No energy? These shortcuts to better health require zero effort
Lost some of the get-up-and-go you had when the year started? Don’t worry, there’s no need to force yourself to pick up healthy habits that don’t come naturally. Fortunately, improving your lifestyle can be as simple as slipping your shoes off when you’re at home. ‘We’re all different, so what we ask of our bodies should reflect that,’ says health coach Elaine Luck. If diet plans and gym programmes are the stuff of your nightmares, try these effortlessly small changes that will have you looking and feeling healthier in no time.
Go barefoot indoors
Never have the headspace to consider your posture? Just take off your shoes. Going barefoot when you can gives your feet the freedom to work as they were designed to. This strengthens muscles, tendons and ligaments in your feet, leading to better stability, balance and posture, found Ithaca College, US.
No-weigh portion sizing
Trying to lose weight, but don’t want the hassle of digging out weighing scales? Simply measure portions of food with your hands. Here’s an easy guide to use when preparing your meals:
✱ Palm of your hand = for meat, chicken and fish.
✱ Closed fist = for fruit and starchy carbs, such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.
✱ Two cupped hands = for vegetables and leafy greens.
✱ One thumb = for nuts and cheese.
✱ Fingertip = for fats such as butter and oil.
Wake up to flowers
Looking at flowers first thing in the morning boosts mood and energy levels, found researchers at Harvard University. Not a keen gardener, but also don’t want to splurge on blooms? You can still get feel-good effects from fake ones. Keep a small bunch on your bedside table so that you see them as soon as you wake up. And you never have to change the water!
Have an ‘awe-gasm’
Being awe-inspired by breathtaking experiences – such as sightseeing on holiday or watching a live musical performance – can help relieve stress and alter our perception of time, according to one US study. No epic plans in the diary?
Save an album of photos and videos which have left you feeling inspired on your smartphone and flick through them when you’re in need of a fix.
Grab some breakfast
You’re not alone if you skip breakfast. Half of us regularly miss it, says research**. ‘This could lead to overeating later in the day,’ warns Dr Ross Perry,
