Researchers indicate that making small but significant changes in your diet, stress management, and exercise can help in shaping you into a healthy person. But many of us being busy bees, get caught up in time constraints or tiredness and find reasons to avoid things that can keep us healthy. Experts point out that what today’s world needs is “lifestyle medicine” for lifelong health.
Here we have devised a list of 10 things that help in shaping yourself into a healthier person both mentally as well as physically.
1) Change The Way You Think
It all depends on your mind. If you think it is not going to work, then you will end up failing. If you constantly tell yourself that you cannot be healthy, then the odds are you won’t. Encourage yourself when you wake up. When you feel that there is no need to be healthy, then you should remind yourself about the benefits it poses and how good it can make you feel. It might not be a lot. But it is important to shape your mind first before you shape your body.
2) Get On A Schedule
You might feel that extending your sleep towards the last possible second can make you feel better. It’s not true, and you might end up scrambling in your fight to be ready for work. Stop your day without racing against the clock. Make a schedule, wake up early and allow some time to get you out of the bed. This can help you clear your head.
3) Get Outside
The only ray of light certain people see is the glow of their smartphone or laptop. If you are such a person, change is necessary for you. It is not possible to run a marathon, the very first day, but it is important to address the need to get outside. Take a good walk or find a hiding spot. This can help you attain a clear mind and get away from all the stress. Trust me, your emails and messages won’t vanish, and you can go to them once you are done with your outdoor activities.
4) Exercise Daily
Do you know that you can reduce all biomarkers of aging if you work out regularly? It can help in stabilizing blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, strengthening lean muscles, improving eyesight and improving the density of our bones.
Studies have pointed out that even just 10 minutes of exercise can make a huge difference. Sign up for dancing classes, walking in the park, jump ropes, hula hoop, etc. can be both fun and can positively impact your body. If you don’t have time for any of these, try biking to work.
5) Don’t Get In A Rut
You will get bored if you are exercising, running or walking at the same place daily. The gym might be great, but when compared to experiencing nature and getting out, it pales. Take one day off and find that place where you are away from the traffic sounds and wi-fi signals. Leave out the headphones and reap into nature’s subtle sound. The sound of wind blowing through the trees is rejuvenating and refreshing at the same time.
6) Eat Your Veggies
Try for at least five servings of vegetables per day- Stir-fried, steamed or raw. If your diet is high in vegetables, then it can reduce the risk of developing cancers in the stomach, lung, breast, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and ovaries.
The ones with phytonutrients are the most important and have bold colors. Example – broccoli, carrot, tomatoes, leafy greens, and cabbage.
7) Start Being Picky
In high school, many of us would even have leftover pizza for breakfast and would eat cheeseburgers for lunch. As times progressed, these junk foods go from being your friend to your enemy. You should always take a look at the nutritional values of the foods you are consuming. Rather than looking for what is cheap, start looking for what is best. Once you have more energy, you will stop being a couch potato.
8) Good Night’s Sleep
If you can’t keep your eyes open at work or elsewhere, then it can impact your productivity. If you are not able to get a good night’s sleep, try relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation. Chamomile tea or a small bedtime snack might be able to prepare your mind and body into sleep mode. If you are stressed out or worried about something, write it down on a piece of paper to get the thought away from your head. This can help you attain some perspective and can help you quit worrying. Setting a sleep alarm is also considerable. This will help you realize that it’s time to get some sleep irrespective of how busy you are.
9) Take Baby Steps
Your life is no reality show. And it is impossible to start with 100 push-ups the first day you decide to get healthier. If you do not see expected results, never give up. Take baby steps towards achieving better health and this way you can celebrate achieving every goal.
10) Do things that You Enjoy
It is important to notice that if you don’t like something, it is less likely that you will stick with it. Rather than finding the easiest, find what you will enjoy the most. If swimming is what you feel makes you unwind then substitute it for your exercise. The most important thing is the presence of something you like that can push yourself into being happy and healthy.
