A common misconception around personal health is that in order to be healthy you have to be extremely active and fit. To plainly put it, this cannot be farther from the truth.
Physical health is only one part of obtaining a healthy body. Mental and emotional well-being also need to be considered when tailoring your lifestyle to be healthier.
With that said, it can be hard to stick to healthy lifestyle choices when first starting. Below are some easy and manageable health and wellness tips you can try.
1. Maintain a Healthy Sleep Schedule
In the United States, roughly 70 million people suffer from chronic sleep disturbance. Consistently failing to achieve a well-rested sleep will detrimentally impact your health. The main cause behind this statistic is due to unhealthy amounts of stress.
For this reason, you must try and reduce stressful situations as much as possible. Before bed, you can try different activities to help calm you down and relax your body. This may include yoga, deep breathing, and reducing screen time.
Over the counter medication like melatonin may also be beneficial for those who have a harder time falling and staying asleep. If all else fails you may want to consider a sleep study to get to the root of the issue.
When following sleep-related tips on health and wellness you should always structure them to your own schedule. For example, 7 hours of sleep is considered to be a healthy amount according to professionals.
Your body may not conform to this standard. You may find that you only need 6 hours of sleep compared to your partner who needs 9 hours. To find out what works best you should monitor your sleeping habits and take note of when you feel the most rested.
2. Take Technology Breaks
Detaching yourself from your numerous technological devices may not be an easy feat although it is necessary. Research shows that prolonged screen time, specifically when using social media, increases rates of depression.
For this reason, you should make sure to take scheduled breaks from your devices. These breaks give you more time to spend on healthier activities that benefit your overall health. Some ways you can spend this time include:
- Working on your hobbies
- Spending time with family
- Cleaning up around your home
Each of these tasks is much more productive than scrolling on your social devices. By scheduling time each day to work on any of these areas you will begin to see a massive change in your psychological state of mind.
3. Set Goals for Your Health
Setting measurable goals is a fast way to stay on track with your newly implemented health-conscious lifestyle. You want to ensure that these goals are realistic and attainable- otherwise, you may get discouraged quickly.
It’s recommended that you start with smaller goals like eating more consciously for the first few weeks. You can always adapt your goals if you feel like they are not working for you.
Some examples of goals may be losing a certain amount of weight, being more active each day, or practicing new activities like mindfulness. Once you’ve got a list of goals, you should post them in a place that makes them accessible.
Posting the list on your fridge is an ideal location. Since you enter your kitchen, and your fridge, daily, it is a great way to remind yourself of your goals and help you stay motivated.
4. Protect against the Flu
Without a doubt, one of the best things you can do for your health this year is to be proactive when facing flu-like colds. The best thing to do is stay home if you feel sick, and wash your hands frequently. Needless to say, you must use warm water, soap, and scrub for at least twenty seconds. Flu shots are also regularly available in most US cities, for little or no cost to anyone who wants one. Check your local pharmacy or grocery store, and you may need to sign up online to confirm your appointment.
5. Pamper Yourself
Now and then it’s important to treat yourself when maintaining your physical and mental well-being. These treatments could be anything you find relaxing but are unable to do daily. In general, most people seek different therapies to help them unwind.
Before scheduling appointments, it is recommended that you research the different types of therapies available. For example, when comparing massage therapy vs physiotherapy, you should understand each practice and how it could benefit you.
Alternatively, spa days are another way you can choose to pamper yourself. Regardless of your preference, it is imperative that make time to schedule them every couple of months.
6. Regulate Your Gut Health
Gut health may not be the most glamorous topic to talk about however it plays a major role in maintaining good health. You can improve your digestion through a consistent intake of vegetables at every meal.
Also, probiotics are great for gut health. Fortunately, many foods contain probiotics such as yogurt, kimchi, and saurekraut. You may also want to include magnesium supplements into your diet as they help you better digest food.
7. Exercise and Drink Water Regularly
The most common and truly worthwhile daily health and wellness tips you can follow are exercising and drinking water often. Staying active boosts your cardiovascular system and helps you fight several diseases.
Also, exercise is a great way to burn off excess energy and decrease stress levels. Professionals recommend that you try and get 30 minutes of physical activity a day. This will look different for everyone depending on your individual capabilities.
Walking, running, squats, and jumping jacks are a great place to start for beginners. Also, you should make sure to keep hydrated during your exercise periods and throughout the day.
Drinking water not only helps you remain hydrated but can help you burn calories and increase your metabolism. This health and wellness tip is essential whether your goal is to lose weight or to maintain overall optimal health.
Bettering Yourself With Health and Wellness Tips
A new year provides the chance for you to set personal goals and better yourself. With the help of these few tips, you can begin the transformation of becoming a healthier and more proactive version of yourself.
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