Health

5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Mental and Physical Health

Health is wealth. If you want to feel better about yourself and your life, start with the way you approach your health. Granted, if you’re not in the best shape, it can be intimidating to get started. Thankfully, there are a number of easy ways you can begin to improve your health right now. Consider the following ways you can get started.

1. Move Your Body Daily

The human body heavily relies on physical activity in order to thrive. In their studies on burnout, Drs. Emily and Amelia Nagoski learned that one of the main reasons why people carry a huge amount of stress on their shoulders is because they don’t “complete the stress cycle”. If you’re entering a stressful situation, think of it as a tunnel. Unfortunately, people get stuck in tunnels of stress.

One of the best ways to complete a stress cycle is through physical activity. Whether you stretch and do yoga for 30 minutes, go for a long walk or jump rope for a few minutes outside, this is the best way to travel through the proverbial tunnel, complete the stress cycle and improve your overall health. Since you’ll face different stressors on a daily basis, make physical activity a daily part of your routine. Your mind and body will thank you.

2. Use Supplements to Your Advantage

While a well-balanced diet is really helpful in maintaining optimal health, it’s easy to miss a few food groups or important vitamins each day. This is one of the main reasons why supplements can be so helpful. Before taking supplements, it’s wise to do your research and get your primary care physician’s approval first.

This is especially true if you’re already on medications. Consider some of the concerns you’ve faced regarding your mental or physical health. If you’re often sluggish, it might be helpful to take a multi-vitamin or a Vitamin B12 supplement. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, consider visiting a homeopathic medicine store online before you grab the classic over-the-counter options. Supplements don’t require a major shift in your routine in order to consume them. Yet, they can make a major shift in the way you feel when you take the right ones.

3. Develop a Sleep Regimen

When you’re not getting enough sleep each night, this can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair during the day. There’s only so much power that coffee and B12 can have over your body if you’re not supporting those efforts with enough sleep. Do some experimentation to see which methods work for you.

Turn off all of the electronics an hour before bed. Develop a regimen that includes a warm bath, chamomile tea, and an interesting book. Take a non-addictive sleeping supplement to aid you in the process of developing a new routine. As you get into the habit of changing the way you approach rest, you’ll see what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve.

4. Consume Fiber-Rich Foods Daily

Your gut health is really important to your overall health. Oftentimes, digestive problems are associated with waste, backed-up bowels, and more. This can lead to brain fog, depression, and more. In addition to drinking lots of water on a daily basis, add fiber-rich foods to your diet. Consume green, leafy vegetables with your dinnertime salad or your green smoothie for breakfast.

Add chia seeds to your yogurt parfait as they’re an excellent source of fiber. Fiber helps to keep the digestive system healthy and regular. While colonics, teas, and detoxes have their place, don’t rely on them on a regular basis. Just cultivate a diet that contains lots of fiber in order to see the best results.

5. Set Aside Time to Play

There’s such a major misconception about playtime. It’s often centered around children. However, adults need playtime as well. It’s not solely for children. Playtime is important because it can be a source of stress relief, creativity, and imaginative play.

Playtime can revolve around different activities on different days. On Monday, pull out the colored pencils, crayons, and a coloring book. Put on some music as you dance for 30 minutes on Tuesday. On Friday, pull out the board games to enjoy with your family members or friends. There are tons of ways you can enjoy playtime as an adult. Just make sure you prioritize it because it can directly benefit your mental and physical health.

As you master these tips, it’ll become easier to add new suggestions and rituals into your life. If you find yourself getting frustrated along your journey, remember to take it one step at a time. As you become patient and consistent, you’ll see improvements in due time.