What if we told you that there are 5 things you could start doing today that would have a huge impact on your every day routines — for the better?
These 5 easy ways to be healthy are SO easy, you don’t need to buy anything or do anything out of the ordinary. You just need to commit to doing it, and it’ll instantly you kick-start your health and KEEP you feeling amazing.
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Drink more water
Sounds easy, but people underestimate the amount of good drinking more water can do for your body. Not only does it help your kidneys a heck of a lot, but it keeps your skin looking fresh, it helps maintain a healthy bowel function, and it help curbs hunger. It will also help improve your mood; in a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, mildly dehydrated individuals experienced headaches, fatigue, worsened mood and difficulty concentrating.
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Eat breakfast
Kick-start your metabolism for the day by eating a balanced breakfast that includes high-fiber grains, fruit and protein as soon as you get up. This gives your body the boost it needs to function at a higher pace, and it will also mean you’ll be less likely to overeat at other meals.
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Check in with your body throughout the day
As I write this, I’m pulling my shoulders back and down. I’m lifting my chin up. I’m making sure I’m sitting on my sit bone and not slouching forward. I’ll even take a break in a moment to do some light stretching. It feels strange at first, but as you keep checking in with your posture every half hour, you’ll find that your corrections start to become more minor. There are some great free apps you can use to remind you to take a break, too. What have you got to lose?
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Take me-time once a day, minimum
It’s so easy to get caught up with the daily grind and forget to take some time for yourself. Even now, you might be thinking, “There’s too much to do! I can’t find the time to chill out for a half hour.” But you can. Bring your dog for a walk alone, and focus only on the enjoyment you’ll get from sharing the sights and sounds around the two of you. Start a project that you can work on in the garage for a short time in the evening. Start a new book and read a bit before going to bed. Or take a longer shower, when you can just check in with how you’re feeling.
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Get outside!
You’ll be surprised at how much of a mood-booster fresh air is. Of course, your vitamin D levels rise if the sun is out…but more than that, you’ll be moving which helps the body relax. And my favourite – you’ll breathe more deeply. s Esther Sternberg of the National Institute of Mental Health suggests deep breathing shifts the body out of sympathetic nervous system control and into parasympathetic mode; a healthier, calmer state in terms of general well-being and biochemical balance. This curbing of stress hormones (like cortisol) preserves the body’s immune function and keeps blood pressure and heart rate in check.
Have you found that these 5 easy ways to be healthy have helped you? Do you have other easy ways to be healthy? Share!