Sometimes the thought of improving your health can just feel too big. Images of hours spent sweating in a gym, running at dawn, and eating tofu and salad can make it feel insurmountable. But it doesn’t need to be like that at all. In fact, there are lots of things that you can start doing today, without breaking a sweat, that will add up to vastly improved health before you know it.
Improving your overall health applies to your physical and mental health; and maintaining your health depends on your lifestyle. Not only does a healthy lifestyle prevent serious illnesses and long-term diseases, but it also boosts your self-esteem and confidence.
If you’re looking to get healthier this summer, here are a few tips that should get you off to a strong start.
Get enough sleep
There’s no overstating this one. A night’s sleep can determine whether you’ll have a good day or a bad day and dictate how you respond in stressful situations. Adults are recommended 7 hours or more every night, meaning that we sometimes have to be disciplined about when we go to bed.
The health benefits of good sleep are numerous. A good night’s sleep will reduce stress and significantly improve your mood, help conduct healthy relationships with the people around you, lower your risk of diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and even help keep your weight at a healthy level.
Get into the habit of a restful nightly routine. Arrange your bedroom to be a restful place. Ensure that your curtains and blinds are thick enough to block out light. Set a reminder to go to bed at a reasonable time. And leave your devices outside. Before you know it your sleep cycle will be transformed.
Keep your eye on your eye health
They’re one of the most important instruments of our body, so keeping your eyes in tip-top condition is important when it comes to your quality of life. If you feel like there’s something amiss with your eyes, it’s vital that you go get it checked out.
Getting your eyes tested regularly can also help your vision and improve the quality of your everyday life, as well as reduce the risk of avoidable accidents due to poor eyesight.
Everyday care can also work wonders for your eye health. From taking regular breaks from the computer screen to wearing safety goggles, quitting smoking, and buying your monthly lenses in advance, you’ll find that you are protecting and preserving this most important of bodily functions.
If you have been putting it off, make that appointment with the optician today.
Practice mindfulness
Contrary to popular belief, being healthy doesn’t only apply to one’s physical health. Any doctor will tell you that your mind and body are closely connected, meaning that if one is struggling, the other will most likely be under the weather too.
Your mind and body are inextricably connected, so it’s crucial that you take care of your mental health too. Practicing mindfulness – the act of fully living in the present and being aware of your surroundings – has proven to reduce stress and improve interpersonal relationships.
One very easy way to practice mindfulness is to meditate every day. Whether it’s for 5 minutes or an hour, meditation will force you to dispose of your everyday stresses and anxieties and focus on the here and now. And considering the hectic and unpredictable world we live in, this is a skill that will reap many rewards in the years to come.
It’s simple to get started. There are numerous meditation routines available for free on YouTube and you can also access free trials of meditation apps such as Calm and Headspace.
You won’t break a sweat following those 3 simple steps to better health, and your body and mind will improve immeasurably.