3 Steps to Living a Healthier Life as a California Resident

When people outside of the state picture Californians, they often stereotype them as healthy, fit, and tan. This comes from factors like the typically moderate weather all year, proximity to mountains and beaches, and Hollywood’s focus on a person’s looks.

But when you live there, the fact is that you’re human, prone to all the temptations and weaknesses that come with it. From donuts and sugary coffee to drugs and alcohol, it’s all part of living in a world of excess.

The only way to live healthy, even if you’re a California resident, is to make healthy choices part of your lifestyle. This can be challenging in a state where alcohol and drugs are a common part of the scene. However, CA is also known for its anti-drug stance and focus on recovery programs (learn more about these here at Studio City Recovery.)

Whether you’re new to sunny CA and want to enjoy each day to the fullest, or you’re already a resident, here are three steps to take to live a healthier life in the Golden State.

1. Step One: Learn How to Adjust Your Habits

Many people think that getting healthier means making major changes. The problem with this mindset is that you may be setting yourself up for failure.

Trying to force yourself to do something substantially different than what you’ve been doing for a long time is extremely challenging, and you may find yourself giving up because it’s so difficult. But if you attempt it in small, easier-to-tackle steps, you’re more likely to create and stick to better habits.

Maybe you’re a soda-aholic, and you know all the sugar and chemicals in your favorite drink are unhealthy. You want to switch to water, but you’ve never really liked drinking straight H2O. Start by cutting back on your soda habit and switching your beverage to flavored water. Monitor your water intake and keep pushing yourself to drink more and more until you’ve hit the recommended fluid level for your body.

The same “small bites” approach applies to everything in your daily activities that you want to improve upon. Want to get up earlier and squeeze more into your day? Set your alarm for five minutes earlier each morning until you’ve hit your optimal wake-up time.

Need more sleep? Put away your electronics 10, 20, or 30 minutes earlier each night and crawl into bed a few minutes sooner than you would normally have. Close your eyes and start training your brain to accept this new sleep time as its bedtime cycle.

Every small habit you create and sustain makes building and keeping bigger ones easier!

2. Step Two: Get Physical

Let’s use that one-bite-at-a-time habit-changing philosophy to adjust your approach to fitness. Unless you’re already someone who loves being active, exercise is as much mental as it is physical.

Once you’ve overcome the barrier of your brain telling you that you don’t want to go workout for 45 minutes and you get to the gym (or other active place), you’re more likely to get through your session.

But if you simply can’t convince yourself that a 45-minute workout is in the cards for the day, start with something active that you can do. Park towards the back of the parking lot instead of near the front. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Jog in place for five minutes on your break. Head to the nearest state park and explore the trails while you enjoy the beauty of California’s nature.

As you get used to fitting physical activity into your day, challenge yourself by extending your exercise periods or adding weight resistance to your regular walk. Join a group workout class or sign up for line dancing at a local establishment. Getting active helps fight depression, which in turn increases how easy it is to overcome your mind’s objection to working out!

3. Step Three: Change Your Diet

Eating healthy is another surefire way to improve your quality of life. However, that doesn’t mean you must give up all your favorite meals. You do need to balance them with nutritious choices that ensure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs for optimal performance, though, and this can be done with small changes.

Start by eating a healthy breakfast and avoiding sugar and refined carbs. Protein-packed items, like eggs, whole grains, or fruit, can give you the energy you need to power through the day.

In each meal, try to avoid food with added fats and sugars. The easiest way to do this is to avoid processed foods and make your meals from scratch when possible.

If you must eat “junk food,” do it in moderation. Grab a glass of water and some vegetables or fruit first so you aren’t as hungry, then enjoy your treat on a semi-full stomach and stop eating when you’re full. You’ll feel better when you walk away and say no to that slice of cake than if you eat too much of it.

Conclusion

Healthier living is a careful balance of physical and mental wellness. Enjoy the fresh air without any electronics. Love on your family, friends, and pets. Get active, eat well, and nourish your mind and body. You’ll find it’s easy to do all of this in California once you get familiar with what’s around you!