Health means something different, and looks different, to everyone. We also know that habits are incredibly important when it comes to building a healthy life. It’s what we do most of the time that has the greatest impact on our overall health and well-being.
Given this, we need to make it as easy as possible to build good habits, making them a part of our everyday life instead of a difficult choice to contend with each day.
Here are a few ideas for healthy habits for vegans and the vegan-curious, whether you follow a vegan diet yet or not.
Find an activity you love
Physical activity can make us feel great and put some pep in our step. And there are so many options to choose from! A dog walk, a dance class or an intense cleaning session fuelled by your favourite music all count. Movement is a celebration of what our bodies can do, not a punishment for ‘being lazy’ or ‘overdoing it’.
Introducing or adding classes to your routine is a great way to keep exercise interesting. Have a look and see if there are any fun classes or free groups near you. Exercising with others is really helpful, as it will keep you accountable and you’ll have the added bonus of socialising.
Eat the rainbow
Going vegan doesn’t mean giving up your favourite foods and we all love the occasional treat or the convenience of a meal or snack, including processed foods. However, it’s really important to eat a variety of colourful foods and to strive for a balanced diet. There are so many ways to eat a healthy vegan diet depending on your preferences and many health benefits to gain from eating the rainbow.
It’s easy to fall into the routine of eating the same few meals on rotation, whether you eat animal products or not. Why not get into the habit of picking out a fruit or vegetable you don’t usually eat when you do your regular food shop and see what you can make from it?
If your meal is looking a little beige, throw in a colourful extra ingredient – perhaps some halved olives, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin seeds or a green leafy vegetable such as spinach – and enjoy the new flavours and textures.
Visit vegansociety.com/thriving to discover delicious meals to support a well-planned vegan diet.
Talk about your feelings
We all know the relief of sharing something that’s been on your mind and feeling like a weight has been lifted. It can be hard to open up if you’re not in the habit, but once you start it will become so much easier.
Stress and anxiety weigh us down and can result in many physical health issues, such as back pain, digestive problems and sleep issues. Talking it out will make your mind – and your body – feel better.
It also sends a wonderful signal to those around you that it’s OK to be vulnerable and share the not-so-Instagrammable side of life. This can result in closer connections with those around us.
If you’re struggling to process your feelings, charities such as Mind and Rethink Mental Illness have some great resources.
Listen to your body
By tuning into ourselves and listening to how we feel, we can avoid injuries, learn from our hunger and satiation cues, and also pick up on any issues which could benefit from an expert’s opinion.
Remember that your body will feel different depending on the time of day, the season and what your current lifestyle is like. If you have a menstrual cycle, this can also have a profound effect on your mood and energy levels.
You are the ultimate expert on your body. If something doesn’t feel quite right, make sure you bring this up – with an expert, if necessary. If your concerns are brushed off or minimised, find a new expert.
Keep learning
Keeping our bodies active is a sure way to improve our chances of feeling our best, but it’s really important to keep our minds active too. From reducing stress to improving confidence, learning keeps our brains healthy and active.
The possibilities are endless – from learning a new language, to working out the rules to a new board game – it’s never too late to try something different. And this really is the spice of life – you never know what new passions you might discover.
Visit vegansociety.com/thriving for more tips and delicious plant-based recipes.
The views expressed by our bloggers are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
