Staying fit has become one of the most challenging tasks these days. Life today has become so fast-paced due to an urban lifestyle, so many of you may complain about not finding time to indulge in self-care.
Furthermore, overuse of social media, overreliance on fast food, and a sedentary lifestyle further take away the opportunity to live healthier.
But fortunately, some ways can help you live a healthier and fitter life. In most cases, these ways are not difficult to adopt, except they require making smaller changes in your life for a better present and future.
Here are those ways.
- Wash your hands
Did you know the number one way to get diseases is by keeping your hands dirty? You can avert the spread of germs by maintaining adequate hand hygiene.
CDC states that washing your hands with soap and water reduces the risk of diarrhea-related sicknesses by 30% and respiratory illnesses by 20%. So, wash your hands regularly.
Also, as we are going through a time of the pandemic, it is not important but recommended to wash hands whenever possible to avoid getting diseases.
- Be careful about your drinking habits
Drinking is injurious to health. You might argue that you are consuming alcohol in a moderate quantity, but you won’t even realize when you would become an avid drinker and move closer to being an addict.
According to the experts at the highly recommended drug addiction rehabs, including the Delphi Health Group, addiction always starts with innocent indulgences, but with time, these vices take an ugly shape. Therefore, it is better to avoid drinking alcohol as much as possible.
- Make your carbs healthier
If you are eating a carb-rich meal such as bread, pasta, or potatoes, drizzle it with some olive oil or vinegar first to make your carbs healthier. Adding fats or acids can reduce the crab’s glycemic impact.
In simpler words, it means that your blood sugar level remains at a healthier level.
- Kick unhealthy habits
Habits are part of our life; they arise out of repetition. But it is often difficult to quit some habits, especially when they are pleasure-based. Most often, these habits are bad for your health too.
Unhealthy habits can hinder your efforts to assume a healthier lifestyle. The group of practices that are harmful and must quit include smoking, drinking, unprotected relationships, and drug and substance abuse.
Unhealthy eating can also develop into bad habits if not addressed on time and kept within moderate levels.
To kick bad habits, surround yourself with people who can promote good habits, help you overcome your bad habits, and let you see the bright side of developing good ones.
- Arrange for routine checkups
Sometimes you don’t realize that dangerous diseases engulf you from all sides until their symptoms become very prominent. You won’t realize what is happening inside your body until you consult a doctor who will conduct physical tests and screenings to ensure nothing is wrong with your body functions.
Routine checkups help you catch the problems when they are still in their early stages and cure diseases when they are still curable.
Many of your routine checkups are covered by insurance; don’t let it go wasted and avail this opportunity fully. Having said that, observe your body, and if you experience any symptoms that seem awry, don’t waste any time consulting your doctor.
- Don’t compromise your sleep
Sleep is absolutely essential for your health. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people don’t get enough sleep.
Busy nightlives, social interactions, social media usage, binge-watching movies, and TV shows, and study and work-related stress are reasons for insufficient sleep and unhealthy sleep patterns.
Sleep deprivation adversely affects your mental health and mood. You feel irritated and less happy when you don’t get ample sleep. Sleep affects your immune system, concentration, memory, and cardiovascular health.
It is recommended to always have a good night’s sleep to boost your immune system and take care of your overall health and well-being. Not only a good sleep pattern helps improve your physical health but also your mental health as well.
A good sleep pattern also helps reduce the risk of various diseases.
- Regular exercise
You cannot remove regular exercise from the equation when it comes to staying fit and healthy. Physical activity helps manage weight, strengthen muscles, retain healthy muscle mass, combat illnesses, improve mood, and improve quality of life.
Exercise also improves sleep and oxygen supply to body parts through breathing exercises, builds stamina, and reduces body fatigue. You can also use exercise as a mechanism to cure mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Making health-related goals and achieving them on time instills a sense of achievement and self-worth. You also feel good about your appearance and get a boost in your self-confidence.
Adults should target 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity (walking, jogging, and biking) physical activity, including aerobic exercises or 75 minutes of intense cardio exercises (swimming, running) per week.
- Keep yourself hydrated
The first rule of living a healthy life is staying hydrated. Water is essential for your body and helps regulate your body temperature. Water also helps in the adequate circulation of nutrients to various body parts through the blood by maintaining its consistency and water content.
There are certain times during the day when drinking water benefits your health. One of those times is after getting up and having your morning coffee or tea.
Due to sleeping all night, your body is low on water. Drinking water in the morning flick on your brain and helps you wake up quickly. Water also boots up your gut and kidneys’ functions.
Conclusion
Promoting a healthy life comprises a work-life balance, ample physical activity, and spending time with family and friends. Staying healthy and fit requires you to put effort and be steadfast in your goal. The more focused you are, the better you can manage your health.
