Every day, we make tons of tiny little choices that have an impact on our lives—both big and small. From the foods we eat to the activities we choose to take part in, these choices shape who we are and how we feel about life itself. While it can be easy to focus on the big picture and forget about all the smaller details, these tiny little choices can have a profound effect on our health, happiness, and overall quality of life when taken in aggregate over time. Here are ten ways you can start making simple changes today to improve your health and life for years to come.
1) Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is one of the easiest and most important ways to stay healthy.
Research shows that people who sleep for less than six hours a night are at greater risk for developing health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression.
Plus, even if you're only getting five hours of sleep a night, try your best to stay off your phone before bedtime. The blue light from screens can disrupt your circadian rhythm and make it harder for you to fall asleep!
2) Eat healthy foods
Eating healthy foods is a great way to improve your health and life.
It can lower your risk for chronic diseases, help you lose weight, give you more energy, and make you feel more confident. Just be sure to eat a well-balanced diet of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats like omega-3s.
3) Exercise regularly
-Do aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week.
This is great for the heart and lungs. It also increases endurance and strengthens your bones and muscles. -Do strength exercises at least twice a week.
This can include weight lifting, push-ups, pull-ups, squats and running on an incline. -Do stretching exercises at least twice a week.
Stretching helps relieve muscle tension and maintain flexibility in your joints and muscles.
4) Drink plenty of water
Water is essential for your body, so it's important to make sure you're getting enough.
Drinking plenty of water can help curb hunger, prevent muscle cramps and headaches, keep your skin glowing, and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
With so many benefits for such a simple habit, there's no excuse not to drink more water!
5)
Workplace wellness should be a key focus for businesses looking to retain top talent, increase productivity and reduce the risk of health problems
. Sitting at your desk all day long can put you at increased risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.
To combat this, try taking breaks during extended periods of sitting (stand up every 20 minutes or so), take the stairs instead of the elevator, or walk over to a co-worker’s desk rather than emailing them.
6) Stand up straight
This position helps you breathe better and makes you feel more confident,
so you'll want to stand up straight when on the phone or typing at your computer.
Spread your feet to hip-width distance and place your hands on the small of your back.
7) Stretch
The first step is recognizing how and where you hold tension in your body. Tension can be caused by stress, lack of sleep, or any number of other factors. You'll need to experiment with different stretches until you find what works best for you.
8) Take deep breaths
Breathing is something we all do, but few of us actually know how to breathe properly.
The right kind of breathing can help you regulate your emotions, clear your head, lower your blood pressure and even decrease the risk of heart disease.
The next time you need a break from whatever you're doing, take a moment and try these three deep breaths: in through the nose for five seconds; out through the mouth for 10 seconds; and then repeat this process two more times.
9) Laugh
It's always a good idea to laugh as much as possible.
It's been found that laughter can improve your mood, relieve stress and make you smarter! That said, I don't think this is the type of list you're looking for.
10) Spend time with loved ones
One of the best things you can do for your health is spend time with the people you love.
Whether it's a quick text or 30 minutes on the phone, being with those who make you happy can help reduce your stress levels and improve your mental health.
0 Comments