2021 has been a tough beginning for everyone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since the world is beginning to reduce in cases & places are slowly starting to open back up, making some lifestyle changes is an excellent option.
Doing this is a great way to get back on track to feeling healthy both physically & mentally. So, it’s essential to rebuild yourself. In this topic, I’ll be covering the different types of lifestyle changes you can choose to do to help change your life.
Trying any of these will be a life-changer since I developed huge benefits from doing all these during 2021.
1. Drink More Water
Drinking more water is another experience that will change your lifestyle in 2021. In my opinion, I feel that not enough people drink enough water to stay properly hydrated. Some replace water by drinking other beverages instead such as:
- Juice
- Coffee
- Soda
- Alcohol
Drinking these kinds of beverages is okay to have once in a while. But, if you replace your water intake with these kinds, you won’t feel as lively. When not drinking enough water, research says that dehydration harms exercise performance.
Therefore, it’s important to stay hydrated so that your athletic performance during exercise doesn’t deplete. During the pandemic, most people’s athletic performance may have gone downhill because of gym closures.
However, with the help of consistently drinking water, it can help cleanse the body & bring your athletic performance back to the way it was before.
2. Drink Less Coffee
On Healthline, it mentions that drinking too much coffee can cause the body to fatigue. Based on my experience, I have felt the effects of this during 2020 & the first few months of 2021. Coffee is known to be an energy booster for people.
But, the opposite effect will occur when you have too much. To avoid feeling fatigued throughout your day, drinking less coffee or cutting it out is the answer. Once you make the change, you’ll feel a huge difference in how you feel during your day.
3. Get Into Boxing
In my opinion, the pandemic may have caused most people’s energy levels to drop to a low. But with the recommendation of getting into boxing, you’ll be able to obtain the energy levels you once had in no time.
Boxing is not only good for developing cardiovascular performance but also the confidence to defend yourself.
4. Get Into Muay Thai
Speaking of Boxing, another martial arts discipline you should learn is Muay Thai. The intensity of training is the same, but the techniques you pick up & overall workout is different.
Learning the art of 8 limbs is a fun discipline to learn because you’re adding kicks, knees, & elbows into your workouts. So, it makes your training more interesting if you add this into your workout regime in 2021.
5. Get Into Wrestling
Another martial art discipline that will change your life would be wrestling. Wrestling is a tough grappling-based sport that tests you both physically & mentally, which changes you in ways you can’t even imagine in 2021.
The physical & mental toughness you build from this discipline becomes a powerful asset. Therefore, obtaining it will help you overcome the tough times you endured during the pandemic.
6. Get Into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
7. Get Into MMA
Besides trying to get into Boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, & Wrestling, MMA is another one to learn where all disciplines are involved. MMA is a whole different beast when it comes to training because mixing striking and grappling can be intense.
So it’s considered a lifestyle change because learning to mix different martial arts disciplines allows you to be a well-rounded martial artist. Once you become well-rounded, your confidence rises to an even higher level.
If your confidence level dropped during COVID-19, getting into MMA can help bring it back up.
8. Eat More Fruits & Vegetables
Besides eating lots of meat & carbohydrates-based foods, adding more fruits & vegetables portions will make you feel so much better in 2021. The amount of vitamins, fibres, proteins, & other nutrients is excellent for many things for the human body.
Therefore, consuming all the sources of nourishment will be beneficial towards your digestive & cardiovascular health. “Orlando Health” mentioned that eating more fruits & vegetables is also excellent for helping you to lose or prevent weight gain.
So, if you’re the type that wants to lose that COVID weight, start adding more fruits & vegetables to your diet.
9. Weight Training
If you want to feel more energized & strong throughout your day, weight training is another option to get into. Lifting weights is a life changer for sure because of the benefits such as:
- Building strength
- Stress relief
- Muscle development
- Activating Endorphins
- Developing stronger bone density
Weight training is excellent to get into, especially after experiencing the rough obstacles during the pandemic.
Some of us have experienced:
- A depletion in energy
- Loss in muscle mass
- Weight gain
- Stress level increase
10. Go Out For Runs
Most people have a love & hate relationship when it comes to running outside. The uncomfortable feeling that people feel through their lungs sucks, but it’s the best way to develop unbelievable cardio.
Once that is developed, it becomes life-changing because you’ll feel an increase in your energy levels. Newfound energy like this makes you feel more lively throughout your days. Therefore, you have the spirit to do many tasks & activities with good positivity.
Activities such as:
- Working Out
- Yard Work
- Biking
- Hiking
- Work-related tasks (E.g. Office Work, Construction work, Cooking tasks, etc.)
11. Intermittent Fast
Are you the type that is tired of feeling sluggish after eating lots of food during COVID-19? If you are, doing an intermittent fast would change the way you are feeling. Lifestyle changes like this are a great way to lose or maintain weight.
Therefore, you will feel so much better throughout your day & not feel as guilty for eating so much food during the pandemic.
12. Go Out For Walks
During the pandemic, in my opinion, most people were glued to their TV & phones while being at home since some believe there’s nothing else to do.
Instead of sitting at home overwhelming yourself watching TV or being on your phone browsing through social media, get away from that for a bit & go out for walks. A lifestyle change like this makes you appreciative of what’s around nature.
So, going out to enjoy the outdoors will allow you to reset the mind & also relieve any anxiety or stress. If you’re the type who has done this during the pandemic, continue with it & add it to your lifestyle.
On the “Better Health Channel,” it mentioned that continuing on with doing this helps you:
- Enhance your cardiovascular & pulmonary fitness
- Increased muscle strength & endurance
- Develop stronger bones & improved balance
It may be low-intensity movement, but staying active by walking is still effective for keeping physically & mentally sane.
Conclusion
From 2020 to 2021, COVID-19 has been a depressing time for most people. Cases are continuing to drop, but we are all hoping that it’s close to the end of it. If it does, consider trying out any of the lifestyle changes mentioned in this topic.
Trying them allows you to reinvent yourselves to become a better version than you ever were before in 2021. So, hope these “12 lifestyle changes” can help you get you to new heights to help you live a healthy life.
If you have any more questions about the “lifestyle changes” that’ll change your life in 2021, please leave a comment or send us a message.
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Hi there! I’m Austin, editor & owner of the Mixed Martial Arts Life or Lifestyle (MMAL) blog. Martial Arts have been one of my biggest passions for years & I have spent most of my life learning different types of disciplines. To find out more about my adventures & passion for martial arts, read all about it here on my blog.
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