What constitutes healthy living? It’s different for every person since everyone has their idea of what makes life worth living. For one person, it might be gaining more free time to spend with family and friends, while another might think that health means being at the top of your career and making money while having fun with your hobbies.
Whichever way you define healthy living, there are things you can do to make sure you stay in top shape both physically and mentally. Here are ten simple tips on how to do that.
Exercise
Start with exercise if you’re planning to get into shape in 2022. This can seem intimidating at first—especially if you’ve never been a gym rat—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Start small and work your way up by taking 10-15 minutes each day to do something active.
You can use that time to go out and walk around your neighbourhood or climb up some stairs. And remember: don’t wait until you feel like it; take action because you want better health!
Sleep Well
If you want to live a healthy life, it’s essential to make time for sleep. Research has shown that sleep deprivation can have serious health effects, from an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes to a weakened immune system.
Experts recommend getting at least seven hours of quality sleep each night. While that might seem impossible with all your work commitments, there are many ways to ensure you get your shut-eye—even when travelling for business or staying up late on a project deadline.
Whether you need sound-masking earphones or an eye mask, you need sleep to reach peak performance.
Reduce Stress
Stress can also contribute to anxiety, insomnia, and even heart attacks.
Reducing stress levels helps promote healthy living in several ways.
- You’ll sleep better
- Your energy levels will rise
- You’ll deal with anger management and depression more effectively
- You may even live longer!
One of the best ways to reduce stress is by getting regular exercise—with endorphins coursing through your body, and you’ll feel less anxious and more relaxed.
Another good tactic is simply making time for yourself—taking a bubble bath or taking an evening walk are great ways to ease any pent-up tension or frustration.
Eat Healthily
While eating healthy may seem like a subjective concept, some tips can help you make better food choices and ultimately put together more nutritious meals.
Ideally, your diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products.
If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s also helpful to know how to read nutrition labels and understand serving sizes.
Also, consider cutting back on sugary drinks—soda pop is a top source of calories in many Americans’ diets.
Meditate
Meditation has benefits beyond just stress relief. Studies have shown that meditating can increase grey matter in your brain, improving cognitive skills like memory and focus and emotional stability.
You may be surprised to learn that a regular meditation practice can positively impact your metabolism and reduce levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) in your body.
It’s also believed to help prevent certain types of cancer, including breast cancer and cervical cancer.
Relax In Nature
It is proven that just a few minutes spent breathing in the fresh air and enjoying nature can boost our mood and reduce stress.
This is especially important because high levels of stress are associated with conditions like:
- Depression
- and Even Cancer
- Heart disease
- Exercising outside also gives you access to natural sunlight (i.e., Vitamin D), which is critical to keeping your immune system functioning properly. If you’re having trouble connecting with nature (or don’t have time), try taking your workout outdoors—you may find it brings back more of that easy feeling than sweating indoors ever could.
Laugh Often
The health benefits of laughter are real. Laughing makes you feel good, but it also boosts your immune system and works muscles in your face, head, and neck. And that’s not all:
Laughter can lower stress levels by reducing certain hormones, making you feel more relaxed overall.
The next time you have a chance to have fun with friends or family, seize it! A hearty chuckle—or guffaw—is a great way to get healthy and stay that way.
Connect With People
Studies have shown that people who have close relationships with other people are happier, live longer, and are healthier than people who don’t—making a point to connect with others daily has improved your mental health and improved your sense of well-being.
If you don’t currently have time in your schedule to socialize with others, try scheduling time during your week where you can make time for it. You could meet someone new during a coffee break at work, see if friends can stop by while they’re running errands, or even ask someone if they’d like to get dinner together later that night.
Even something as simple as giving an acquaintance a quick call or email is enough to help you feel connected and happy!
Think Positively
The phrase positive thinking has been thrown around lately, especially with talk of the Law of Attraction and other ways to manifest your desires. Many people think about positive thinking as a way to reprogram their minds to be optimistic, but it is so much more than that.
Focusing on seeing the best in yourself and others will increase your energy levels, health, and well-being while releasing negative emotions like anger, jealousy, and stress. The good news is that anyone can improve their outlook; it all comes down to what we choose to think about every day. Don’t worry if you don’t feel overly optimistic right now; these tips can help!
Reach Out
Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while or a relative you don’t see often. Give yourself at least 20 minutes to catch up and ensure they’re doing well. Just asking them how they’re doing can boost confidence and start new conversations (and you might find out some great tips).
Plus, it doesn’t hurt to let them know you care!
You might be surprised what people will say when they realize that someone cares about their life.
