As with many things in life, change begins with one small action. This is especially true when it comes to your overall health. You choose to go left instead of right. You put down that candy bar and pick up a piece of fruit. You take the stairs instead of the elevator. Everything you do affects something else in your life. The good thing, however, is that if you nosh on the aforementioned candy bar today, you can still make a change tomorrow or even later today to become a healthier version of yourself. Continue reading for some helpful tips to get started.
In any discussion about shifting your daily habits and activities to embrace a healthier lifestyle, it would be remiss not to mention that you should always consult your healthcare provider first. Talk about any new exercises you plan to incorporate into your routine or new supplements (whether natural or pharmaceutical) and dietary changes, as these can all impact your overall health.
Incorporate Supplements Into Your Daily Routine
The name supplements tells you what these little pills, tablets, or capsules can do for you. By its very name, a supplement enhances or completes something else – essentially, supplements fill in the gaps in your regular healthy diet.
Whether you choose to take a daily multivitamin for your essential daily needs or require something more targeted, such as for inflammation, taking a supplement just might be the thing your body needs. For example, the plant Fadogia Agrestis has known properties that have proven beneficial for some to alleviate their bothersome inflammation and provide relief. The beauty of supplements is that they are portable and a way to bolster your efforts while living a healthier life.
Change the Food You Eat
Eating better is a hard road for many people. If you are one of them, know it does not have to be an all-or-nothing effort. You need to eat a balanced diet throughout the day and allow yourself to enjoy food, as well. When you abstain from your favorite foods or a little treat now and then, you tend to feel as if you have failed if you stray from your healthy-eating endeavor.
Whether you choose a Paleo, Vegetarian, Keto, or Whole30 diet, you need to find the food that works for you. And that begins with planning. Look for recipes that excite you, and then go grocery shopping. Spend a few hours each week performing meal prep. That way, you will have freshly chopped vegetables and washed greens available instead of reaching for a bag of chips simply because it is easier. Remember your snacks, too, and plan accordingly, as they can be just as healthy as your other meals.
Add Physical Movement To Your Day
Exercise is an essential component of a healthy body and mind. The physical activities you engage in can help strengthen your body as a whole, but when you break it down, the impact is enormous. Cardiovascular exercises benefit your heart, lungs, and cardiovascular system, while strength training, even with low-weight options, will help strengthen your bones. The stress released and the endorphins produced through exercise help your mind and overall sense of happiness.
Something many people overlook regarding exercise is flexibility. Being flexible is important throughout your life, but it becomes more so as you age. An agile body allows you to pivot and move with a lessened likelihood of injuries.
Watch this video for a guided stretching session you can practice every day.
Give Yourself Compassion
Change is difficult and it does not happen overnight. It will take many small actions to make something new into a habit. To make positive changes in your life, you will need to be mindful of your choices over and over again until the new choices you are proactively making become second nature and no longer require as much thought to enact.
Since falling away from ingrained ways of living requires a major effort and internal paradigm shift, give yourself some grace and compassion when (not if) you make a misstep or fall away from your goal. It is ok, everyone does it. Embrace that you are a normal, fallible person, and then get back on the path to a healthier lifestyle. You will get there, and it does take time, but the results are worth the effort.
Being healthy is not something you can do in an instant. It takes real work and is a journey. The goal, however, is not the final destination. The purpose is to become healthier as you progress through life day by day.