In our day to day activities, we may fall in the pitfall of forgetting just how important it is to set aside a few moments to take care of ourselves.
Especially if you are among the people with quite a dynamic lifestyle, the risk of neglecting the importance of constant body care climbs even higher. And don’t worry – we won’t judge you. In fact, we fall under the same category and appreciate how difficult it is to make time for clearing your mind or doing some independent exercising.
We can all find ourselves caught up in the rhythm of constant errands, unfinished tasks from the week before, or just things to do last minute.
So how can we still be productive and perform according to plan and at the same time keep our body happy and healthy? Spend more time outdoors, exercise, and eat healthy?
Let’s see!
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The Importance of Taking Care of Your Body
Before we share with you some simple steps towards a healthier body, let’s see why it is important in the first place.
The body has been compared to a monastery for the soul in different Eastern cultures and traditions. Keeping your body healthy is certainly a long-term commitment that is likely to be put to the test on numerous occasions. It is up to you to prioritize and always put yourself first.
And here is what we actually mean by that.
Poor health is tightly related to stress. The poorer the condition of your body – the more stress you are likely to accumulate on a daily basis. Regardless of your lifestyle, stress is everywhere around us and those who are most prone to catching its negative influence are the people who lack the organization to stay healthy.
After all, a healthy body does require some level of effort.
Stress is among the most dangerous conditions affecting people around the world today. For instance, studies from the US show that 55% of Americans feel stressed on a daily basis. If we put this on a scale, we’ll see that Americans’ stress rate is 4.9 out of 10. That’s a pretty substantial number.
So what can we do to avoid stress and keep our bodies healthy?
Steps to a Healthy Body
The suggestions found below are not organized based on priority. Each point carries its own weight and in an ideal world, should be synchronized with the rest.
Let’s look at each one separately.
1. Choose your diet and be constant.
If you’ve done some reading on proper nutrition, chances are that you’ve come across a wide array of options in terms of menus. So many, that you might have gotten confused on the path to healthy eating.
What’s most important when it comes to nutrition is to find the best solution for your body personally. It’s always handy to have basic information available as to how different foods influence the body and what their pros and cons can be. However, keep in mind that every individual will process foods in their own way and pace.
Second, remember to eat for the sake of health and not entirely looks. You may be tempted to do all that it takes to get into your favorite pair of jeans but how will this affect your health? Will you be starving for weeks, depriving your body of valuable and essential fats that generate energy?
Staying hungry can trigger certain emotional responses that may not be native to you. In addition, it will certainly bring down your productivity levels as well as negatively impact your stomach.
2. Stay hydrated as much as possible.
Hydration is another crucial factor for your energy levels. A healthy body means enough energy to carry out your day without any problems on the way.
Most doctors will recommend that you should drink around eight 8oz glasses of water every day (for adults). If you are not very used to drinking water so often you can start small and gradually increase the quantity over time.
You will discover that if you leave a bottle of water at sight during the day, you will be more tempted to sip from it from time to time. This way, without even knowing it, you can easily reach the recommended amount.
3. Don’t underestimate the importance of dental health.
We often underestimate our dental health and this is a serious mistake. By dental health, we don’t just mean brushing our teeth regularly.
It involves a regular trip to the dentist to see if everything is clean and tidy. It turns out that even if we put in the required effort of brushing our teeth several times a day, tiny food particles can still remain hidden in difficult to reach areas. This is how cavities and more dangerous tooth conditions appear.
In order to avoid having to go through painful and stressful dental procedures, it is a good idea to plan in advance regular check-ups with your dentist. Believe us – your body will thank you by being as fresh and active as you would like it to be!
4. Don’t compromise with sleep.
Sleep is one of the things that people most often compromise with. There is so much that we want to achieve during the day that we are tempted to sometimes leave some for the later hours of the day when we are meant to be recharging our bodies and minds.
And this is where some of the most unpleasing health reactions arise.
Not giving your body enough sleep means literally harming your immune system. The body is unable to regenerate and restore its capabilities, meaning that the next day it will be performing with double effort. Imagine what happens if you have deprived your body of regular sleep for months, even years.
The ideal sleeping time is somewhere between six and eight hours a day. If this is too difficult to achieve, you may want to check out different sleeping tactics, such as regular power naps of 15 minutes that serve as a quick restart for your body.
5. Make time for exercising.
Movement is life and this can easily be proven through experiment. If you are someone who has the habit of exercising, try stopping for a few months (we really don’t encourage you to do so). The reactions will most likely be heart-breaking.
Physical activity is among the strongest factors that encourage body health. It ensures proper circulation of blood through the body, keeps your heart rate healthy, your muscles toned and active, and so much more.
And there is a lot that you can do in terms of exercise – both indoor and outdoor. You can sign up for a dance class, take on the gym, practice yoga at home, or burn some calories with a jump rope out in the park. There are no limits and we truly believe that there is a form of exercise for everyone; you just need to try different activities and decide which one works best for you.
If you feel that your ankles or knees need extra support, try exercising with a leg and calf compression sleeve.
6. Register pain when you first notice it.
Try to acknowledge pain the moment you feel it first appear. The slightest of signals may lead to a bigger issue if not caught from the start.
This relates to any type of pain – muscle pain, knee pain, ankle pain, tooth pain, or else. Even if you have your own methods of coping with the unpleasant feeling, it is always a good idea to visit a doctor for a checkup and make sure that everything is under control.
7. Give yourself regular breaks.
We know you’ll love this one once you get the hang of it.
Just slow down.
Remind yourself that regardless of how capable you feel of taking on a million tasks – your body can only run along with you for a certain period of time before it collapses in search of a break. Even if you think you don’t have enough time to slow down, consider the time spent relaxing as a long-term investment.
And the best part is that you are investing this time in your personal wellbeing.
The moment you feel overstressed or overworked, put everything aside for as little as five minutes, close your eyes, and try your best to shut your thoughts out. Just for that moment calm down your mind and give your mind and body the chance to cool off.
In Conclusion…
There we have it – a list of accomplishable steps towards a healthier body and a more stable mind.
Achieving these steps and ensuring that you continuously implement them may take some time. Breaking old habits is among the most difficult of things. However, we guarantee you that once you get used to ticking off the above, your days will become more productive, calmer, and you will be rewarded with a healthy and active body.
We hope you find our suggestions valuable and useful.
