While the pandemic compelled many consumers to refocus on healthier living, 39% of Americans said in a recent survey that their health has not improved, pointing to bad habits like watching TV, unproductive time on devices, and sleeping in too late.
 
In a poll conducted by health and well-being company Juice Plus+, 58% said lockdowns have inspired a new outlook and different priorities. Still, many have developed bad habits they want to break; watching a lot more TV (27%), spending unproductive scrolling on devices (28%), and sleeping in too late (27%) were the most commonly-cited issues.
 
Over a third admitted they want to be a better person, embracing the opportunity to live their lives in a healthier and better way than before. Thirty-five percent will put their mental well-being above all else, 30% will focus on eating a balanced diet and, with a newfound appreciation for what they are putting into their bodies, 32% would like to continue cooking healthier meals more, rather than opting for a takeaway or a dinner out. 
 
Another 19% will be opting for outdoor exercise and getting as much fresh air as possible.
 
The survey also revealed that over half (54%) are confident that it will be easy to keep up with these healthy habits they developed. But that does leave 46% who will struggle to stick to their goals. Two thirds (62%) said they plan to embrace this summer.
 
The online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 7,000 adults aged 18+ in the U.S., France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Poland.
 
“What many people don’t realize, is that by taking a simple step like eating and drinking more healthily, we are affecting our own subconscious,” said Dr. Zelana Montminy, renowned behavioral scientist, positive psychologist and bestselling author of 21 Days to Resilience. “In eating well and exercising more, we are telling our brain and body ‘I am worth it’ which goes so far for affecting our moods positively and spurring us all on to keep up as many healthy habits as possible. We’re subconsciously reinforcing the positive feedback loop in our brain that builds self-worth when we’re careful about what we put into our bodies.” 
 
Expert Tips for Healthy Living
Montminy has come up with five tips to ensure Americans are living their best lives possible this summer and beyond. 
 
1) Don’t try to fake positivity. Accept all your feelings, including the negative ones. Once we’re able to acknowledge and be honest about what we’re going through, we give those negative emotions less power over us. Then we’re able to reframe our thoughts into more hopeful ones and take action to move forward.
 
2) Saying you want to stay active is great, but it requires actually building it into your calendar to carve out time, like anything else that’s important. Staying active can benefit mental health. If you have a hard time staying motivated, partner up with a friend and hold each other accountable. Instead of meeting people for a coffee, meet up for a walk and catch up while on the move.
 
3) Mindfulness isn’t just limited to meditations, and while that can be really powerful, it’s also important to practice throughout the day to be fully present in whatever we’re doing. Research has shown being engaged in the moment increases productivity and engagement immensely. Instead of bogging yourself down, create a habit and practice looking inward throughout the day, even create a timer on your phone for check-ins. 
 
4) Edit your social media feeds and contact lists. The pandemic has hopefully helped us wean toxic relationships, and figure out who we can really live without. Tune into that and use it as a tool. When it comes to social media, it’s really hard to compare our behind the scenes with everyone’s edited highlight reels. Unfollow people who make you feel like you’re not doing enough, who you’re always comparing yourself to, or who make you feel bad about yourself. 
 
5) Create a different space outside of work and home that is yours only—book club, painting studio, dance class, whatever it is that you enjoy. Make sure it’s a place or activity that you love so much that you forget where you are, so that you’re in the flow of that moment, and that it’s not related to your career or your family.