A heightened awareness about whole body health is sweeping across the United States. We’re all becoming more conscientious about what we put in our bodies as well as our daily amount of exercise so here are just a few tips to help get you moving towards a healthier you!
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Eat Breakfast – A healthy breakfast kick-starts your metabolism for the day allowing you to efficiently burn more calories during the day.
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Drink water – Staying hydrated is a key player in becoming healthier. Some say 8-10 glasses per day and some say 6-8 glasses per day. However, the consensus amongst physicians is “drink to thirst”, which basically means – stay hydrated!
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SLEEP! – Sleep is your body’s only time to recuperate from the day’s activities. With proper rest you’ll have better levels of concentration, more energy, and more patient and tolerant throughout the day.
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Exercise – Yes it CAN fit into your schedule. Park further away from the entrance to the Mall or your place of employment. Take a 15 minute break in the morning and afternoon and go outside for a walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. It all adds up by the end of the day!
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Don’t skip meals – This is a BIG no-no. Skipping a meal puts your body into “starvation mode” and everything you eat after the “skipped meal” will be stored as fat. So, be sure to eat a balanced meal at least every 4 hours … ideally every 2 to keep your metabolism in high gear.
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Indulge every once in awhile – There’s nothing wrong with having that piece of cake or scoop of ice cream if you’re craving it. Denying your body will only cause you to binge and eat more than you would have if you just gave it to yourself in the first place! Just keep telling yourself – everything in moderation!
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Take a daily vitamin – Let’s be honest. There are very few individuals who eat their daily fruit, vegetable, protein, and whole grain requirements each day. Taking a vitamin helps supplement your daily food intake and can help ward off illnesses aside from the nutritional benefits.
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Relieve stress – Life can come at us pretty fast and often times we have very little time to cope with its many twists and turns. Be sure to take time out of your day to relax. Relaxation can occur on many different levels. One can meditate, take a hot bath, read a book, or go for a walk. Exercise, by the way, is a GREAT reliever of stress and helps burn those calories, too!
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Go to the doctor – Routine yearly physicals are a necessary evil but, as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Routine blood work keeps your doctor informed and keeps YOU healthy!
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Laugh often – I know this seems like an odd tip, but think about it. Sharing joy and laughter with those you love or even a stranger lifts your spirits, it most definitely contributes to your mental health and it helps keep things in perspective. It’s like the old adage says “Laughter is the best medicine”!
Keeping yourself healthy is one of the most important things you can do not only for you, but also your family. And hopefully these tips and suggestions will help guide you on your path to health and longevity. How do you keep yourself and your family on the "healthy track"? Do you have any tips to add to our TOP 10?
Source: Laun, Christina. “101 Health and Wellness Tips for College Students”. April 23, 2008. http://www.rncentral.com/nursing-library/careplans/101_health_and_wellness_tips_for_college_students/