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In case you’re new around here, I’m big on keeping things simple. Life is difficult and complicated enough, right?

One of my favorite ways to simplify life is to work on creating healthier habits. Once an activity becomes a habit, you don’t even think about it anymore. It’s just what you do and it hardly requires any effort.

Being healthier doesn’t have to be complicated. It definitely can be complicated but I’m convinced that it doesn’t have to be.

I’m always trying to create healthier habits and look for ways to simplify being healthier.

Below is a list of simple ways to be healthier. Each idea on it’s own might not cause a life-changing transformation but we’ve found that as we slowly work at being healthier through the little things, the result is a sustainable, healthier lifestyle.

14 Simple Ways to Be Healthier

1. Eat Plain, Whole Foods Instead of “Recipes”

It’s easier to eat healthy when we eat simply. Fresh fruits and veggies with grilled chicken is easier and healthier than most casseroles.

2. Go for a Walk After Dinner

We go for a family walk every night after dinner. It’s an easy habit and always ends up being quality time together.

3. Stretch for 10 Minutes Every Time You Turn the TV On

Before you sit down on the couch, stretch for the first few minutes of your show.

4. Pack Your Lunch the Day Before

Always pack your lunch the night before. Mornings can be rushed and making a lunch is usually the first task that gets cut, which results in fast food. Pack a fabulous lunch with these tips.

5. Bring a Bottle of Water and a Piece of Fruit With You When You Leave the House

This funny habit is healthy and saves us money because it keeps us from going through a drive-thru when one of us gets hungry.

6. Don’t Go to the Gym

That’s right, don’t go to the gym. Some of the best workouts I’ve had have been bodyweight strength exercises done at home. Going to the gym is too much fuss to me. It takes too long and is stressful. At home workouts help me keep things simple. Look at my “home gym” here.

7. Make a Fabulous Playlist that You Only Listen to When You’re Exercising

I look forward to my exercise playlist. It contains some of my favorite songs! I try to only listen to it when I’m working out to keep it special.

8. Create a Fitness Calendar

This works wonders for me. I get a check mark on my monthly calendar for every day that I work out. Seeing how many check marks I can get in a row is ridiculously motivating.

9. Cultivate a Healthy Hobby

It’s easier to be healthy when it’s fun for you! Work at finding a healthy hobby that you enjoy, like taking dance lessons, playing frisbee golf, or going for bike rides. You don’t have to be “sporty” to enjoy exercise.

10. Work on One Change at a Time

It’s hard to make a lasting change. It helps to only work on one thing at a time. I swapped my daily soda out for a healthier drink box and gave myself a week or two to adjust to the change before moving on to another healthier habit.

11. Get a Water Bottle With a Straw

It’s odd but it totally works. I drink way more water when I have a water bottle with a straw or spout instead of just drinking out of a regular bottle or cup. If I carry it around with me all day long, I drink even more. This is my favorite water bottle.

12. Make a Swap

We’ve been trying to slowly swap out our less healthy food choices for better ones. It’s made a surprisingly large difference for being such a little thing. See our most recent healthy food swaps here.

13. Everything Counts

It’s easy to get in the mindset of: “If I can’t do a full, one-hour workout at the gym, then it’s not even worth it.” This all or nothing thinking is completely wrong! I go for a few walks per day, plus I usually get in a 15 minute workout at some point. It all adds up. Do the best you can with the time you have, even if it’s only 10 minutes. It all counts!

14. Play!

Every time I see my niece, I get completely exhausted running around and playing with her! She has endless energy and wears me out. Burn some extra calories by simply playing more with the kids in your life.

I find that the more I can simplify something, the more likely I am to do it. I can plan and plan for long workouts at the gym and complicated recipes but at the end of the day, it’s just not going to happen.

By coming up with easy ways to eat healthy and be more active, I’ve become a lot healthier. Healthy routines have become a normal part of every day so that I don’t even have to think about it anymore.