You have the best of intentions. you really do. Pinterest boards are filled with healthy tips, hacks, and exercise routines you will try -one day- to build a healthier lifestyle. But, with your own busy schedule to manage, not to mention the ones of everyone else in your household, it can seem difficult to achieve that goal. Planning for that healthy lifestyle and adopting habits that support it are surefire ways to get it done.
Avoid Common Vices
Smoking and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol can be detrimental to your health. Most experts agree that it is perfectly fine, perhaps even healthy, to indulge in a couple of glasses of wine with friends, you shouldn’t be sipping multiple drinks every day.
Plan for Healthy Meals
Meal planning is an easy way to ensure that you always have a healthy and nutritious meal ready for you, no matter how busy your day gets. Spend a few hours each week gathering and preparing all the ingredients for lunches and dinners to make home-cooked weeknight dinners more likely.
Use the crockpot to let some things simmer all day while you are busy, or just pop a sheet pan dinner in the oven when you get home. Meal planning can also keep you out of the fast food lines when you are hungry midday. Keep snack-sized bags of cut veggies or whole fruit handy for a quick grab-and-go snack instead.
Schedule Downtime
Rest is important to your overall health. it can also help you maintain the energy needed for your otherwise healthy lifestyle. Go ahead and type “nap in the hammock” into your planner and then set an alert. When it goes off, no matter what you are doing, head out and relax for an hour. The same goes for bedtime routines. If you don’t have one, today is a great time to develop one that works for you. When the time comes to get ready for bed, stop what you are doing when it is time to get ready for bed.
Learn New Things
Your health also includes emotional and cognitive wellbeing. Learning a new skill or subject matter can greatly improve both. It creates new connections and ways of learning within your brain that helps you stay sharp and engaged. Plus, when you schedule classes, seminars, and outings that help you develop and grow your new interest you are really planning ahead for a healthy lifestyle.
Plan for the Unexpected
A healthy lifestyle is great, but what if something goes wrong in your plan? Be prepared for the unexpected by making arrangements for a secure future for you and your loved ones. Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage to provide for your family if something were to happen to you. That can be a long term care or disability policy of life insurance. A qualified 7702 plan can be a strong financial tool for helping your family build wealth as well.
Schedule an Annual Physical
Any medical conditions will be easier to manage if you stay on top of them. That makes routine medical care a necessity for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is also one you can successfully plan for.
Hopefully, there are no issues. But, if any concerns do show up, you and your doctor can discuss ways to adapt your lifestyle to them.
Get Your Hearing and Vision Checked
These are quick and simple tests and regular vision and hearing screenings can detect early signs of trouble. Why is that important for your lifestyle?
Hearing loss reduces your social interactions, makes everyday experiences less enjoyable, and limits your ability to communicate effectively with others. Uncorrected, it is one of the most preventable precursors to cognitive and emotional decline and lower quality of life in older adults. Ensuring your vision is crisp and clear can help you enjoy favorite activities and hobbies, or even facilitate learning new ones.
You can plan for success or leave life up to chance. But you are more likely to reach your goals if you choose to plan. Just keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another. Develop a plan that is sustainable and moves you closer to the ultimate goal: a healthier lifestyle.