We’ve all been told that adopting a healthy lifestyle is the best way to achieve physical, mental, and emotional health. But it’s easier said than done; following a rigid routine and drastically changing one’s way of living can be challenging, especially for those who have developed unhealthy habits over the years.
As with most things in life, the key to success is to slowly integrate changes into one’s way of living. Experts say once a person gets into the habit of maintaining healthy practices and making them part of their routine, they will start to see benefits.
Here are five daily, easy-to-do habits anyone can start integrating into their life:
Get enough sleep
Before engaging in, say, physical activities, it is vital that a person has gotten enough shuteye. Loss of quality sleep not only impacts mood and performance but can also result to health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Getting enough sleep—ideally seven to eight hours, not more than nine—offers tremendous benefits to achieve both mental and physical wellness; thus one can be at their best every day.
Move more
Daily physical activities are essential to maintaining a healthy body and reducing the major risk factors for chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, non-coronary heart disease, and hypertension, among others.
Exercising is not only good for the body, but also for the mind. According to FNRI-DOST, exercise helps enhance psychological well-being, improve self-esteem, and maintain motivation.
Increasing physical activities is not exclusive to enrolling in a gym or engaging in a trendy or strenuous workout routine. Simple activities like walking, running, biking, or even stretching, can help maintain weight loss. The important thing is to commit to it. Committing to regular exercise may be challenging at first, but the benefits will make it all worth it.
Manage stress
Stress is inevitable; many factors in one’s life can lead to it, from work to relationship problems to traffic congestion. Stress is a natural reaction, and is the body’s way of responding to the mental or emotional strain or tension from adverse or demanding circumstances. However, chronic or long-term stress can be a precursor to issues such as depression, anxiety, and even memory loss.
But it can be managed. One good way to deal with it is through a balanced schedule. Experts suggest finding time for self-care in between work and social life. This allows an individual to have a new perspective, thus they would feel less overwhelmed. Having a social support can also help relieve distress. However, it is important to note that everyone is different. Thus, it is essential to experiment and find out what best works.
Don’t smoke
It is no secret that tobacco has negative impacts on health. In fact, smoking remains as one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco kills more than seven million people each year. More than six million of these deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, while around 890,000 are caused by second-hand smoking.
Refraining from smoking tobacco—not getting into the vice or finally quitting it—reduces the risk of acquiring illnesses, such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and asthma, among others.
Make better food choices
Making smart, healthy food choices helps the body get the nutrients it needs every day as well as lowers risk for developing health problems.
The key to eating well is to enjoy a variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups namely: (1) vegetables and legumes/beans, (2) fruits, (3) grains (cereal), (4) lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts, and seeds, and (5) milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat. Consuming food items from every food group helps support optimal health and prevent diseases.
Several supplements help complete and boost balanced diet. For instance, natural and organic Santé Barley—available in powder form and in vegetable capsules—is a good source of niacin (vitamin B) that provides numerous benefits to the cardiovascular system. Niacin can help reduce bad cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), and free radicals. It also reduces the risk of blood clots. It can also help promote bowel movement for optimal health as it is high in fiber. Go to www.santebarley.com for more information.