The Two Most Important Health Habits
I was asked this question the other day - what is the most important habit I would recommend to someone to improve their overall wellness?
It is an interesting question and obviously there is not one single habit that can be recommended for every person. However, there are two categories of habits that I believe everyone should incorporate - a habit to relieve stress and a habit that allows for quiet contemplation.
We live in stressful times and nearly 85% of Americans state that they feel stressed at least once a week. Stress has a very damaging effect on both our long and short term wellbeing, potentially leading to a number of different health issues. Because of this, it is extremely important to have a go-to stress relief habit. It can be anything that helps to lower stress in the moment. Some of my favorite stress busting habits are working out, practicing breathwork, meditating, getting out in nature, and talking with a friend. Figure out what works for you and what you can regularly practice and incorporate it into your routine most days a week.
The other habit that I think everyone should incorporate into their routine is something that allows them to get quiet and spend some time cultivating self-awareness. Self-awareness is a very important and useful skill. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who lacks self-awareness? It is extremely difficult. Self-awareness is the ability to see yourself clearly, recognize how others see you, and be aware of how you fit into the world at large. It also gives you the gift of perspective and allows you to examine if how you are living is how you want to be living. Meditation and journaling are two of the best ways to cultivate self-awareness. Working with a coach or therapist is another, more intensive way to help gain perspective.
Look at your current routine and if you are incorporating habits that help you relieve stress and allow you to spend some time in quiet self-reflection. If not, try experimenting with different ones to see what you enjoy and can add to your regular routine. Personally, I love working out for stress and use a combination of meditation, journaling, and taking quiet, solo walks to help me gain perspective and cultivate self-awareness. Having these two go-to habits will make a big difference in your life and I encourage you to incorporate them regularly.
