You only ever get one body, and to enjoy life to the fullest it’s so important to take care of it. When we nourish it with the right vitamins and minerals and treat it well, we avoid preventable disease, feel great and can live a long, full and happy life.
The problem is, life happens. We can fall into a rut with unhealthy habits or do things we know aren’t great for us.
As humans we might be resilient but we’re not invincible, and whether it’s lifestyle, genetics or just old age to blame- things can sometimes go wrong.
However you really can take control of your health and your life. Here are just a few of the ways you can go about it.
Maintain a Healthy Diet and Exercise
The majority of the vitamins and minerals we need to function have to be obtained through food. And eating the right food is absolutely paramount to good health.
In this modern day of convenience and fast food with tempting treats at every turn, it can be a struggle, but you know what your body needs.
Plenty of fresh fruit and veg, lean protein and whole grains is the best place to start. You don’t have to give up everything you like but practicing moderation and keeping an eye on your sugar, salt, and saturated fat intake is massively beneficial for your health.
To stay lean and strong, physical activity is needed. The trick is to find something you enjoy doing, that way it won’t feel like such a struggle and you’ll have fun without even realizing you’re exercising.
It could be hiking with your dog, swimming, spin classes at the gym, anything you like. If you’re self-conscious or just prefer to exercise in the comfort of your own home, how about setting up a home gym?
Setup your space with the equipment you use most often, or just buy a single piece that folds away if you don’t have much space.
Be Sure Your Prescriptions Are Up to Date
If you need prescription medicine to deal with a health condition, get clued up about it. Learn exactly what it is, what it does, what the side effects are.
Always follow your doctor’s orders, but do your own research too and work out what it is you’re putting into your body.
Whether you have a chronic health condition or just something short term, prescriptions can be expensive. Depending on your income and where you live, you might be entitled to some help to cover costs.
So it’s worth finding out if getting cheap prescriptions is an option for you. If it’s more convenient, there are even sites where you can order your prescription online and have them delivered to your door. No more waiting in long lines at the pharmacy.
Make Relaxation a Priority
Chronic stress isn’t just unpleasant to deal with, it’s downright dangerous. It’s been linked to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke amongst other things.
It’s also bad for mental health and could land you with sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. In today’s busy world, people can develop a certain guilt around taking time to relax.
They might feel like it’s selfish or lazy when there are things to be done, but it’s important for your wellbeing. Make time in your busy schedule to relax.
It could be anything from a professional massage to a meditation session to a hot bath. It could be pouring yourself a cup of green tea (known for its relaxing properties) and kicking back with a good book.
If your gym has a steam room or hot tub, take full advantage after you’ve worked out. Anything that allows you to switch off from work, clear your mind and completely unwind.
This can also help lower blood pressure and heart rate, ease tense muscles and bring you a calm state of mind.
Get Enough Sleep
As with relaxation, sleep is absolutely crucial to good health. It’s so easy to fall behind with sleep- late nights, early mornings, stress and influences like caffeine can all add up.
Leaving you with big black bags under your eyes and that inevitable irritable feeling we all experience when the alarm goes off far earlier than we’d like.
It’s important to get into a good sleeping pattern, getting to bed early might seem a little boring, but you’ll wake up feeling way more refreshed.
Avoid caffeine after midday (as it can last a surprisingly long time in the body), and invest in a good bed. A supportive mattress will alleviate pressure points and allow you to fully relax.
No more tossing and turning on a lumpy or uncomfortable mattress, you can simply go to bed and drift off, and wake up feeling great.
Spring mattresses can feel comfortable at first, but tests have shown that they lose up to 30% of their support within the first year alone.
A good quality foam mattress such as gel or latex mattresses are your best bet. Do your research, test out lots of models and choose something that’s right for you. As well as improved sleep it’s good for improving spine health too.
Kick Your Unhealthy Vices To The Curb
Many of us can get away with our unhealthy habits and vices for years when we’re young and experience no negative health effects.
But these things always catch up on you. Whether it’s smoking, binge drinking, eating the wrong foods or anything else- your body will begin to suffer.
You’ll put yourself at risk of preventable diseases, cancers, you’ll lower your immune system and could cause a whole host of other problems for yourself.
Give up your unhealthy habits and adopt better practices instead that benefit your life and make you feel better.
Yoga, meditation, you could save up the money you would have spent and go on a trip instead. There are far better things you could be spending your money and time doing than indulging in a habit that’s slowly killing you!
Are you ready to start taking control of your health?
