With the quick pace of life, it is easy to get too busy and forget about the most important thing in your life – your health. Your body is the only place you will have to live in forever. So, even if you have many responsibilities to attend to, taking some time to take care of your health will not only make you feel better but will also give you more energy to be able to do more things.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, people have started to become more and more aware of the importance of taking care of their health. However, make sure you incorporate habits that are realistic long-term, not just doing things for a few days or even months. Health is a lifestyle, not a goal. The more sustainable your health practices are, the better.
Here are some health practices for a better life.
- Nourishing your body in the morning
Having a balanced nutritious breakfast in the morning should be a habit to do every day. Choosing foods that are high in quality (and delicious) is necessary to have the energy to ace the day. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, fasting in the morning won’t help in losing weight, and it might even do the opposite because of how it affects your metabolism.
The options for a delicious and fulfilling breakfast are endless: eggs, vegetables, and bread. Some whole grains, yogurt, and fruits. You can get creative with your options so that you enjoy your breakfast every day.
- Hydration
You have probably heard this one a million times, but it is because of how crucial it is to your health. Water is essential for the well-functioning of every part of your body, especially your brain. When you’re dehydrated, which is becoming more popular than ever, your physical and mental performance is impacted. You might experience what’s called brain fog and feel like no matter what you do, you don’t feel energized.
Aim to drink around 2-3 liters per day. When you wake up in the morning, the first thing to do is to drink a cup of water, even before drinking any caffeine. That’s because your body will need to refuel after sleeping for long hours, so the best thing to wake up to is some water. Also, if you’re someone who consumes a lot of caffeine, up your water intake because caffeine dehydrates the body so you’ll need more water than someone who doesn’t drink any caffeine.
- Mobility and stretches
Doing stretches and mobility movements are two main factors of healthy movement that are very overlooked. Most people focus on diet and exercise and forget that to move better, you need to stretch and move your body in several ranges of motion.
Regular mobility and stretching are crucial to reducing daily pain and increasing vascular health, especially if you have had injuries in the past or have been in accidents. To fully recover from an accident, it’s not enough to go to physical therapy for a few months, finish legal paperwork with a car accident lawyer, and all that stuff.
“Car accidents might cause serious harm, physically and psychologically, hence, it’s crucial that people get well-compensated for the damages”, says The Barnes Firm.
Thus, if you have ever had a vehicle accident, it’s exceptionally important for you to incorporate mobility movements into your routine because of the effect they can have on your life in the long term.
- Emotional regulation
Filling up your schedule is one of the most common ways people cope with their emotions, and it is the worst. We tend to make ourselves busy because we want to avoid feeling any emotions, which is counter-productive. After all, it only makes us stronger. The only way to get through emotions is to acknowledge them, let them be, and move on.
Our bodies are put under too much stress daily and we encounter situations with family, partners, friends, colleagues, or even random people we meet that make us feel negative emotions, which if left too long can impact not only our mental health but our physical health as well because our body is interconnected.
Practicing mindfulness is one of the most powerful ways of emotional regulation. A mindful and self-aware person is the most powerful person you will ever meet because even if you can control their outer world, you can never control their inner one. Mindfulness starts when you slow down and live in the present moment: acknowledge your feelings, be present in whatever you’re doing, ask yourself questions, focus on your breathing, practice positive self-talk, identify your triggers and work with them, etc…
Even if you don’t have time, practicing mindfulness can be done anywhere. You can simply take a few deep breaths on your way to work or try to tune in with your emotions and ask yourself how you’re feeling.
