The age old adage, “health is wealth” has never been truer and more relevant than now. In this modern era, where health, commonly takes a backseat due to our hectic lives, it is time for each and everyone to pause, and take stock of everything that can be detrimental to us. While most define being healthy merely as being free from any disease or illness, the World Health Organization says that overall wellness is a combination of both physical and mental wellbeing.
Take charge of your health now, and start walking through the pathway to improved wellness using the positivity triad. Improve your food intake, go exercise, and free your mind from pessimism!
Proper diet and nutrition
Your food choices reflect who you are and what your state is today, tomorrow, and in the future. Good nutrition is a vital component of your overall health, and naturally, this is where you need to start making decisions on your journey to holistic wellness.
Although you may not have a lot of time on your hands, simple changes and tips like the below can go a long way.
- Home-cooked meals: Despite how busy your schedule is, set aside some time to make your own meals at home. Not only does this allow you to save money, but it also guarantees that you are eating healthy and fresh ingredients.
- Make healthy choices: Fill your fridge with more go, grow, and glow foods. This includes fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Minimise fried foods and sugar.
- Always eat your breakfast: Don’t forget to start your day by eating your breakfast. Breakfast fuels you with the energy you will need to think faster and clearer for the rest of the day.
- Eat when you are hungry, not when you are bored: Thoughtless snack eating habits bring myriad health problems. It over exceeds your daily energy requirement while providing little, if not zero nutritional benefits. If you must snack, choose recipes and options that only enhance your nutrition.
- Hydrate yourself: Cut your calories and drink lots of water. Avoid soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks because they are major sources of added sugar and empty calories.
- Rules of eating out: Eating clean does not equal to boring food. Health savvy foodies now have a multitude of choices at their disposal.
Exercise
Always remember that a healthy lifestyle is an active lifestyle! A study published in the Lancet has reported that physical inactivity and lack of exercise is as deadly as smoking. Out of the 57 million deaths that occurred worldwide last 2008, 5.3 million were due to causes related to physical inactivity. Forget diabetes and heart diseases. Consequences of a sedentary lifestyle go beyond these diseases causing anxiety, depression, and even cancer.
The solution to the above? Exercise of course. Exercise contributes vastly to your physical and mental wellness, while reducing stress and improving self-confidence. Here are some tips you can follow to achieve a healthy, active lifestyle:
- Every step you take counts toward better health: Studies show that walking helps you manage your weight. It also has a great impact on your overall health. Walking at least 10,000 steps per day increases your cardiovascular fitness, strengthens your bones, burns excess fat, and boosts endurance. So what are you waiting for? Get yourself out of that room. Go to the park or go shopping at the mall. Have fun and enjoy while burning calories.
- Control your screen time: Today’s generation is greatly influenced by digital media in all forms such as TV, computer, smartphones, and video games. Overuse of digital media increases risk of obesity, while developing sleeping problems. Limit your screen time and consider other options that are beneficial like reading and outdoor activities.
- Try out the sport you have always wanted to learn: Sports are a great avenue which allows you to have fun and exercise at the same time. It is also a great way to build coordination, skills, and confidence.
- Go on an adventure: You don’t need to be the adventurous type to enjoy taking scenic trips. Spend some time with nature. Go out and try trekking, caving, and rock climbing. Not only does it let you breathe fresh air in contrast to the usual polluted city air, it also enhances your cardiovascular fitness, strengthens your bones, and frees you from the stress you are carrying.
Stay optimistic!
A healthy body is replete with a healthy mind. Staying positive keeps you motivated and lets you live a healthy life. It makes it easier for you to make healthy choices particularly with food and exercise.
Stress also makes you gain weight, and it is not just about beating stress; it is also about appreciating your yourself and enjoying some quality, alone time. Here are some tips to stay positive:
- Do what you love and love what you do: Choose something you will enjoy doing. If you love the outdoors, you can go hiking or even biking.
- Keep it interesting: Try out different activities like swimming, wakeboarding, and even snorkelling. Watch TV or videos, or even listen to music, while you exercise.
- Try out yoga: Yoga is a mind-body exercise which is proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, all while improving flexibility, building muscle strength, and developing proper posture.
- Give yourself some time off every now and then: Don’t overwork yourself. Go out with friends, have mini vacations or go to the spa, or take a day off work every now and then to relax.
It is important to keep in mind that the choices you make have serious consequences to your overall health. Take care of yourself. Try and find balance in your life with this positivity triad.
