Take Control of Your Health and Add Years to Your Life
Strength training two or three times a week can also help to build muscle and improve bone health.
Worried about your health? Wanting to make some changes? The good news is there are always ways to improve your health and wellbeing - some working more quickly than others. However, most positive change requires discipline, consistency and time to be effective. Read on to learn more about taking positive steps to improve your health.
Getting blood tests, cholesterol tests and other checks done provide a baseline to work from.
Understanding your current health status
The first step in improving your health is to clearly understand where you are right now. Without self-awareness and a benchmark for comparison, knowing how and when you’re making improvements becomes more difficult.
Start with some physical and mental assessments. Metrics such as your weight and body fat percentage can be taken with digital weighing scales. A visit to the dentist and doctor can give you an idea of your oral and physical health. Getting blood tests, cholesterol tests and other checks done provide a baseline to work from. Consider any personal injuries you’ve suffered and how these might impact you day to day.
You may also want to evaluate your lifestyle habits, such as your diet, physical activity levels and sleep patterns. Fitness trackers and smartwatches have a range of features that provide valuable insights into your daily routines and habits.
Ask yourself some key questions about your happiness and satisfaction with life. It could be interesting to see how you answer after making some positive changes.
Meal planning and home preparation are a must if you want budget whilst staying away from cheap fast food.
Forming healthy habits
To start making improvements to your health, focus on establishing and maintaining healthy habits. Tackle the big factors first – diet, exercise and sleep.
Adopting a balanced diet containing fruits, vegetables, proteins, fats and complex carbohydrates should make a significant difference. Limit your intake of processed foods, excessive sugar and saturated fats. Meal planning and home preparation are a must if you want budget whilst staying away from cheap fast food.
Incorporate regular physical activity into your routine. The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This could be brisk walking, cycling or anything else that gets your heart pumping. Strength training two or three times a week can also help to build muscle and improve bone health.
Ensure you get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Create a relaxing bedtime routine to help you drift off and maintain a consistent schedule throughout the week to improve sleep quality. Avoiding screen time and food for the last hour before you go to bed should help too.
Deep breathing exercises can even be done at your desk. Just 10 minutes a day can have a huge impact on your overall wellbeing and nervous system.
Prioritising mental health
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and the two are undeniably linked. Stress, anxiety and depression can have significant impacts on your overall wellbeing and vice versa.
To manage stress, practice relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, meditation or deep breathing exercises. These can even be done at your desk or during the work day. Just 10 minutes a day can have a huge impact on your overall wellbeing and nervous system. Maintaining social connections and taking up enjoyable hobbies can also positively affect your mental health.
Don't hesitate to seek professional help if you feel overwhelmed. Talking to a therapist or counsellor can provide support and coping strategies for managing various types of mental health challenges.
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