American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson told us that our health was our real wealth, and he’s on the money with that one. Your mental and physical health are the foundations of a full and meaningful life.
For that reason, it is important to take the best possible care of yourself. Luckily, there is a lot to be done to maintain (or reach) good health, including these five easy steps:
1. Make Small Changes
It’s easy to get caught up on heavily debated health questions. Is fat free milk good for you? Are eggs healthy? Is soy milk from the devil? Since you’ll always find conflicting answers, such questions can end up doing more harm than good by making you feel stuck.
So, instead of getting caught up in the details, make small but meaningful changes. Swap sugary drinks for water, take up a form of exercise you love, and cut back on processed foods. These small changes will become habits over time, and you will soon start reaping the benefits.
2. Start Caring For Your Mind
Your mental health can have a huge impact on your quality of life and your physical health. According to WebMD, there are strong links between mental health and some physical conditions. Depression has been linked to chronic illness, mental health issues can cause problems with sleep, and people with poor mental health are more likely to smoke.
If your mental health has seen better days, consider taking up therapy and meditation. It’s also worth taking the time to truly unwind through self-care practices that work for you. This is a really important part of creating a healthier life.
3.Take Digital Detoxes
Social media has been linked to depression in adolescents, and further data suggests that reducing social media use can result in better moods and fewer feelings of depression.
Digital detoxes are essential for maintaining good health. At a bare minimum, we all need less blue light in our lives because it disrupts the circadian rhythm. In addition, it’s certainly healthy to partake in less scrolling through other people’s pictures and videos. Instead, pursue wholesome real-life social time and meaningful experiences.
4. Consider Going Plant-Based
A plant-based diet is, as the name suggests, mainly made up of plants. For some people, that means still including a small amount of meat and dairy, but for others, it means being completely vegan.
It’s an excellent lifestyle choice if you want to do better by the environment, the animals, and more specifically, your health. Many scientific studies now support a whole-food, plant-based diet as a method for reducing your risk of obesity, chronic conditions, heart disease, and even some cancers.
5. Quit Those Nasty Habits
Unfortunately, some habits will destroy your efforts to be healthy elsewhere in your life because they are so bad for you. The worst offenders are smoking, drinking in excess, and taking illegal drugs.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to quit your worst habit, as this single act of defiance will almost instantly boost your overall health. Why not seek some support today, and win back your chances of enjoying a healthier life?
“Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.” – Anne Wilson Schaef
Hopefully, the five steps above have encouraged you to lead a healthier life. Every little action, even reading this article, is a step towards a stronger and fitter mind and body – two phenomenal tools you can then use to help build an incredible life.