Staying on top of your health can feel like a real pain to do at times. Most of us are too busy leading our lives to be making sure we are doing everything that is recommended by healthcare professionals. And let’s face it, it can be a lot of information to take in especially when advice changes all the time.
But surely, there must be some things you can easily add into your lifestyle to make sure you are staying fit and healthy all year round. Why not start in 2020! After all, what is a better time to make changes than the beginning of a new decade?
Take a look at some areas of your life where you can make small changes to help you live your best life in 2020 and stay fit and healthy going forward from this decade into the next!
Regular Health Checks
It may feel like they are a bit wasted when you feel fine but honestly, making sure you keep up with your regular health checks can be a literal lifesaver! Visiting your doctor to have routine tests, scans and checks on your body can help you indicate anything you need to look at or pinpoint possible issues going forward.
Ignoring any health worries will not only make you feel worse but it will affect your mental health and make everything seem worse than it is. Getting the checks done as and when your doctor advises means you can catch any potential issues early and have them dealt with before they become a bigger problem.
This too goes for visiting your dentist. Are you suffering from a toothache or having issues with your wisdom teeth? Keeping up with regularly scheduled appointments and booking in when you experience problems can help keep your mouth in the best condition. Make sure you schedule any dental work to be carried out by qualified experts to reduce the risk of complications. Did you know wisdom teeth removal can be a cause of trismus? For this and any other dental problems, you may have such as toothache, cavities, bleeding gums, make sure you get the best appropriate advice for you.
When was the last time you got your eyes checked? Don’t neglect to visit an ophthalmologist when it comes to keeping your body healthy. Any small changes should be checked out as this could indicate a bigger issue. The earlier you get things checked the better as you can rectify any problems earlier or just put your mind at ease so you aren’t worrying.
Relax, Relax, Relax.
Easier said than done sometimes, but honestly, one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health is to schedule some relaxation time into your day, no matter how small.
Take up meditating. Do it first thing in the morning before anyone else gets up or as you go to bed for the ideal way to rid your mind of all your daily stresses and worries even if just for 10 minutes. Bottling up our emotions and not dealing with the stresses of day to day life or big events can really affect how you feel emotionally and physically. You need to make sure you deal with this in a way that works for you and mediation or even practising mindfulness can be a great way to do this.
It may take time and practise to get to where you need to be, but taking the time each day and persevering can really benefit you in the long as you work to balance your life, feelings and everything you have going on around you.
Exercise
Not really a gym bunny? Not everyone is, but everyone can participate in some form of exercise no matter how small. Something simple such as taking a walk around the block can really help you clear your head and get some fresh air into your lungs. This is especially important if you don’t get out a lot or you are a stay at home parent or work from home.
Blow away the cobwebs and walk off the day to help keep your body and heart healthy and incorporate some exercise into your day.
If you are after something different, why not look at the different types of exercise classes you can take up. Rope in some friends or join you if you can and carve out this time together for yourselves. Dance classes are becoming more and more popular as are yoga and pilates. All are great but different ways to add some exercise into your life.
For those who are fans of the great outdoors, why not look at taking up a new hobby. Hiking, rock climbing, abseiling or even water sports are great ways to get active and enjoy the environment around you.
Change your Diet.
You are what you eat as they say and what you eat can have a direct correlation on how you feel. A diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals can leave you feeling lethargic and sluggish and eat away at your energy levels.
So as we head into the new decade, why not look at making small changes to what you eat. Swap takeaways for fakeaways you can make at home. This means you can still enjoy your favorite meal, but a healthier version that will make you feel good.
Create a meal plan and shop for what is on your list only avoiding all those foods laden with sugars and fats and incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into your meals.
Another great swap is to change your sugary drinks for water. There are so many health benefits to drinking water, that even after a few days, you will see the difference yourself.
You don’t have to start big and throw out everything in your cupboard and start again. But implementing small changes that are easy to stick to for you will still benefit you in the long run. It takes an average of 66 days for something to become a habit that you do without thinking about it. So don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go perfect from day one!
This is a collaborative post.
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