People today are engaging in so many unhealthy activities and adapt many unhealthy behaviors that do nothing good for our bodies. From fast food and sugary treats to sedentary lifestyles and stress-charged days, it’s not a surprise that many people feel physically and mentally unwell. However, with only a few changes to your lifestyle, you can take your health back into your own hands and improve your life. Here’s what you can do today that will improve your health tomorrow.
Make your own food
When you buy food from the store or order takeout, you simply have no idea what’s on your plate calorie-, cholesterol- and fat-wise. But, when you prepare your own meals, you have a greater sense of responsibility for what you’re making and you’re more likely to choose well. Even if you don’t know the first thing about cooking, there are meals that simply can’t be messed up. Sure you can boil eggs, chop veggies, cut rotisserie chicken and use spices. See? You already have a nice chicken salad that you made yourself! In order to improve what you eat, make veggies the star of your plate and fill other spots with protein and good fats. Veggies are high in nutritional value, contain antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals and they can be made very tasty with little effort.
Ditch sugar
It’s truly crazy how much more sugar people eat today when compared to fifty years ago. Today, an average American (the USA has the highest sugar consumption per capita) eats around 120 grams of sugar per day. That’s more than twice the recommended amount, and equals to around 30 tablespoons! So, try to reduce your sugar consumption and you’ll decrease the risks of diabetes and various inflammations, feel more energized and look much better.
Start exercising
Not exercising is just a totally wrong approach to health, especially since getting physical activity is so easy. So, no more excuses! Go for a daily walk, hit the local pool or beach, switch your car to bike sometimes or try something completely new to you like surfing or even bowling (it burns more calories than you might think). If you fail to provide your body with regular activity, it will start to give up and deteriorate, so move daily.
Don’t avoid your doctor’s appointment
Regular health checkups are the key to disease prevention and early diagnosis and they are the easiest way to take control of your health. Your doctor will check your vitals, review your history, order tests and conduct exams to make sure everything is fine. If something is discovered, don’t neglect it and wait until it becomes a huge problem. But, even if the problem progresses and reaches the stage of surgery, be brave enough to go through it. Today, even neurosurgeries and spinal surgeries are much safer than before and yield great results. Plus, there are experts out there like Dr Timothy Steel who have thousands of amazing success stories and happy patients behind them. So, if you choose the right specialist and listen to their advice, surgery can be a great step towards a happy and healthy life.
Regulate your sleep
Many people don’t get enough sleep, even though it’s one of the top health priorities. Every adult needs between seven and eight hours of sleep every night. Healthy sleep decreases your risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer and has amazing effects on your mental health. Even if you do other things that count as healthy behaviors, without proper sleep, they will have less effect on your overall health. So, try to come up with a good sleep strategy and a relaxing bedtime routine and you’ll catch plenty of healthy Zs.
Practice stress management
Stress management often seems like mission impossible, especially in today’s hectic world. However, you don’t have to spend 30 minutes on meditation every morning and evening to relax and distress. It can simply mean unwinding for a few minutes every hour, closing your eyes and sitting quietly. It can also mean taking a light walk outside, playing with your kids or pets or snuggling with your partner. Meditation is an amazing way to de-stress, but you do whatever you prefer, as long as you make it happen.
Give back to the community
On average, people who volunteer or take part in community activities such as church, synagogue or mosque have a longer life span than those who don’t get involved. These activities build a sense of belonging and boost pleasant emotions that extend our lives and increase life satisfaction. So, check if there’s a local shelter or animal center that needs a helping hand or pop up to your local place of worship and see how you feel after.
As you can see, no radical changes are needed in order to boost health in your life. A few simple and cheap changes will not only improve your health but also give you better control of your life and do wonders for your mental state. So, start your new lifestyle now!