If you are looking for easy ways on how to live a healthier life, here are four easy things you can do to improve the quality of your life.
There are multiple things we can do to improve the quality of our life, and most of it is rooted in taking better care of our health. It’s important to note that what constitutes a healthier lifestyle can mean different things to different people. After all, we each have a different foundation from which we are building. However, no matter your foundation, the end goal is generally always the same.
This article will touch on each of these areas to provide you with some ideas on how to live a healthier life. These are probably things you have heard over and over again, but it is good to be reminded of the basics often.
What Does it Mean to Live a Healthier Life?
A healthy life is one that contributes to your overall health and well-being. Although diet and exercise play a role in your state of health, they are not the sole factors of you staying healthy.
Multiple factors may constitute what it means to lead a healthy life including but not limited to our emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health.
Exercise
If you are not already invested in a regular exercise regimen, it ís time to create a ritual that will enable you to get active as soon as possible.
Exercise offers you a wealth of advantages mentally and physically that can significantly improve your quality of life.
You should aim to get a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity activity each week (WebMD).
Not a fan of spending time in the gym? There are dozens of ways to boost your exercise game ranging from taking a walk in the park to taking the stairs to taking a dip in the pool.
Managing Stress
Make it your mission this year to become better at managing your stress levels. Stress can prove harmful to your health if left unchecked for too long and can cause a variety of problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Stress can also trigger feelings of anxiety and depression, leaving us vulnerable to mood swings or even self-harm.
There are dozens of actions you can take to manage your stress including but not limited to:
- Exercise
- Mindful Meditation
- Learn to say ‘No’ and Set Limits on what you can do
- Get social support from family and friends
- Practice self-care
- Make time for yourself
- Enjoy your favorite hobby (i.e., reading, music, travel, watching a movie)
- Take Care of Your Mental Health
It is only natural to minimize the importance of your mental health and wellness if you have never experienced an episode of mental illness. However, we should make mental wellness a priority as it impacts so many corners of our lives.
Without our mental health, we cannot function optimally at work, at home or be a reliable source for even ourselves. Tips for improving your mental health include:
- Getting enough sleep
- Participating in hobbies you enjoy
- Keeping yourself fit
- Getting out and socializing with others
- Maintaining a healthy diet
Watch Your Diet
Eating unhealthily from time to time is easy to do. Just remember to pick yourself up and dust your bottom off and get back on track. The food you eat can play a significant role in your health and how you feel. Your diet should contain foods that provide your body with the best blend of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber.
Watch your soda, alcohol and sugar intake as these things can be a bit toxic to the body. Boost your intake of water, ensuring that your body is always well-hydrated.
These are just a few ideas on how to live a healthier life. Your path to health and wellness may look a bit different than those around you, but it does not make the journey any less vital.
Remember to practice self-care, avoiding those things and people who may try to compel you to sacrifice your own personal needs.
Hello,
Sometimes we get caught by the stress of life and forget about living and forget that time is passing by and we are never going to have the chance to re-live this day again. Some time ago I bought a new tool to massage the skin of the face so it would stay young, and guess what? I have only used that tool like two times in total.
Most of the time I don’t even wash my make up at night before going to sleep.
While I exercise quite often, I don’t reach the 2.5 hours a week as per your recommendation. I am talking about most of the weeks in a year because some weeks in the summer I exercise more than others.
As you mention stress management is also important for health. Sometimes is inevitable, however.
Thank you for this wonderful article!
Thanks for the comment and although it’s difficult, we have to make looking after our health become a habit. Try making little changes and then implementing some more, and before you know it the habit is there.
I believe it is so important as you say to get the recommended 2.5 hours a week of exercise. It seems like a lot but it will make you feel better all around.
I think this in itself will lead to better habits too. These better habits will become easier like staying hydrated and making better food choices. When all these things come together, I believe you become a better person not only physically but mentally too. What would you say is the most important lifestyle choice?
Michelle
I think it’s definitely a good balance between eating healthily, exercising enough and stress management. Thanks for your comment Michelle.