If you are a man and are in need of a few healthy habits, then this list below will definitely help you out!
Trying to live a healthier lifestyle can be quite tough.
Especially in this day and age, where we are surrounded by a lot of stress, uncertainty and lots of easy, unhealthy food options.
When we are younger men, in our late teens and early to mid 20s, we don’t really have to worry too much about our health and our lifestyle choices.
But there comes a point in time where you need to take some responsibility about it, and begin living a healthier life!
Small changes can make a big difference, and that’s where a lot of healthy habits come into play.
In this article, I am laying down the best healthy habits that most men who take their health seriously practice on a regular basis.
Some of these healthy habits seem pretty simple, but they do help!
30 Effective Healthy Habits for All Men
See also:
- Push Up Benefits: 10 Reasons Why Every Guy Needs To Do Push Ups
- How To Jump Rope Like A Pro: Perfect For Beginners
Below are some awesome healthy habits for men which you can start implementing right away!
1. Eat More Fruits & Vegetables
I know I probably sound like an annoying parent here, but there are so many adults who simply don’t eat enough fresh produce.
Fruits and vegetables are so important to being a healthy and happy individual.
The list of benefits you get from consuming them regularly goes on and on.
Make sure you are taking advantage of all the various nutrients found in natural produce.
Next time you want to snack on a packet of crisps, grab a banana instead!
2. Exercise Regularly – Start a Fitness Routine
It’s easy to completely forget about exercise when you are focussing on building a family and a career.
But the worst thing you can do is to let yourself go, because trying to get back to a decent level of fitness won’t be easy.
If you want to know how to start an exercise routine, then make sure to check out this article.
3. Have a Good Morning Routine
You can set your day up pretty well if you have a solid morning routine.
It doesn’t have to be anything special, but taking a few minutes to get your day started can make all the difference.
If you aren’t sure how to go about getting a good morning routine going, then check out this example!
4. Stretch Your Body More
Many people don’t realize just how valuable stretching a few minutes is for your body.
Not only does it improve your flexibility, but it helps in many other areas of everyday life.
It ensures your muscles are taken care of after working out, keeps you loose and ready to move about all day, and it’s good for your back.
There are tons of different stretches you can do at home, but here are 7 good stretches which you can start with!
5. Practice Mindfulness & Meditation
Personally, I do find meditating to be quite tough.
It’s difficult to try and calm your mind to a complete standstill.
But it is beneficial for you.
There are many proven benefits that come from meditating, such as reduction in stress, improving your focus and your compassion, you’ll feel a lot better, and more!
If you don’t know how to start practicing meditation, then watch this video below.
6. Cardio is Your Friend
You need to give your heart a workout every so often. Especially if you want to reap the rewards later on in life.
Cardio and a healthy diet are the best ways to achieve this.
Now cardio doesn’t mean that you should be running a few miles a day. There are many different ways to get in a good cardio workout.
You do get a cardio workout done through using tools such as a jump rope or a few HIIT workouts!
7. Listen to Your Body
I have started doing this more and more often, and it really helps.
Often we don’t tend to listen to what our body actually wants, and just keep on doing the same thing day in and day out.
If you feel worn down, or you can feel that your body needs a rest, then give it a rest.
Simple as that!
8. Walk More
Simply making an effort to walk more will actually help you out both physically and mentally.
Longevity has long been linked with people who walk a lot. On top of that, there are many benefits that come from being a daily walker.
It can help you lose weight, it’s good for blood circulation, you’ll feel better and it’s good for your mind!
9. Eat Less Red Meat
Don’t get me wrong, I love some red meat jus as much as any other guy, but it is a good idea to cut down on it every now and then.
Eating too much red meat is known not to be good for you. Especially your heart and your gut, so try and have a few days where you give your body a break from it.
If you aren’t sure how the hell to make a vegetarian meal, then here are 10 meal ideas for you!
10. Be More Positive
Trying to see the positive sides of things as often as possible will definitely make you feel better, and can strengthen your mental health.
It’s easier said than done, but trying to remain as positive as possible really is a good, healthy habit!
11. Do Something For Someone Else
No matter how big or how small, doing something for someone else makes on feel good.
That’s just a fact.
You’ll feel good, be a bit more content, and it this will have a positive impact on you as a whole.
12. Breath Work
I have found various articles and videos online explaining how most of us don’t breathe deeply enough, so I started finding new ways to do some conscious bretahing everyday.
Not only is this beneficial to your physical health, but it’s good for the mental side of things too.
There is a lot of good content out there explaining different ways to breathe better.
Wim Hof is one example.
Make sure to check it out!
13. Schedule Time Just For You
Lately, I have started loving having a bit of alone time on a daily basis.
It’s easy to always just be around people.
Whether it’s family, friends or colleagues, we always seem to be around people.
Give yourself a solid 30 minutes a day where it’s just you.
Trust me, it’s awesome to be alone with just your thoughts!
14. Take The Stairs
One thing that annoys me is when physically capable people take the elevator up two levels.
Unless you have an injury or simply aren’t able to walk up stairs, you should always try your best to take the stairs.
This is such a good habit to have, and you can add a lot of mileage to your body by simply opting for the stairs!
15. Try Fasting Every Now & Then
I am a huge fan of intermittent fasting.
Will, the other bald brother, is not as into it as myself.
But I love it.
Now fasting isn’t for everyone, and it might even have negative results for some, but it works well for me.
I do a 16 hour fast most days, which is quite easy.
If intermittent fasting is something which might interest you, then check out this quick guide.
16. Take Cold Showers
The one thing which simply does not come naturally to most people!
Cold showers suck.
Especially if you live in an already cold climate.
But they are super good for you, so it’s definitely worth trying to love them.
They have quite a few benefits, which include immune boosting, stress reduction and more.
Check out the full list of cold shower benefits here, and try them out!
17. Start Your Day Off With a Glass of Water
Every single day when I wake up, the first thing I reach for is some water. I’ll have about half a litre before even going to the bathroom.
This helps to get your metabolism going, gives you energy and rehydrates your body. Remember, you have just gone about 8 hours without any liquids!
A lot of people simply don’t drink enough water on a daily basis.
Studies show that drinking water can actually aide weight loss. So make sure you are hydrating yourself well enough!
18. Wash Your Hands Regularly
Washing your hands correctly a few times a day keeps bad germs away!
I have met some guys who literally never wash their hands, and that’s pretty messed up.
Keep them hands clean!
Unless you busy training outside, then in that case stay dirty!
19. Have Your Grooming Essentials
It’s a good idea to make sure that you, as a man, have those few grooming essentials nearby at all times!
Simple items, such as a good moisturizer and face cream, are important to keep the skin healthy.
20. Don’t Over Eat
Lately I have started this one habit whenever I eat, and it’s been a game changer.
I’ll eat a normal size plate of food rather slowly, and I’ll stop for 10-15 minutes after.
Even if I still feel hungry, I give my body time to adjust, then after 15 minutes I see if I am still hungry.
This has lead to me not over eating anymore.
Most of the time, we do tend to stuff a bit too much food in our mouths!
Eat slow, and wait a bit before going for seconds.
You’ll thank me later!
21. Make an Effort To Move More
Do you often find yourself stuck in one place for a bit too long?
It might be at your work desk, on the couch or on the bed.
This can become quite a bad habit, so make sure you get up and about every so often!
It’s always a good idea to take a break from your desk every 30 minutes.
Even if it’s just to go for a quick walk around the house or office.
22. Do Bodyweight Workouts
Bodyweight workouts are awesome.
Not only can you do them from anywhere on Earth, but they actually do work pretty well.
Oh, and did we mention that they cost absolutely nothing?!
Over the past year we have put together some really good bodyweight workouts on this site.
So make sure to check them out!
23. Cook More Meals At Home
It’s a fact that every time we eat out, we usually eat a bit too much or a few too many unhealthy things.
Cooking at home keeps things a bit more healthy, and it’s good on the wallet.
24. Start Jumping Rope
Jumping rope is an effective workout, and it’s also a lot of fun!
It might be old school, but it works damn well.
Being able to jump rope is a skill in itself, so you need to put in hours of practice.
Once you get started, you do work in the jump with almost any bodyweight workout.
25. Do More Pushups
Like jumping rope, push ups are old yet effective.
We love doing push ups, and try and encourage guys to do more on a daily basis!
If you haven’t done so yet, then sign up for our push up challenge where we complete 3000 push ups in one month!
26. Figure Out Ways to Manage Your Stress
Stress is the cause of so many people’s mental and physical health declines.
Unfortunately it’s always going to be a part of our lives, so instead of trying to get rid of it, we should try and manage it.
Easier said than done, right?
How one manages stress depends on you!
Everyone is different, so what works for me might not work for you.
What I have found to work is breath work, exercise and some alone time.
27. Strengthen Your Core
For a few months a while back, I completely neglected my core.
And you know what happened next? My back was starting to constantly pain.
Having a strong core is important to support your back.
Many guys make the mistake of thinking that the core is the same as just having six pack abs.
It’s not quite the same.
So you got to make sure you only only working your abs, but your whole core too.
A good way to work the core is by doing isometric workouts.
28. Eat More Ginger & Garlic
Ginger and garlic are really good for you!
Nature’s medicine, as many like to call them.
And luckily for us, they taste great too. I love adding garlic to savory dishes, and with ginger I simply add a few slices to any cup of tea!
29. Read More
Reading is good for you.
Not only can you learn new things, but it’s a good mental and social break from everything else going on in the world.
Not sure what to read?
Check out this list of 40 best books for men!
30. Smile!
Sounds simple, but smiling actually makes you feel good if you try and do it more often, and directed at people.
Try it out and see how you feel after a few days!
Conclusion
If you haven’t tried these healthy habits before, then you really should.
They can only make your life a little bit better!
Do you practice any other healthy habits that might be beneficial to all of us?
If so, let us know, and we can add them to the above list of healthy habits!
Cheers,
Richard