Having a healthy lifestyle means adopting habits that are good for our health. This includes things like eating balanced meals, staying active, getting enough sleep, and managing stress. On the flip side, living in an unhealthy way often involves things like eating too much unhealthy food, not moving enough, and ignoring our mental well-being. Changing old habits can be tough, but there are ways to make our lifestyle healthier.

Before diving into the how-to, let’s discuss the why. Why choose a healthier lifestyle now? Firstly, it offers the opportunity to extend your lifespan. With good health, you’ll make fewer visits to hospitals and attend fewer doctor’s appointments—appointments we’d rather avoid. Additionally, insurance experts note that healthier individuals enjoy lower premiums. These are just some of the perks of embracing a healthy lifestyle. There are many more advantages to explore.

To live a healthy life, be conscious of what you put in your mouth. Ask questions like, Is it too sweet, oily, or salty? When you wake up in the morning, notice how you feel. Do you feel like you had enough sleep during the night? If not, adjust your bedtime and stick to it. Pay attention to your water intake. Make sure to always stay hydrated. Read books about health and get some ideas. Most of all, pick good tips that you can implement.

I know two people who are both 76 years old. One visits his doctor regularly, struggles to walk, has heart disease, and is generally weak. On the other hand, the other person wakes up at 5:30 a.m., runs regularly, and drives for his wife four times a week. The contrast in their lifestyles is a clear lesson on the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle as early as possible.