There is so much advice out there on how to keep yourself fit and healthy. Most of it contradictory. You could drive yourself crazy, and find that you can barely eat anything, or even leave your house if you read every article on health and wellbeing. Google anything long enough, and you’ll find a research paper or essay explaining how it will cause cancer. It can all make it feel so complicated, and trying to do everything that you are supposed to can make life almost impossible.
Trying to look after yourself, make significant changes, and learn as much as you can about health and wellbeing can be that stressful that you turn to unhealthy habits to make yourself feel better. But, it doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, there are many simple things that you can do to help you to lead a healthier life.
A few simple changes can be all that it takes to increase your life expectancy, prevent serious illnesses, take care of your mental health, and feel better. Some of these changes will improve your mood and confidence, help you to feel more alert and focused, decrease your risk of serious illness, improve your circulation, and make it easier to maintain a healthier weight. A few little changes to your lifestyle, for all of those benefits? Certainly seems worth it, so let’s take a better look at some of them.
Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking, or in the first instance, cutting down isn’t easy. It’s perhaps the most challenging thing on this list, especially if you have been smoking for a long time. But, it’s the most effective. Give up smoking, and you could massively increase your life expectancy. You’ll be less likely to get many cancers and other conditions. You’ll feel better, your fitness levels will improve vastly, and even your skin tone will be better. No one could deny that giving up entirely will be very difficult, but use nicocig for help, join a support group, speak to friends, family and healthcare providers for advice on quitting, and write a list of all of the reasons that you are giving up, to remind yourself when you need it.
Stick to a Bedtime
You might think that bedtimes are for children, most of us left them behind when we left school. But, there’s a reason that bedtimes and sleep patterns are good for children, and those reasons don’t suddenly vanish when we become adults.
Stick to a bedtime routine, with a bedtime and an hour relaxing beforehand, and you’ll find it easier to fall asleep. You’ll get more deep sleep and wake up feeling more refreshed and alert. You will be less likely to slump in the afternoon. All of this can be good for your mental health, reduce your stress levels, boost your immunity by giving your body a chance to rest, and make it easier for you to lose weight. Sleep is important. Getting enough of it can have a massive range of benefits for your health, both physical and mental, so make it a priority in your life.
Eat More Fruit and Vegetables
You might have heard a lot about eating five portions of fruit and veg every day. You might have even heard that it should be more than this. The truth is, our needs are all different, and there’s no set standard. But, you should almost certainly be eating more. Fruit and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Different kinds have different properties and benefits, so it’s best to get a range, eating different things every day. Start snacking on fresh fruit salads, and fill your meals with various vegetables, and you’ll soon start to feel healthier and more energetic.
Walk to Work
Another thing that you’ve no doubt heard about is 10000 steps. The American Heart Association recommends walking 10000 steps every day to promote good heart health, boost your fitness levels, improve muscle tone, and help you to get a good night’s sleep.
10000 steps is another vague target, and we all have different needs. If you are very unfit, don’t get much exercise or are very overweight, you might find 10000 difficult. So, instead aim to increase your steps, slowly. Add a daily walk, whether it’s walking to work or going for a walk around the block after dinner, then gradually increase the length of your walks as your body allows.
Drink More Water
Like fruit and veg, water is unbelievably good for you. Drinking more water will boost your immune system and help you to flush out any toxins. Your skin will be brighter and more youthful, your hair stronger, and your eyes more radiant. Your internal organs will function better, and you will be at less risk of dehydration, and your mind will be focused. Drinking more water, or at least fluids containing water is perhaps the easiest thing that you can do to improve your health.
And Less Alcohol
Drinking more pure water means that you are bound to drink less caffeine. But, it can also mean that you drink less alcohol. While there is evidence that drinking the occasional glass of wine can have health benefits, drinking too much is certainly detrimental. Try to limit yourself to the recommended intake for your age and gender, and make sure you have at least one night a week when you don’t drink any alcohol at all, but preferably at least three.
Laugh More
Like water, laughter is a bit of a miracle drug. Laughter can reduce stress and improve your mental health. Those of us that laugh and smile more might have more confidence, and appear more trustworthy to others. Laughing can help you to put your problems into perspective, and laughing with friends improves your relationships.
It’s fair to say that we don’t always feel like laughing. But, try to make time. Spend time with people that make you smile, and watch films and read books that you find funny when you need cheering up.
Attend Regular Checkups
As we get older, we are offered routine checkups for specific health conditions with our health practice. So many people don’t attend them. They’ve got no symptoms, so they don’t bother. This is a mistake. We are very lucky to be offered these tests, and we wouldn’t be if there weren’t risks. Attend regular checkups when they are offered, and learn how to examine yourself in other areas.
Talk About Your Worries
Most of us are guilty of bottling things up from time to time, of thinking that our worries aren’t worthy of conversation, or of shaming ourselves into silence. Then, things build up in our minds, and what could have been a passing concern is so much more. Speak to people. Chat with friends, speak to a doctor or therapist, and generally get your fears out into the world.
Read More
Reading has a great many benefits. In the short term, it can help you to learn things, and give you a wonderful escape from the stresses of life. Longer-term, it can improve your mental health and give your mind a valuable workout, helping to prevent premature aging, and severe conditions as you get older.
Put Your Phone Down
Mobile phones are wonderful. They give us a way to keep in touch with friends, family, and even the wider world. But nowadays they do so much more. They have their drawbacks, however. Too much time on social media can be bad for your mental health and confidence, and too much time staring at a little screen can mean missing out on life. Put your phone down more and spend time doing things that really matter, and you’ll soon be happier.
