Hey, it’s your favorite benefits connoisseur Clarity Claire here to talk about one of my greatest passions: health and wellness!
When you think of wellness, you might think of things you want or need to add to your life to make it more well-rounded and healthy. For example, you might think the ticket to wellness is more sleep, an extra few minutes at the gym or adding healthier foods to your diet.
And while all of those actions certainly are important, did you know subtracting unhealthy things from your everyday routine can be just as (if not more) impactful than adding healthy things?!
We’re all guilty of indulging every now and then, but there’s no denying that some habits carry a heavier weight than others.
Here are a few habits you can consider quitting to benefit your overall health and wellness.
Take a look at some unhealthy and unhelpful habits everyone should quit.
10 Things to Quit to Simplify your Life and Health
- Processed Foods
Processed foods are often high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats and lack the essential nutrients that your body needs to thrive.
When you start giving them up, you can experience a range of health benefits like improved nutrient intake, reduced inflammation, better digestive health, better weight management and increased energy levels. Who doesn’t want that?!
While giving up processed foods, consider substituting them for nutrient-dense whole foods that have a great positive impact on your health.
- Sugary Drinks
Sugary beverages like soda, energy drinks and sports drinks are high in added sugars and calories and offer little to no nutritional value. Not to mention, they can often be very addictive.
Giving up these kinds of drinks can help you improve your hydration, reduce your risk of type-2 diabetes, promote healthier teeth and gums and lower your risk of heart disease and other complications.
If you still need a little sweetness in your life, no worries! You don’t have to cut out sweet drinks entirely. Consider using natural sweeteners or plant-based sugar substitutes like monk fruit or stevia to sweeten your morning coffee or afternoon tea.
- Smoking
It’s no secret that smoking is a harmful and addictive habit that can lead to a wide range of health problems, from lung cancer to heart disease. However, quitting smoking can have a number of positive impacts on your health, well-being and even your mood.
When you give up smoking, you reduce your risk of developing cancer and can experience better lung function, improved cardiovascular health, better oral health and less stress and anxiety.
- Sedentary Lifestyle
Speaking of smoking, did you know many health experts are calling prolonged sitting the “new smoking”?
A sedentary lifestyle, or a lifestyle with little to no physical activity, can have a number of negative impacts on your health and well-being. However, making an effort to be more physically active at home and at work can have positive impacts on your health.
These impacts can include reduced risk of chronic diseases, improved mental health, improved weight management and metabolism, better sleep and overall increased energy and stamina.
- Alcohol
While alcohol is a common social and recreational substance, it can also have a number of negative impacts on your health and well-being.
When you give up consuming alcohol, you can experience improved liver function, reduced risk of certain cancers, more restful sleep and overall improved health from your heart to your immune system.
Still want to enjoy the social experience of enjoying a drink with drinks? Consider a “mocktail”! Many restaurants and bars now offer alcohol-free options for those who are sober or who just want to enjoy the social scene without the guilt.
- Lack of Sleep
Now, it may seem like an impossible task to just tell your body to sleep more, but getting more sleep can actually be tied to many of the other items on this list.
From exercising more to cutting out social media before bed, getting an adequate amount of sleep and enjoying a full night’s rest instead can lead to improved moods, better cognitive function and even a reduced risk of chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes.
- Stress
Stress is an unavoidable part of life, so it’s not realistic to quit stressing completely. But chronic stress can have a number of negative impacts on your physical and mental health.
Practicing mindfulness activities like yoga, meditation or going to therapy can significantly reduce your stress levels.
Reduced stress can lead to improved mental health, better sleep and improved immune function.
- Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk is “any inner dialogue you have with yourself that may be limiting your ability to believe in yourself and your own abilities and to reach your potential.”
Giving up this one might take some significant work, but it’s not impossible! When you’re feeling overly critical of yourself, try to remember that some thoughts and feelings aren’t true to your reality.
Channeling those negative thoughts into something proactive and realistic can help ground your feelings and separate your true self from your inner critic, which can boost your mood, reduce anxiety and increase your resilience. (That sounds pretty good to me!)
- Procrastination
Procrastination is a common issue that can interfere with productivity, success, and overall well-being.
When you give up procrastination and prioritize proactivity, you can experience increased productivity, creativity and innovation while reducing your stress, improving your time management skills and enhancing your overall confidence!
- Overworking
Overworking is a common issue that can have negative impacts on your health, productivity, and overall well-being. Not to mention, it can drain the spirit and morale out of the workplace.
Giving up overworking in favor of a more stable work-life balance can help you reduce stress significantly, which can lead to improved physical and mental health.
Quitting Bad Habits is the New Winning
These 10 unhealthy habits are just a few of the most popular activities many people struggle with, but it’s not an all-inclusive list. Are there any habits in your life you’re looking to quit?
If so, start by identifying a specific motivation for making the change. That will help you visualize a greater goal and keep you focused on the positive benefits you want to achieve.
So, what will you quit first?
Looking for Some Inspiration?
Part of our mission at Clarity Benefit Solutions is to subtract complex or unnecessary things from your life. From benefits programs to employee benefits to healthy habits, we want to champion a life lived well.
That’s why we’re so happy to celebrate National Simplicity Day on July 12! Leading up to the celebration, we’ll have a special contest and giveaway that you don’t want to miss! Visit nationalsimplicityday.com for all the details and even more simplicity tips.
Be well!
-Clarity Claire
