Healthy strategies you can start today
Article courtesy of Jennifer McGregor
jmcgreg@publichealthlibrary.org
Healthy strategies you can start today
It’s a fact that healthy habits often don’t come naturally. Rather, they generally need to be carefully cultivated, which often means fighting inertia and taking the path of most resistance on a regular basis. However, this does not, in any way, diminish the need for healthy practices in daily living to ward off diseases, relieve stress, have more endurance, be stronger and more flexible—the list goes on and on. Thankfully, there are foolproof strategies you can easily leverage on a day-to-day basis that can bring about the healthy change that you wish to see in your life so you don’t only look good, but you feel good, too. Here are a few to get you started.
Take advantage of modern technology.
These days, it’s undeniable that technology has taken a major role in our lives. As a matter of fact, it’s present in just about everything we do. So why not put it to good use and leverage it to kickstart healthy habits that benefit your overall well-being? No doubt, a great place to start is the ubiquitous smartphone. This gadget alone (which you most likely already have) puts countless apps at your fingertips. Many of these apps are designed to perform health-related functions, tracking everything from your sleep to exercise to diet—not to mention, giving you access to valuable health resources like exercise videos, “clean” recipes, and even meditation guidance, to name just a few. Needless to say, it’s more than a good idea to have a few of these apps in your health arsenal. Many people swear by apps such as MyFitnessPal, Couch to 5K, and SleepScore (just to get you started). Of course, you’ll need to have a powerful and reliable smartphone to get the full benefit of these tools, so if yours is not quite up to the task, it might be high time for an upgrade. You can even save on what is normally a hefty purchase when you look for smartphone promotions from your wireless provider. Many carriers offer trade-in and sign-up deals on new models. Furthermore, you can consider investing in wearable tech like fitness trackers, too, for that added motivation to realize your health goals.
Be mindful of your choices.
Making healthy changes mostly entails making good decisions daily in various aspects of your life, such as the food that you eat, your routines, and even how you spend your free time. It definitely goes without saying that if you want to get healthy, you should make choices that really and truly benefit your health, not just in body, but mentally and emotionally, too. When it comes to physical activity, this usually means choosing to exercise regularly. However, this can also be as simple as making the decision to move more every day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, for instance. Your healthful choices come in extra handy with food, too. As a rule of thumb, pay closer attention to what you consume, and take great pains to avoid processed food. Instead, mindfully choose whole foods that are as rich in nutrients as they are delicious and affordable. Drinking water instead of sugary soda and juices is also a choice that you can’t possibly go wrong with. In time, this will become second nature.
Incorporate money-saving measures.
Lastly, take stock of your expenses. Perhaps your transportation spending is putting a real dent in your budget, or maybe you’re wasting money on junk food. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save when you opt to walk or cycle to and from work or minimize snacking. These examples barely scratch the surface, of course, but the point is, you hit two birds with one stone, as saving money is added motivation while you also get healthy in the process. Suffice it to say, you will not develop healthy habits overnight, but you can definitely start by introducing doable healthy strategies into your life and slowly building it up from there. There’s no better time than now to start making mindful and healthful tweaks to your life, so what are you waiting for?
