If you feel like super-healthy people float through life knowing exactly what to eat and how to move their bodies in order to be their best, most vibrant selves — and probably live until they're 110 — well, you're not entirely wrong about that.
The healthiest people in the world tend to have really great instincts. But those instincts are strengthened by strong habits that help them manage their time well, consume healthy food without feeling deprived, move enough, and get enough sleep.
If you're hoping to adopt some (or all) of those habits, we rounded up 7 habits super-healthy people swear by — and they're actually a lot easier to adopt than you might think.
They create boundaries around tech and social media
Healthy people understand that in order to thrive, they have to spend some time offline and way from their phones. One study found that the more people used the three most popular social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter—the more unhappy they felt.
While there's a time and place for social media, super-healthy people make sure to create boundaries around their technology, especially when it comes to social media.
They prioritize learning new things
Healthy people don't stick to same three interests. They're constantly pursuing a new hobby or skill, whether's it's ballroom dancing, knitting, cooking, or something else. Seeking out new information and attempting to learn new skills can help keep your brain sharp and may even stave off dementia, according to research.
They drink enough water
Drinking enough water is one of the simplest ways to stay healthy, which super-healthy people know: They keep a glass of water on their bedside table at night, and make sure to drink enough water throughout the day.
As a nice bonus, staying well-hydrated means you'll have to get up to go up to the bathroom more — and that means moving more, too. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend that men aim to drink about 15.5 cups of water per day, and women aim to drink 11.5 cups, according to The Mayo Clinic.
They make sleep a priority
Getting adequate sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your physical and mental health, and healthy people know that. The Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, and the healthiest people in the world tend to get at least seven hours every night.
Of course, this doesn't just happen magically — it happens because they make sleep a priority and practice good sleepy hygiene. This means avoiding blue light (like what comes from your computer or phone), keeping your bedroom cool and dark, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine around bedtime.
They journal regularly
Journaling comes with a tremendous amount of health benefits, including lower levels of anxiety and depression and even a stronger immune system. The healthiest people in the world make sure to carve out time to journal regularly, whether it's 15 minutes in the morning or right before bed.
They plan their meals ahead of time
Yes, healthy people do actually crave healthy food — but that's because they eat healthy food regularly and don't have diets that are high in added sugar or processed foods. Their secret to making this happen? Meal planning. They typically know what most of their meals for the week will be ahead of time, and often put some time into meal planning on Saturday or Sunday. That way, they. never end up getting too hungry, and they don't typically reach for the unhealthy, convenient option.
They move around a lot
Yes, the healthiest people in the world exercise regularly. But they also prioritize movement throughout their day, whether that means getting up and taking a short walk at lunchtime, or taking 15 minutes in the morning to move through a short yoga flow.
While it often feeling like super-healthy people have some unattainable secret that we'll never understand, that "secret" is actually just a handful of really good habits. So decide which of these habits you can reasonably develop (and take note of which ones you already have!), make a plan, and get started today.