9 Simple Things You Can Do to Be a Happier, Healthier Person

These things are often relatively straightforward, and it's clear that life would be happier and healthier if we would just do them. Sure, some of these are easier said than done, but their premises are often simple. I wanted to share a few of my favorites:

1. Have a bedtime. Sleep is considered the third pillar of health, and for good reason. Research is only making it increasingly clear that not getting enough of the stuff can have serious health effects. Meanwhile, getting enough sleep is good for everything ranging from weight, to mood, to even the immune system. One of the simplest things you can do to ensure you get enough sleep each night is to set a bedtime. Forgive yourself if you can't meet it every night (I tell myself I need to be in bed by midnight, but life gets in the way, and all of a sudden it's 1:30 a.m.), but make a point to try to stick to it.

2. Understand what emotional intelligence is -- and make a point to cultivate it. To have emotional intelligence means to be "confident, good at working towards your goals, adaptable and flexible. You recover quickly from stress and you're resilient," psychologist Daniel Goleman previously told HuffPost. It's made up of five parts: social skills, empathy, motivation, self-awareness and self-regulation. And fortunately, these are all traits you can cultivate. Be curious about things beyond yourself. Know what you're good at and where you can stand to improve. Try to improve your ability to pay attention.

3. Take a minute.  Slowing down to appreciate life and all its little moments builds gratitude -- and that's a very healthy thing.

4. Cut out sugar where you can.Instead of drinking juice and soda with meals, opt for water. Don't buy cakes or cookies from the store, so you are not tempted to eat them at 10 p.m. Don't get me wrong, I'll still indulge in a slice of birthday cake or some ice cream. But those are treats, and treats are not meant to be eaten all day every day.

5. Find an exercise you actually enjoy. Research has even shown that whether we think of fitness as "fun" or "exercise" affects how much we end up eating. Don't think that just because you don't like "conventional" exercise -- running, going to the gym, etc. -- you're "bad at exercise." No such thing!

6. Know when to stay off your phone. This is another one of those things that is hard to work on.There are times for Instagramming and texting, and there are times where it's truly obvious you're not present because your eyes are glued to your screen. Let's all make a point to end the madness.

7. Drink more water. ot only does drinking water keep you feeling full -- so you're not ravenously hungry (and overeating as a result) -- it is also a way to not drink sugary beverages. When you're drinking water, you're not drinking soda or sugary juice.

8. Cook food yourself. Sure, on the surface, a salad is healthy. But when a restaurant loads it down with sugary salad dressing and croutons, it can be anything but. The same goes for any other food, whether it's ordered at a restaurant or found in the freezer aisle at the grocery store. What's become abundantly clear to me, is that the best way to truly know what you're eating is to just make it yourself. Your eyes may be widened at how much salt you're eating, for instance, when you're the one measuring the teaspoons into your dish.

9. Stop worrying so much. Worrying isn't actually action. Worrying is just getting in your own head, creating a spiral of worst-case scenarios (that often don't even end up happening) that is very rarely productive. Instead, focus on the present. Maintain perspective in a worrying situation, considering what's actually likely to happen. Have confidence that you will be able to make it through.

By Amanda L. Chan