Improving your health can seem like an overwhelming task and it can be difficult to know where to begin. There are so many different things you can do, but we’re going to focus on five really easy things that you can do that are easy to add to your routine without major changes!
Move Your Body
The first thing you can do to make your health a priority is to move your body. Rather than feeling overwhelmed and trying to start going to the gym five days a week, make it a simple goal to move your body today. This could be going for a walk, a jog, swimming at your local gym, a bike ride or doing a 10 minute dance workout on YouTube at home. The key here is to do something you love, as then it won’t feel much like exercise at all and it will encourage you to keep it going.
Start by aiming to do 3,000 steps a day, then try to do some other form of exercise, such as a swim or yoga at home, two more times a week. No matter where you’re starting from, increasing your movement throughout the week is a great thing you can do for your health. It can help to improve brain health, strengthen bones and muscles, and make everyday life easier as you’ll be more agile. The benefits are endless, so make a positive change today and move your body.
Buy 5 Different Fruits and Veg
The next thing you can do to make your health a priority is to buy 5 different fruits and veg, all different colours if you can, to eat throughout the week. Different coloured fruits and veg tend to contain different nutrients, so you’re giving your body a variety of different nutrients throughout the week.
To start simply, buy carrots, broccoli, strawberries, red cabbage and mango. Eat your broccoli, red cabbage and carrots with your meals, then snack on strawberries and mango or add to smoothies. You will be fuelling your body with lots of different nutrients, and if you can buy more than 5 without anything going to waste, do that! A good way to get lots of variety that is more cost effective than buying everything fresh is to choose frozen. You can get almost every kind of fruit and veg frozen, so you can eat small bits each week without anything going to waste. This is especially helpful if you live on your own and won’t get a chance for everything to get eaten.
Book A Dentist Appointment
Another positive thing you can do to improve your health today is to book a dentist appointment. Often people leave their oral health to the back of their priority list, however as with all elements of our health, you need to be looking after it to protect it for the future. Without caring for your teeth properly, by either not brushing properly or not visiting your dentist, it can cause all kinds of problems in the future, from plaque buildup to eventually tooth loss and things like gum disease.
So, you need to visit your dentist and hygienist, they will be able to identify any issues, tell you where you need to put more focus on in terms of your oral health routine, and generally just help you to keep your oral health in good shape. They might also suggest treatments to help protect your oral health, such as Invisalign in Wakefield to reduce crowding and make your teeth easier to clean. Looking after your teeth, mouth and gums now will help you to keep your own teeth for longer, so it’s really important.
Get 8 Hours Sleep
Something else you can do to make your health a priority is to get 8 hours sleep. People often underestimate the power of sleep and don’t get enough of it, however it has endless benefits for your health. From reducing the risk of serious health problems to reducing stress, helping your body to rest and recuperate from the day before, as well as giving you much more clarity overall throughout the day. If you’re not currently getting 8 hours sleep, look at your routine and decide whether you would prefer to go to sleep earlier or get up later, then go from there to get your 8 hours of sleep in!
To help you get to sleep if you struggle, set your alarm on your phone and then try not to go on it for at least an hour before bed to ensure that the impact of blue light is minimal. Do something relaxing for that hour, whether it’s reading, having a nice hot bath or just enjoying a cup of sleepy tea with your favourite album on.
Give Yourself Time To Relax
Another really important thing for your overall health is to give yourself time to relax. When you’re relaxing, it’s shown to keep your heart healthier, reduces stress, reduces muscle tension, improves brain function and helps to reduce things like depression and anxiety. So, making time to do things that you find relaxing is really important! Perhaps you really enjoy a swim, steam and sauna, followed by a relax in the jacuzzi. Others might like to spend a couple of hours reading their favourite book. Maybe you love to cook new dishes, so you try something different and really take your time and enjoy the process. For some people, they like spending time with friends to fully relax and unwind. Everyone finds different things relaxing, so find something that you really love and prioritise it in your routine. You’ll be a happier and healthier person as a result of it!
Final Thoughts
There you have it! Getting healthier and making positive changes in your life doesn’t need to be over complicated or overwhelming, but it can be simple and fit naturally into your routine. Being healthy is important from both a physical and a mental perspective, so looking after your body as well as your mind is key to helping you live a long and happy life.
