People often don’t realize how much their daily habits are affecting their mood and health. Most of us live in cities, and cities are very unhealthy environments. We get bombarded with pollutants and toxins left and right, and things are even worse when we consider all the bad things we put in our bodies. Add increasingly sedentary lifestyles to the mix and you have a sure recipe for disaster. That’s why you need to take care of yourself more. You could check out this dentist in Charlotte for your dental needs, or go to a yoga club to meditate. It’s really up to you, but you need to start now. Let’s take a look at a few small changes that you could make today that will make a big impact on your health and wellness.
Sleep Better
Sleep and its quality have a deep impact on how we feel and our overall health. Sleep deprivation leads to higher stress levels and has been associated with all sorts of diseases ranging from diabetes to heart issues. If you’re sleeping less than six hours per day, you’ll need to take immediate steps to correct the situation. You can start by creating the perfect environment for sleeping.
If you notice that light is seeping into the room either from outside lighting or the sun in the morning, we suggest you get black-out curtains. Even the tiniest sliver of light can disrupt your sleep rhythms and blocking light out completely will prevent it from tripping your internal clock. You also have to be careful not to watch screens at least two hours before sleeping as blue light will have the same disruptive effects. If you need entertainment before bed, consider podcasts and audiobooks.
If you want to have a great night’s rest, you also have to be careful with what you put in your body before you sleep. You shouldn’t drink anything containing caffeine at least six hours before going to bed. Alcohol is also a big no-no. Tons of supplements will help you sleep better too. A lot of people know about melatonin, but things like magnesium can help as well. So, look for supplements or supplement blends containing magnesium.
Exercise
If you’re sedentary, then we can’t think of a single thing that could have as much of an impact on your health and wellness as exercise. You need to engage in both cardio and strength training if you want to get all the benefits. Cardio training will pump your body full of highly oxygenated blood. This blood will deliver oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, including the brain. Blood oxygenation has a direct impact on mood and cognitive functions and people who regularly engage in cardio training report fewer cases of depression.
Strength training, on the other hand, will help release endorphins in the body. Endorphins are nature’s painkillers, but they also provide feelings of general well-being. So, consider embarking on a strength resistance training routine if you want to improve your life at all levels. After strength training, consider utilizing a heat pack to help reduce soreness and increase blood flow to the muscles.
Eat Better
You also need to look at your eating habits and see where you could make some improvements. If you’re eating a lot of fried foods, then know that they are one of the worst things for your overall health. They will not only increase the chance that you develop obesity, but they will make you more sluggish and slow down your mental activity. If you can, switch to grilled foods whenever you have the chance. Have a balanced diet consisting of healthy protein, vegetables, and healthy fats. Also, consider going on an intermittent fasting routine as it has shown to have tons of benefits for mental and physical health.
These are all things that you could do right now to improve your quality of life. Wellness is directly related to health, so make sure that you do everything you can to live a healthier and more active life.
