There are so many ways that a person can improve their health. Fitness and nutrition are the usual starting points, but there are others that may be overlooked. Below, I have chosen just five ways that can help you get started.
Take a walk. Whether you are like me and enjoy getting outside for your activity or you prefer to walk on a treadmill, walking will start you on the right track to getting healthy. Walking has been proven to be beneficial and is the easiest way to get started on your fitness journey.
Listen to Music. When it comes to music, I consider myself eclectic. I can relax with some great jazz or classical music one day and another day be ready to dance with hip hop, pop or even Latin tunes. Music can help people reduce their anxiety level. It can push you to go harder or longer on a run and one song can help you smile and improve your mood. Music therapy has been proven to help decrease stress levels and enhance memory function. Whether you like one genre or are eclectic like myself, listening to music can be one of the easiest way to improve your health.
Read a book. One thing I love on a rainy day is a warm blanket and a good book. Reading has some great health benefits. Getting lost in a good book can help you relax. When you read, you engage your brain and can reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease. As you read a variety of books, you can increase your overall knowledge, so grab a good book and get reading.
Meditate. This is something I recently started. I struggle with falling asleep at night. I can be extremely exhausted, lay down in the bed and suddenly my brain starts thinking of everything I need to complete over the next day or so. This has caused me to be very tired in the morning. Meditation helps me relax through breathing techniques, visualization and music. Some other benefits of meditation are improved concentration, reduced stress, improved immune system, and helps slow the aging process.
Volunteer. Whether you volunteer in the soup kitchen or at your local hospital, it brings benefits to your health. Volunteering can reduce your risk of depression, it can reduce your stress level and increase your confidence. This can also give you a sense of purpose. Check with your local hospitals, shelters and skilled facilities for information.
Drink water. This may be obvious and simple, but it is the one that people tend to forget. Since our bodies are made up of water, it seems obvious that drinking water would benefit it. Some of the benefits of drinking water are as follows:
* Improvement in your mood
* Reduction in fatigue
* Improvement in your skin
* Improvement in GI (gut) function
* Helps with weight loss
* Flushes toxins from the body
* Improvement in your mood
* Reduction in fatigue
* Improvement in your skin
* Improvement in GI (gut) function
* Helps with weight loss
* Flushes toxins from the body
By drinking the recommended adequate intake (AI) of water, you can easily start the process of improving your health. The Institute of Medicine has recommended 13 cups of beverages per day for men and 9 cups per day for women. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256)
As we start a new year, it is a perfect time to make some healthy changes. Whether you try one or all of the above recommendations, find what works for you. Here is to a healthy year!
