6 Healthy Practices that Young Adults Should Start Doing

by Dr. Jolina Andrea D. Santos, M.D.

The stage of young adulthood is the sweet spot between blissful childhood and authoritative adulthood. So, young adults are still at that adjustment period towards having a more organized and stable lifestyle.

Fast food joints and junk food tend to be their go-to meals since they are affordable and easy to prepare. Due to late-night grinds or mindless scrolling through social media, young adults also tend to go to sleep at the wee hours of the night. Exercise is also not the topmost priority on their to-do lists.

However, you will not stay young forever. Thus, it is critical to begin living a healthy lifestyle as soon as possible to avoid future diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Here are some lifestyle changes so that you can start living healthily:

Wake up early

Most young adults like to sleep in. Yet, there are likely more cons than pros that you will be facing if you continue this habit. The easiest way to fix this habit is to sleep early to get six to eight hours of sleep. 

One of the worse things that could happen if you wake up late due to sleeping late is not making it in time for an event or appointment. You would not only receive a wrong impression, but you might also push yourself to make more bad habits. 

This can also cause poor eating habits, where you would rather have an on-the-go breakfast than a balanced meal. Rushing to your destination on time can also cause stress, starting your day in the wrong direction.

Eat balanced meals and exercise

What you eat plays a key role in keeping you healthy. Avoid eating unhealthy foods like processed foods and carbonated drinks. These can cause long-term effects on your body, such as a higher risk of obesity, digestive problems, diabetes, heart problems, and many more. But, with healthy foods, your body gets to receive the nutrition it needs to function properly.

Aside from eating healthy foods, it is also essential to move your body. Once you start exercising regularly, your cardiovascular health will improve. Exercise can help deliver more oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. With improved heart and lungs, you will experience an increase in energy level. Thus, making you more capable of doing your chores efficiently.

Be more responsible

It is hard to start doing your activities and other responsibilities, especially if they’re not important and urgent. Maybe it’s because of the thought that you still have plenty of time left or because you’re just unmotivated. As a result, you tend to procrastinate, where you get to relax for the first few days then hustle at the last minute. 

Although you might think that you work better “under pressure,” that pressure is eating you away, leaving you stressed and burnt out. Procrastination leads to poor performance, reduced sleep, and stress affecting your mental health. Do your activities little by little. You will eventually finish them on or before the due date without experiencing heightened stress.

Separate workspace and sleeping area

The number one pro tip for staying productive while working at home is to separate your workspace and sleeping area. It is crucial to simulate that designated “office” at home to avoid the temptation of jumping back into bed. Worse is scrolling on your phone for hours straight, leading to procrastination.

Try having a separate workroom, as far away from the bedroom as possible. If you live at a small studio, you can try placing your working table towards the wall or a lit window. Basically, put it away from your bed or any potential mess that could distract you and affect your work. 

Enjoy some “me” time

Of course, it is also not healthy to be productive all the time. Full-time grinds can contribute to burnout and could affect your mental health. Having a designated “me” time ensures that you do not put your mental health on a pedestal. 

Pamper yourself. Have a spa day, or you can put on your favorite Korean sheet mask as you binge-watch your favorite TV show. You can also revisit your deserted hobbies like finishing the last novel in the series or picking up your art materials.  

“Me” times can vary from person to person and time. What’s important is that you should find a window to be able to unwind and destress. 

Avoid vices

Vices, when you are still a young adult, can be tempting. The ecstatic feeling of drinking or smoking is enticing. However, if you want to live a longer life, avoid those temporary pleasures. For one, you can quit smoking cigarettes to ease away your stress and prioritize your health. Smoking cigarettes won’t do your body any good in the long run.

These vices are simply not healthy for you as they can shorten your lifespan by affecting your body and mind. It is also best that you should avoid these bad habits as early as possible. You can ruin your life when you become reliant and addicted to these unhealthy practices. 

Final Thoughts

Being a young adult in today’s generation might have led you to specific lifestyle changes. This happens as you adapt to the environment and blend into society. 

You might think that waking up early is only necessary during workdays, but it can turn the course of your day around when you do it every day. You’ll have more room for making other good habits such as exercising and eating healthy foods instead of fast foods.

Alleviating stress is possible by avoiding procrastinating. Enjoying your “me” time can help you manage your mental and overall health more than you can imagine. And, of course, keeping yourself healthy by practicing food healthy habits and lifestyle can bring wonders for your health. 

Still, having the luxury of being young does not make you immune to complications and diseases. You might feel as healthy as you can ever be during this time. But with the accumulation of bad habits through the years, you would feel the consequences someday. So instead of wasting away your young years, see it is as a golden time to improve your lifestyle to meet your body’s needs as you grow older.

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