Healthy living is about a lot more than deciding not to eat that second donut or go jogging every once in a while when you have time. It is a lifestyle change and can truly change the way you see life. The wonderful thing is that if you start to focus on healthy living, you also start to become more sensitive about living a greener life.
There are many ways you can adjust the way your life to live healthier and greener, from big changes to smaller ones. Although it’s highly encouraged that you make as many changes as you possibly can, it’s a good idea to start slowly. Begin by eating better, for example, and then move on to bigger goals like lowering your carbon footprint.
Have you been looking for inspiration to get started on actually achieving your New Year Resolutions? This article will help you get started. We’ll give you three changes you can make that will kick off your greener and healthier lifestyle. From there, you can take it further and achieve more!
Get Rid of Your Car
We start this list with something really big you can change — driving around in your car. Not only are you creating tons of carbon dioxide every year with your vehicle, but you’re also missing out on opportunities to exercise.
Of course, for many people completely getting rid of their car isn’t a realistic goal. That’s okay, but do your best to use your car as little as possible. Rather than driving to work, consider carpooling. It’s a lot greener and you can spend time with your coworkers too. You can arrange carpools for everyone in your family while you’re at it!
Instead of driving to the shops for light shopping, walk there (if it’s safe). You can burn extra calories and feel a lot less guilty if you happen to buy a treat while you’re at the bakery. Plus, driving isn’t necessarily the safest way to get around, as millions of Americans are injured on highways every year.
Eat More Berries
Healthy living often involves eating disgusting, tasteless food while you’re craving something sweet and juicy. If you eat more berries, you won’t have to suffer through that! Berries are nature’s gift to us — it is very healthy and tastes heavenly as well.
There are many benefits to adding berries to your diet. They are high in fiber, stacked with nutrients, and full of antioxidants (which we all know are necessary to be healthy). You’ll find the highest amounts of antioxidants in raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Maqui berries are also fantastic sources of antioxidants. These berries’ antioxidant content (measured by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity value is 19,850 for every 100mg. Blueberries are a bit higher, with 21,080 for every 100mg.
Not sure which berries to add to your diet? You should definitely try these:
- Strawberry
- Blueberry
- Goji berry
- Raspberry
- Bilberry
- Açaí berry
- Cranberry
- Blackberry
- Maqui berry
Save Energy
Being more energy-efficient may not do much for your health at first, but once you realize you’re helping the planet in your own little way, it will do wonders for your mental health. You can start by doing something simple like replacing your standard windows with more energy-efficient windows and doors. Doing so will also help you save on energy costs.
Be part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Star program and you can lower energy bills by anything between 7% and 15%. Use only ENERGY STAR certified products in your home and you’ll notice the difference soon enough.
Change Your Life
The three changes we discussed here will eventually lead to a major change in your life. You will be more effective at healthy living and you’ll help heal the world at the same time!
