Despite our busy daily life, remember that your body and mind scream in protest and demands that you also pay attention to its needs. They deserve some rest.
Find ways to take care of yourself every single day. It will allow you to fully enjoy what life has to offer. If your health fails, it can overshadow everything else that is going on with your life. Cliché as it may seem, but it is so true, that health is the real wealth and not the pieces of gold and silver.
Rest and Sleep – The effects of chronic sleep deprivation are far-reaching. It affects our mood, attention, focus, concentration and our ability to fight off sickness or infection, our judgment and our libido. It weakens our immune system and it can also lead to depression, weight gain and may cause serious health problems. Carve out a full eight hours of sleep and adopt a calming technique, like meditation. These will help you body restore itself every good sleep you’ll have. Each morning, practice the habit of a quick five to ten minutes of meditation. It will help balance your mind to go on with the day ahead. Take a few moments to relax before starting your day.
Nutrition – Nutrition is not about weight; it is about health. It is fueling our body with good and healthy energy sources to make it capable to work at its peak. Cut down on sugar. Choose fruits and vegetables above anything else. Maintaining a good portion control standard for your body will help a lot. Shifting to healthier choices of food maybe a challenge for some, but cutting out one thing at a time will be your best step forward to living a healthier life.
Find a Fitness Habit – A little exercise will go a long way to keeping your body fit and active and to reducing stress. Brisk walking will energize and motivate you to keep going for the day. Exercise is not just leaning towards weight loss, it does far more than that. It helps combat diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and type 2 diabetes. Thru exercising, certain brain chemicals are boosted which leaves us feeling happier and more relaxed. Remember, just move more. You do not need to be in an athlete’s exercise program to stay active, just simple things like taking the stairs instead of the lift, playing with your kids or dogs at the park, walking while you park further or even dancing while cooking will surely help.
Mental Health – Just as important as our physical health, our mind needs all the attention it can get. Take steps to decrease our body’s response to stress and increase activities that promotes self-care. Make your weekend a time for yourself. Talk a walk, visit new places and wander. Talk to an old friend. Do the things that you enjoy. Go for a massage, write in a journal, soak yourself in a candlelit bubble bath. Spend time with family and friends. Fly a kite, join a volunteer or a local sports team. Connect with others, be with positive, loving and happy people you know. Trust can ease stress, help your mood and improve the way you feel overall. The list goes on. Seemingly, there are hundreds of ways to take care of ourselves. It is the matter of giving time and knowing to prioritize self-care.
Breathe - Take a few minutes each day to sit and just close your eyes, breathe in and out slowly. This is a quick and easy way to relax and keep your mind at peace. Meditation not only offers calmness but it also helps with anxiety and depression. Connect with yourself. Checking in with yourself allows you to evaluate where you are in your goals and direction to recovery.
Stay hydrated – Water plays a vital role in maintaining a health body. Staying hydrated by drinking enough water benefits our body by clearing toxins, promoting a healthy skin, improving brain function and boosting our immune system. Keep in mind that it is also best to drink water first thing in the morning to replenish the fluids we have consumed overnight.
Your body and mind are your most valuable asset. It is the only place to live. To get thru our everyday life, both of which should be in good shape. Take care of them and they will surely thank you.
