP a visit and request their advice, as they will be able to suggest an approach that will work best for you and your circumstances, and ensure that you don’t ultimately just end up replacing one habit with another.
