The health decisions you make today can affect your health tomorrow. So, it’s important to make sure that you adopt healthy habits while you are young, so that you don’t have issues later on. Here are 5 habits you should develop today.

Cook your own meals

Learn to cook healthy meals at home. It’s okay to have takeaways every now and then, but cooking your own meals can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is because you are in control of the ingredients and quantities that you use, and you can choose healthier preparation methods – like grilling, instead of frying. Cooking your own meals can also save you a lot of money, too.

Keep active

Be as active as you can. If you can’t commit to a regular exercise routine, then take a 30 min walk daily, use the stairs instead of the elevator, take the longer-route instead of the shorter one, etc. This will make it easier for you to maintain physical health throughout your life. Staying active is not just about your weight, it also helps keep your heart, muscles and bones healthy.

Don’t abuse alcohol

Although it seems cool now to hang out with friends and binge on alcohol for fun, it can turn out to be a problem later on in life. Abusing alcohol is not good for your health, as it can cause liver damage, among other health risks. It can also lead to addiction, which is also a difficult illness to deal with.  So, start by looking at the amount of alcohol you consume now and try to reduce it. It’s also important to take a look at how you deal with stress, so you don’t develop a habit of leaning on substances to cope.

Don’t smoke

Smoking can start as a harmlesss habit but it can lead to long-term health problems (lung disease and other respiratory health issues). It can also be a really difficult and expensive addiction to cope with. If you are looking for ways to this habit, check out this article.

Use a condom

Using a condom every time you have sex can prevent lifelong consequences. Not using a condom now could lead to an unplanned pregnancy and STIs, including HIV. It’s important that you talk to your partner about always practicing safe sex and making sure that you get screened for STIs regularly. If your partner is not willing to prioritise your health and theirs, then you may need to consider whether your relationship is healthy and if there is a future.

These are just a few guidelines that you can follow in order to improve your health in the long run. Remember that a healthy life begins with the decisions you make today. So, invest in yourself, by making healthier decisions. Your future self with thank you!

If you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send me a Facebook Message, a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).