Getting started isn’t the hardest part of staying healthy; sticking to a healthy routine is. Yet, consistency is the key to success when it comes to your physical and psychological well-being. Developing healthy habits and routines is a day to day approach to your health that will ensure that you’re still healthy in 5, 10, or even 20 years. A long-term perspective will help you stay on track and help you achieve this end. Begin by monitoring and maintaining your health in the following ways.
Focus on your diet and fitness routine
The first step is to focus on developing a lifestyle that will help you achieve physical health. We’re talking primarily about maintaining a healthy weight, a healthy heart, and strong muscles. A healthy diet should include plenty of natural foods that are packed with nutrients and vitamins. Processed and pre-packaged foods do not have the clean, nutritional value for optimum health. A better option is fresh fruit, vegetables, and legumes that provide nutritional value. Be sure to include protein in your diet. It need not be meat-based as beans, such as lentils are packed protein. To find all of the healthiest foods in the grocery store, shop the perimeter, not the aisles. Eating nutritious meals is the most beneficial thing you can do to maintain a healthy body.
A fitness routine is important too. It’s not just about “slimming down”. In fact, when it comes to your weight, your primary goal should be to achieve a healthy waistline. There are plenty of skinny people out there who are actually underweight, and that’s just as bad for your future well-being as being overweight. So, it’s crucial to make sure you couple a solid workout routine with a filling diet.
Exercise has the added bonus of releasing endorphins that will improve your mood. So, physical activity has psychological benefits too and this will help you maintain your new healthy lifestyle. For optimum results, combine resistance training (e.g. weight-lifting, push-ups, etc) with cardio training (e.g. running). It’s not about building muscles, but maintaining strength and flexibility as we age. Muscle tone improves balance and decreases the strain on tendons and joints. Again, consistency is key.
Maintaining Your Health Includes Keeping your senses in top condition
You should also monitor and maintain your senses well if you want to enjoy a healthy life in both the present and the future. This might not be an aspect of healthcare that’s discussed as much as diet and exercising, but it’s just as important. We all rely on our senses to lead normal lives and should avoid taking them for granted.
First, pay attention to your eyesight. If you find you’re straining to read things or you feel that certain objects are blurry, schedule an appointment with your optician. Corrective eye-wear can improve your vision and help prevent further damage to your sight. Similarly, don’t counteract bad hearing by turning up the volume on devices. This will only make the damage worse. Look into modern hearing aids. to help improve and protect your hearing for years to come.
Making sure you get enough rest is Key to Maintaining Your Health
Rest is an essential part of maintaining long-term health. Pay attention to your sleeping habits. It’s very easy to slip into a “too late” bedtime routine without really noticing. If you think you regularly deny yourself a sufficient amount of sleep, make changes. Even a one hour shortage makes a difference. I you routinely only get 7 hours of rest when your body functions best at 8, it’s time to make a change. Remember, the necessary amount of sleep varies from person to person. Some people do well with 7 hours, but others need as many as 9. The point is, don’t short change yourself, as the lack of rest can have negative impact on your health. It can lead to weight gain, mental health issues, and even cardiovascular problems. Start by going to bed to be a little earlier to make sure you get enough sleep.
If you struggle to fall asleep, because you can’t turn off your mind, take a serious look at your pre-sleep routine. Avoid your cellphone and any other kind of technology before bed. Research has shown that screens stimulate the brain and directly correlates with poor sleep. It’s also smart o avoid eating food too close to bedtime. That can also stimulate the body and keep you awake.
A bedtime routine that allows for slowing down and quiet is ideal. For example, turn off all electronic devices, brush your teeth and get into your nightclothes. Then make yourself a nice cup of Sleepy Time tea and crawl into bed with a good book. Even just twenty minutes of reading can be enough to put you right to sleep.
