10 Easy ways to live a healthier lifestyle

What we eat and put into our bodies is one element of overall health, but mental health is just as important (if not more important) than our physical health.

Truth be told, you don’t have to take shots of kale juice or eat quinoa cereal topped with flax seeds to be healthy. A few simple changes to the way you eat, and the way you live, will go a long way toward leading an overall healthier lifestyle:

Eat mostly unprocessed foods

I’m not saying you have to go full-blown hippie and base your diet entirely on raw foods. And no, you don’t have to give up your morning Pop-Tarts. The majority of your diet should consist of lean meats such as chicken breast or ground turkey, along with a variety of vegetables. Following the 80/20 rule and eating whole foods 80 percent of the time will go a long way. You can still have your cake.

Walk when possible

Olympic training, marathon-based running or even Cross Fit isn’t necessary for optimal health. Just don’t be a lazy. Now, park further away from your office at work, or walk to the grocery store instead of making that quarter-mile drive down the street. More activity breeds better flexibility, mobility and overall health. Your body will thank you in 20 years.

Drink less often

But in all truth, limiting your heavy drinking to just one night a week will make a huge difference in liver function.

Bring your lunch to work

Instead of grabbing a burger for the third time this week, bring a packed lunch from home. It doesn’t have to be chicken and broccoli. Just bring something, anything.Chances are, no matter what you bring, it will be an improvement over the Taco Bell value menu.

Take vacations

On a regular basis, plan a short getaway, even if only for the weekend. You have the rest of your life to be miserable working. Take a break once in a while.

Stay away from negativity

If there are people in your life who just seem to be filled with negative energy, cut them off.

Take time away from technology

In a world constantly consumed with and driven by technology, put away your phone and your computer. Even if it’s only for a couple of hours per day, it will help clear your mind. As an added bonus, you won’t have to look at pictures of that guy from your 10th grade math classes on Facebook for the fourth time this week.

Participate in physical activities

No, you don’t have to become Arnold himself. But do some sort of activity to get you off the couch, and away from binging on “House of Cards” for the third time this year. Take a hike. Go to the beach. Ride a bike, you get the idea. Physical activity relieves both physical and mental stress.

Read more:

I know you probably haven’t picked up a book for long time now, but we all have to start somewhere. Pick a topic you are interested in or want to learn more about. Maybe your thing is medieval architecture, or maybe it’s just some basic biology. Whatever floats your boat. Any type of reading will stimulate that brain of yours, and increase your intellectual capacity.

Pick up a new hobby

You know you’ve been talking about picking up golf for the past three years. Having interests outside your work and family will lead to a more fulfilling life. Explore a new craft. Picking up any new outside hobby will automatically make you appear more interesting than at least 50 percent of your friends (potentially more, depending on how lame your friends are).