This is a collaborative post (not written by me).
With the stress of family, work and life as a whole, any concern for your general health tends to take a back seat. Without a noticeable large problem, many people continue on their paths of ignorant self destruction and unhealthy habits whilst unbeknownst to them, their insides are beginning to face challenges that could have been prevented. Staying healthy is easier than you may think, and with a few simple changes and a bit of hard work, you can make sure that you’re ready to face each new day with vigour, and no doubts that both your mind and body are strong enough to handle whatever life throws at you.
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Change Your Diet
A healthy diet containing all of the required vitamins and minerals will allow your body and mind to function to their maximum potential day after day. Focus on the nutrition side of things rather than the calories, as it should be a lifestyle change that you stick to long term so it must be a positive and sustainable journey that is not focused on deprivation. Replace some usual unhealthy snack choices like chocolate and sweets for fresh fruit and yoghurt, and switch up your regular crisps and crackers for nuts and seeds. You will be able to feel the positive effects that happen almost immediately as you transform the way you eat, and you should aim to continue making changes in order to ensure you follow the best diet you can. This should consist of protein from lean meats like chicken or pulses like chickpeas and lentils, at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day, complex carbohydrates like brown rice and wholemeal bread and healthy fats such as small amounts of olive oil and eggs. Your diet can have a huge effect on your mental health, as blood sugar levels are all over the place when eating bad foods, meaning that your mood becomes unstable as a result.
Regular Exercise
Exercising can help you in many different ways. By doing at least 30 minutes 5 times a week, you can build your strength and stamina both for sport and life in general. Exercise does wonders for cardiovascular health, and can help to prevent a wide range of related illnesses. Each time you work up a sweat you will be releasing endorphins that can elevate and lift your mood and provide you with a feeling of even more energy than you had before you started. Even just by taking a walk before or after dinner each day, you will be able to burn off some calories and aid digestion, helping yourself little by little to get closer to becoming the healthiest version of you. Start of slowly and don’t punish yourself for not being an athlete within the first couple of months; enjoy the journey and the changes that are happening to your mind and body.
Overcoming Bad Habits
Many people have dependencies they’d rather not discuss, but these can stop you from being the healthiest person you have the potential of becoming. Developing an unhealthy coping mechanism or allowing a bad habit to take control is a very upsetting experience, but addiction help is available for everyone no matter what position you are in. Battling bad habits can be a very hard and stressful task, but you will be giving yourself the opportunity to live a full and happy life. Establish some kind of support network, contact the appropriate medical services and begin your journey to a happier you. Trust in the process and don’t be too self depreciative when you encounter a block in the road, as self belief is one of the most important aspects of recovery. Reward yourself in other ways for your hard work, such as a long and peaceful hot bath or a healthy home cooked comfort meal.
Meditate
Practicing mindfulness and meditation can provide you with a wealth of benefits for both your mind and body. Take the opportunity each day to reflect on the experiences and feelings you’ve had, and spend some time in the company if yourself without any distractions to gain some clarity and adopt a more level headed viewpoint. It would appear that regular practice can help to combat anxiety and depression, and just generally help to improve your mood overall. The British Medical Journal also found that mindfulness meditation can help to lower blood pressure, so there are many positive effects. It takes time to master the skill but it’s definitely worth your effort. Be patient with yourself, as you will likely need to practice quite a few times before you start to feel as if you have accomplished the state you were craving.
Review Your Circle
Your close circle of friends may actually be detrimental to your health. They are a huge influence on the decisions you make, and can encourage you to pursue bad choices that can damage your health, whether this be through their own ignorance or on purpose. If you only meet a person to go drinking or do some other kind of somewhat harmful activity, reevaluate the purpose of your friendship. If someone does not help and encourage you to grow and thrive, they do not deserve a place in your life. By seeking others who have the same positive goals and mindset, you are opening yourself up to an amazing opportunity to take your happiness to the next level, and create a support network of individuals you trust and provide you with something rather than just taking.
Putting in some hard work in order to make positive, healthy life changes is an important step to becoming the best version of yourself. Wholesome food, regular sport and healthy coping mechanisms will get you set in the right direction towards living the healthiest life possible. It’s as important to keep your mind healthy as it is your body, so be sure to nurture your soul as well as your stomach and you will feel the benefits of both almost immediately.
Thanks for reading.
Leah xoxo
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