The most valuable and prized possession we have is our health. For many years, I have taken a personal interest in healthier aging and getting my body back to its healthiest state. My direction is to focus on ‘preventative’ or ‘natural alternatives‘ for optimal health and wellness. Without our health, we would not be able to achieve the things we want to in our life, go places we want to go and do the things we wish to do.
Over the last few decades, as more fast food restaurants continue to evolve, more people have turned to fast food to keep up with the demands of a busy lifestyle according to a study done at the University of Minnesota Medical School. This, in turn, has created an increase in various illnesses and a lack of peak performance in the body.
Here are seven tips to take back control of your health and get on the path to wellness:
(1) Spend time in nature:
Do you remember when you were a kid and you would lie down on grass, climb trees, jump from cliffs into the lake, listen to birds chirping and you were filled with joy, awe, and wonder? Do you recall playing in the sand on the beach, looking up at the sky as the clouds were floating above you, observing the beauty of the stars, and contemplate on the vastness of the universe?
As an adult, when was the last time you did any of these things? Yet, it is never too late to reconnect with the child within and relive the beauty of life! Perhaps the best way to do so is to spend more of your time in nature, whether that is in your backyard, the nearest park, the mountains, or the sea! It does not really matter where, as long as it is an environment pulsating with the life of nature; which will help you feel calm, let go of stress, find fulfillment, and realize what matters most in life.
(2) Eat healthily:
As redundant as it may sound, you are what you eat. Indeed, the fuel you put in your body will affect its function and condition. Different researchers have shown the benefits of adding a whole, organic, unprocessed plant-based foods as part of an eating plan. Processed, pesticide-filled foods are killing people slowly without them being aware of the poisons that they are consuming on a daily basis. If you want to see your physical and mental health improved, be sure to consume foods that are contributing to your well-being. Try to avoid ‘quick’ foods that you eat out of habit. The companies behind these foods care about nothing other than their own economic gain.
(3) Create your wellness plan:
Once you know you actually want to get on the path to optimal health, create a plan which requires you to know what you would like your body and health to look, feel, and be like in about one to five years time. Break down that vision into monthly goals of nutrition, exercise, and anything else needed to get you there.
(4) Drink lots of H2O:
During the course of our sleep, we lose a lot of water during our breathing and so it is important that when you get up, you start off with a large glass of water. The vitality our cells gets from water is crucial for keeping our body working in the correct order. Without water, our cells start to wilt and die, just like plants.
(5) Rest well:
Without sleep, our body’s clock starts to dysfunction, causing poor habits. Rest well and consistently each day. Try to keep your timings consistent so your body can set its routine. If you cannot sleep early, invest in some blindfolds, ear plugs, soothing music, or whatever you need.
(6) Exercise at least 30 minutes a day:
This article would not be truthful if I did not include exercise. It gets the body moving, the blood circulating, and your energy in motion. If you work at home or in an office, reserve 30 minutes each day and walk around. If you have a staircase nearby, run up and down it several times a day. The great thing is that you can break up your 30 minutes exercise a day into 2 or 3 segments so you can exercise anywhere.
(7) Let’s move:
Nowadays the majority of people spend most of their time at their jobs sitting. Not surprisingly, they feel sluggish both physically and mentally too, since the mind and body are both interdependent on the other. From this day forward, make sure to move your body more, whether it is walking, running, jumping, strength training, martial arts, yoga, or whatever you enjoy. I assure you that this will dramatically boost your energy levels and therefore improve the overall quality of your life.
So there you have it – seven ways to take back control of your health and get on the path to wellness. If you are serious about this, you will take on four or more tips above and start applying them. For those whose health is not a top priority, try to incorporate at least two of these.
Getting healthier should be fun, so ensure you keep the fun and excitement in your progress.