We’ve all had those moments where we get a surge of motivation to make all of the necessary and crucial lifestyle changes – join a gym, start exercising every day, lose 20 pounds, quit smoking, etc. Going to adult counseling for many different reasons is also an amazing way to transform your health. While it’s great to want to make those changes, it can be hard to stay consistent if you start by jumping into the deep end.
However, there are many smaller steps you can take that will help you improve your overall health and well-being. This is beneficial because you can seamlessly incorporate them into your daily routine. The good news is that even if you have only a couple of minutes to spare, you can use the options we’ve listed below to improve your overall health.
Let’s look at a few different ways you can improve your overall health and wellness. By incorporating these activities into your day, they can quickly become habits. Healthy habits are what will have the biggest positive impact on your overall health!
Get a Proper Amount of Sleep
This may be something you’ve heard before, but we can’t stress how important getting enough sleep actually is. Many of us don’t get the proper amount of sleep, which is why this is mentioned so often. It’s one of the most common ways people can improve their health.
Our bodies need the proper amount of rest and sleep to renew and heal energy to function correctly. This healing is essential for both mental and physical activity throughout the day.
Additionally, proper amounts of sleep regulate the hormones that are directly related to our emotions and mood. More often than not, if you’re feeling an emotional imbalance or simply irritated, there’s a good chance that your body is lacking in said hormones because you’re not getting enough sleep. Adults need about 6 to 7 hours of sleep every day.
Ditch the Salt
We’re all guilty of this – when we’re done cooking dinner, we grab the saltshaker and sprinkle a hefty amount of salt over our food. This is why a lot of us consume too much extra salt. Reducing salt consumption is essential because it can lead to high blood pressure. So we recommend putting the saltshaker in your cabinet or pantry and only bringing it out only while you’re cooking.
We also recommend that you taste your food before you salt it. You may find that it doesn’t need any more additions at all.
Drink More Water
Another great behavior to improve your overall health and well-being is to drink more water. It’s a relatively straightforward strategy – the recommendation for daily water intake is 8 cups or 64 ounces, so shoot for that amount.
NAM, or The National Academy of Medicine, recommends that women consume about 90 ounces of fluid per day, and men should consume 125 ounces of fluid per day, including fluid from foods, water, and other drinks.
If you find it challenging to increase your water intake, we suggest setting a daily water intake goal and even using a reusable water bottle. Simply the act of setting a goal and having to refill a reusable water bottle can be motivating. If you would like to take it a step further, you can even record your progress. Keeping track can also keep you motivated to reach your goal, whether it be an app on your phone or in a journal.
Exercise Every Day
Getting into the routine of exercising daily and ensuring you remain physically active can improve your overall health and well-being in various ways. Exercising helps you physically because it increases your blood flow, which increases the amount of oxygen in your blood which boosts your energy.
Additionally, exercising is great for your mental health; it reduces depression, negative moods, and anxiety because it releases ‘feel good’ chemicals like serotonin and endorphins. For a bit of clarification, while it’s great to participate in strength training and cardio-heavy workouts, don’t let that discourage you from getting your exercise in if you don’t have the time. A daily morning walk or a simple walk with your pet is definitely sufficient. The most important part is to make exercise a daily habit.
Ensure You Have Proper Posture and Ergonomics
A lot of us have desk jobs. If you’ve experienced sitting hunched over a desk while staring at a computer screen, you’re probably familiar with the aches and pains that come along with it.
We feel so much discomfort because many of us don’t sit with proper posture and don’t have the proper ergonomics set up. Next time you’re on the phone or at your desk, take a moment to acknowledge your posture. Be sure your back is straight, put your feet flat on the floor with your legs uncrossed, and tuck in your stomach. You’ll feel relief right away.
When it comes to ergonomics, a few simple adjustments can make all the difference. This could be something as simple as switching to a chair that provides better support, taking breaks throughout the day, or repositioning your computer monitor. These changes may not seem like much, but they can go a long way toward creating a more comfortable and healthier workspace.
Meditate
Mediation can be difficult for some. We live such high-traffic lifestyles that the idea of stopping and sitting in silence can be hard. We’re happy to report that you don’t need to sit in a room in silence for an hour to get the benefits of meditation.
You can simply take 5 to 10 minutes every day to be one with yourself and clear your mind. Meditation can improve headaches, decrease muscle tension, lower blood pressure, improve your immune system, increase creativity, and decrease anxiety. Along with meditating, dry needling can be a great way to relax the entire body and clear the mind of toxins.
The Bottom Line
The good news is that it’s never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Living a happy and healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do for yourself; while it can seem tricky at first, you can take it one step at a time. In no time, you’ll find everything will fall into place as you go!