Simple and Effective Ways to Improve Your Health
We have all pledged to improve our health and lifestyle in some format at some stage. However, it is often much more difficult than we had anticipated, which means you may have given up on the idea soon after. While we should always aim to accomplish our health goals, it’s important that they are both realistic and that there is a motive behind them, so that you are much more likely to stick to your goals. The good news is that taking control of your health doesn’t have to be complex or time-consuming – it’s all about making clever choices that help you get into shape and potentially extend your lifespan.
Without further ado, here are several simple and effective ways that have been proven to boost your health and wellbeing:
1. Give up smoking
If you’re a smoker, it would be in your best interest to give up sooner rather than later. Smoking has been proven to increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and COPD and is the leading cause of death in the UK alone. According to NHS England, smoking is also the most common cause of 70% of lung cancer cases.
Quitting smoking can be a real challenge, especially for those who have smoked for many years. This is where vaping may be an option to help kick the habit once and for all. Vaping is the act of inhaling smoke in a vapour form, which is considered to be much better for your health. However, vaping without nicotine would be the least damaging on your health for the long-term.
2. Reduce stress
There’s no getting away from the fact that day to day life can be extremely stressful and can play havoc with your general health and wellbeing. Although you can’t physically see the effects that stress has on the body, it can lead to an array of complications, including the likes of muscle strain, breathing complications, depression, high blood pressure, and digestive problems.
Many situations in life can cause severe stress, which unfortunately cannot be averted, such as the likes of the death of a loved one, redundancy, or financial strain. However, even if these circumstances occur, there are methods of managing your stress to live a happier and healthier life.
Experts have discovered that exercise can drastically reduce stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, as well as stimulating endorphins in the brain, which make us feel relaxed and happy.
It would also be advised to take some time out for yourself every now and again. Life can get extremely demanding on our minds and bodies, which may leave you struggling to simply relax or enjoy hobbies. Ultimately, you’ll be unable to manage your responsibilities if you’re feeling over-stressed and exhausted, so ensure you schedule just a couple of hours per week for yourself to keep stress levels low.
3. Create a healthy sleeping pattern
While you may consider sleeping to be a waste of time, health professionals recommend 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Most of us are guilty of not getting the sleep we need, which can have a drastic impact on our health and wellbeing in the long-term. Over the years, a lack of sleep can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, regardless of whether you have any underlying health conditions.
If you’re constantly sleep-deprived or lacking in energy, going to bed earlier just 15-30 minutes every night could make an enormous difference. You may find this difficult if you’re not used to going to bed at certain times; however, putting a sleep routine in place could make all the difference. Here are some ways you can promote a healthy sleeping pattern:
- Take a hot bath
- Listen to relaxing music
- Reduce artificial light consumption
- Consume hot drinks
4. Exercise
Do you exercise daily? If not, now is the time to develop a daily exercise regime that you feel comfortable to stick to. Irrespective of your age, there is scientific evidence to suggest that exercise can benefit your health in both the short-term and long-term future. People who exercise lower the risk of developing recurring conditions later on in life, such as the likes of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, amongst many others.
Exercise is also linked to weight loss to help you stay in shape, improves general fitness, and even mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.
Start with these 4 simple yet effective tips to see a difference in your life.
