1. Stop guzzling soda
Do you get a high off the “pop” followed by a “hiss” when opening a soda can? For many people, a soda addiction interferes with living a healthy lifestyle just as much as alcohol or cigarettes would.You need only basic familiarity with health concepts to know soda offers no health benefits. It’s notorious for causing obesity, kidney stones, damaging tooth enamel and a whole other slew of detriments. One can of cola contains 10 teaspoons of sugar. If you need a compelling visual of that, put 10 teaspoons of sugar into a glass to see how much you’re drinking. It takes up about half the glass!
There are abundant alternatives to carbonated sugary drinks that can help curb your sugar cravings. Flavored seltzers are all the rage right now and contain zero calories and sugar.
2. Limit technology use
Technology has become an essential part of our lives, both for productivity purposes and staying connected. But there comes a time when too much tech can have a negative impact on your health and well-being. How often do you find yourself in bed scrolling through your social feeds or catching up on email? While you may feel like you’re “catching up,” losing valuable hours of sleep can actually be detrimental to your daytime productivity. And what about your social relationships? Do you find yourself sending a text or email more often than having an in-person discussion? Take control of your technology habits by setting healthy boundaries. You’ll be happy you did.
3. Stop obsessively planning your life
Life rarely goes according to plan. Obsessing over socially constructed milestones is bad for your mental health and will prevent you from appreciating your present self and circumstances. You don’t have to get married by 30 and have a white picket fence for the kids by 35. Don’t create unnecessary stress and set yourself up for disappointment! Do what you love, relentlessly pursue your passions, and trust that it will lead you to happiness.
4. No more binge drinking
You don’t have to be an alcoholic to have a problem with binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as raising your blood alcohol content to .08 or above, or drinking roughly four to five alcoholic beverages in about two hours.
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There are a host of health problems associated with binge drinking, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, liver disease and sexually transmitted infections, not to mention that alcohol poisoning from binge drinking can kill you or force you to get your stomach pumped. This dangerous behavior might have seemed acceptable in college, but in reality, it’s dangerous at any age and has serious impacts on your health.
5. Staying with someone who doesn’t make you feel awesome
Life is too short to commit to a partner who doesn’t cherish you. If you’ve been in a relationship, you know it’s not always smooth sailing, but the foundation of your partnership needs to be solid. Ask yourself: Am I growing with this person? Do they respect my beliefs and opinions? Do I trust this person?
For a more in-depth resource, here’s a solid list of how to analyze what’s normal and what’s unhealthy in a relationship.