I should start exercising more. I need to eat better. I don't drink enough water. I wonder if this is normal.
Many of us have thoughts every day that tell us to take better care of ourselves, but how often do we listen to them? Health is everything, and some simple tips can help you stay on top of your own well-being and live a better life.
Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time
Meal prep might feel like another chore to tack on to your to-do list, but it can actually save you a lot of time and make you healthier. Meal prep is the in-thing nowadays with services like Plated and Blue Apron becoming staples for work-driven millennials who don't have the time or energy to cook a big meal every day.
But subscription meal plans are expensive, and you don't get a lot of leftovers. To stay more health conscious and keep more money in the bank, learn how to plan your own meals.
Simplify nutrition by keeping these rules in mind:
- Include fruits and vegetables with every meal.
- Stick to serving sizes of carbs like pasta and rice.
- Follow the "5 A Day" rule to make sure you get enough vitamins from fruits and vegetables.
Go to Therapy
Mental health exists even if you aren't depressed, anxious or suffer from other psychological symptoms. Everyone can benefit from learning how to better cope with stress and heavy emotions. Many people avoid getting help because they simply don't know that anything is wrong. They tell themselves, "Oh, everyone gets nervous," or, "I feel better now, so it isn't a big deal."
Depression and anxiety can be horrible one week and more balanced the next. There are more subtle signs of mental illness that you may not even be aware of, like excessive fatigue, lack of motivation and loss of interests in activities.
Try some online screening tools to see whether you might be suffering from a mental illness. However, don't be afraid to reach out and talk to a therapist even if you aren't entirely sure what's wrong. The sooner you get help, the sooner you'll feel better. Your therapist can give you exercises and at-home practices to do on your own that will help you remember what you go over in your sessions.
Stay Active at Work
Desk jobs are a major health risk, but we can't afford to not make a living. How do you stay healthy and active when you spend the majority of your day in front of a computer screen? Look into desk exercises and start practicing them throughout the day. Take a 10-minute break to walk around every hour, spend your lunch break outside when weather permits and be sure to get physical cardio after work at least four times a week.
Stay Hydrated
As much as it pains us to admit it, iced coffee isn't adequate hydration. While there are some great health benefits to coffee, caffeinated drinks or other sugary beverages don't give our bodies the H-20 they need.
You should drink roughly eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. This sounds like a lot, but if you break it up throughout the day, it becomes much simpler. Aim for two glasses before you leave for work, two in the afternoon and two at night. Be sure to compensate for any fluids you lose after exercising.
You can remind yourself to drink more water by setting a simple alarm on your phone and help yourself stay hydrated by snacking on water-based fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, celery, watermelon, strawberries, and oranges.
Make Medical Appointments
No one likes going to the doctor or the dentist, but avoiding your annual exams or waiting for symptoms to resolve on their own or become too severe to deal with won't make health issues go away. Many diseases show no visible signs during the early stages, but regular general exams by your medical professionals can catch things before they get out too far along.
Your health matters even when you feel fantastic. We often don't consider our well-being until it's in jeopardy, so switch up your mindset and start seeing your health as something that deserves to be prioritized.