Bad Habits and Healthy Alternatives
You may not realize you’ve developed a bad habit to get through the day. Habits don’t necessarily start off bad, they essentially become a part of your routine that you become accustomed to. The scary thing, however, is that some bad habits can become addictions that do nothing to improve your life or help you get through the day. Here are some of those bad habits:
- Bad Habit: Drinking Several Cups of Coffee for Energy – Having a cup of Joe in the morning to get through the day is pretty common. However, when you’ve reached the point that you need several cups of coffee throughout the day, every day, you’re asking for trouble. Too much caffeine can lead to an irregular heartbeat, the jitters, restlessness, anxiety, muscle spasms, dehydration, insomnia, and more.
Healthier Alternative – Since most would agree that they feel the caffeine in coffee provides them with the jolt they need to wake up and handle all the tasks of the day, it will be beneficial to find an alternative that provides the same jolt without the negative consequences. Drinking tea, probiotic drinks, orange juice, coconut water, and more will minimize your caffeine intake while still giving you that boost of energy you need to get through the day.
- Bad Habit: Drinking Alcohol or Using Drugs to Wind Down – There’s no arguing that getting through the day can be rough. An overcontrolling boss, rowdy children, or a nagging spouse can add to the stresses of the day. Some will take to the bottle or pop a pill as a way to relax and unwind after a hectic day. Though doing this on occasion might not have a negative impact on your health, prolonged and increased use of drugs and alcohol can quickly lead to addiction which will need to be treated with an inpatient or outpatient drug treatment program.
Healthier Alternative – There are plenty of ways to relax and unwind that don’t involve drinking or using drugs. Try reading a book, listening to music, taking yoga, meditation, exercising, take a walk, or even do something fun with your family to take your mind off of your stressful day.
- Bad Habit: Energy Drinks – The older you get the harder it is to stay energized throughout the day. Feeling fatigued is a problem for a lot of Americans, but how you deal with it can have grave consequences on your life. Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and 5 Hour Energy have become common vices to give you a boost of energy you need to make it through the rest of the day. The only problem is, they can become addicting. With large levels of caffeine and sugar in many of these drinks you could end up dealing with serious consequences.
Healthier Alternatives – You need your energy to get through the day, but it doesn’t have to contain tons of caffeine and sugar. Healthier alternatives to energy drinks include drinking water, getting a good night of sleep, green tea, protein shakes, fresh fruit smoothies, and all-natural juices containing vitamin C and B.
It might be a bit difficult to recognize a bad habit when you see one – especially when you feel like it’s helping you. The truth is; however, a lot of the things people do to wake up, get through the day, and go to sleep are dangerous when done repetitively. If you recognize your own behaviors in bad habits listed above it’s time to make a change for the better. The above-mentioned healthier alternatives should give you the strength and energy you need to have a more productive day.