Between jam-packed work schedules, dealing with the family, errands, home life, and everything in between, following a healthy lifestyle can be all but impossible. In turn, we place our health on the backburner. But, living healthier doesn’t require much time, and sometimes it can be truly effortless. You don’t have to follow a crazy fad diet and you don’t have to work out for hours a day.
The fact is that you can fit health into your daily life. Keep reading for 5 ways to take control of your health so that you can be the best version of you.
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Get Plenty of Sleep
We’ve all experienced the mood swings, fatigue, and lack of focus that come after a bad night’s sleep. But did you know that a lack of sleep can also have serious impacts on your health? A consistent lack of quality sleep can lead to a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even obesity.
Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Finding it hard to get to sleep at a decent time? Try setting a schedule and sticking to it. You can also get to sleep quicker by:
- Turning off the television
- Not using your phone close to bedtime
- Relaxing an hour before bed
Sleep doctors also recommend wearing socks to bed, splashing your face with very cold water before your lay down, and listening to music to get to sleep quickly.
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Be More Active
Too much sitting has proven to be detrimental to your health. but, with so many people working desk jobs, it can be hard to find time to get up and move. If you work a sedentary job, take a few minutes every hour to walk the halls. Unable to leave your desk? Try desk exercises such as lunges, squats, and even stretching.
Aside from sitting at work, a lot of us also spend a lot of time sitting at home. After a long hard day, there’s no better feeling than sitting on the couch or lying in bed. But, exercise can also help relieve stress after a stressful day at work. Instead of heading to the couch, take 30 minutes and go for a run, practice yoga, and even go swimming at the local community center. Exercise minimizes stress, keeps your heart healthy, and can help you sleep better at night.
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Focus on Your Mental Health
Life is a rollercoaster, and each day we deal with new stressors, tension, and other issues that often impact our mental health. While you may be healthy physically, your mental health is just as important. Managing your mental health often comes down to knowing how to manage stress. Keeping everything inside and letting it pent up not only causes more stress, it can impact your sleep, your diet, and your overall well-being. There are many ways to improve your mental health including:
- Knowing your triggers
- Having a support group
- Meditation and/or yoga
- Value yourself and treat yourself kindly
We all go through periods of life when we hit low points and don’t know how to recover. Stress can quickly become overwhelming and can impact you every minute of the day. During the highs and lows, be sure you know how to deal with your mental health.
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Quit Smoking
No one can truthfully say that they don’t have a bad habit. But, one of the worst habits to fall into is smoking. In the U.S. alone, each year more than 480,000 deaths are caused by smoking cigarettes. Another 41,000 deaths are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke. Quitting smoking is a tough feat, but it’s definitely not impossible. Take control of your health by kicking this bad habit to the curb.
While nicotine gum and patches are useful, if you’re looking for a smooth goodbye to smoking cigarettes, try switching to vaping. You can buy vape online or find your local vaporizer store. With the right vape, you’ll get the throat hit and flavor you enjoyed from smoking but without the harmful chemicals.
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Take a Break From the Online World
If you really want to take control of your health you should take a real break sometimes. When’s the last time you checked your text messages, voicemail, or inbox? Chances are you’ve done one of these things within the last 15 minutes. While it’s convenient to be connected throughout the day, spending too much time on mobile devices and browsing the Internet can negatively impact your health. Social media has been linked to a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Most people spend an average 5 hours a day on their phones. Too much time on your phone may keep you up at night.
While it may be hard, taking a break from the online world will do you some good. Spend some unconnected time outdoors or with your family. Maybe even travel to escape that stress.
Take control of your health, it is the first step in living a healthier life. Consider the 5 options above to get on track to a healthier and happier you.