Healthy Living 101 – Steps To A Happier, Healthier, More Productive Lifestyle
Our energy, like many other things in life, is a finite resource. As such, it needs to be managed wisely. Just as poor financial and lifestyle choices can make you feel exhausted, poor management of your own energy can make you feel sluggish and overwhelmed.
There are several factors that affect how much energy you need to use. This includes everything from the quality of the food and sleep you provide to your body to the stresses you are exposed to on a daily basis. The trick is to find a balance between these factors and find ways to increase your energy levels. With that in mind, here are five steps you can take to ensure a happier, healthier, and more productive lifestyle.
Get on your way
Exercising to become more energetic and productive may sound counter-intuitive. Plus, if you feel tired and overwhelmed, it’s probably not something you want to do. But did you know that regular physical activity increases your energy levels along with your mood? When we exercise, our heart rate increases, our blood flow improves and endorphins – the happiness hormones – are released.
In addition to making us feel and look good, a good workout session can also benefit our heart health. This is especially true of aerobic exercise, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering our cholesterol levels and blood pressure, increasing blood flow, and keeping the extra pounds in check. Ideally, you should aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. It can be anything from walking and jogging to swimming and biking. Try different things, find what you like, and get started.
Feed your body the right foods
Our body is a mechanism that requires a wide variety of nutrients (more than 40 of them) to function properly. Since no food provides all of these nutrients, it is important that we consume foods from different food groups.
Focus on healthy, unsaturated fats, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean protein, and nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. These foods are key components of a balanced diet and will provide you with optimal energy while supporting your overall health. You should also consider taking nutritional supplements like aloe supplements, which are very effective at boosting the immune system. These supplements are especially helpful for people with Crohn’s disease, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, and acid reflux. On the other hand, they come in capsule and powder form, which makes them easy to include in your diet and reap the benefits that they bring with them.
Catch enough ZZ’s every night
We all know how important sleep is to our mental and physical health. Getting enough sleep each night helps us focus on work and achieve more during our work day.
Even so, many of us are not getting the recommended amount of sleep our bodies need to function properly. Whether it’s excessive screen time, stress, or insomnia interfering with your sleep, do your best to eliminate these interfering factors. That way, you can catch more ZZs that will allow you to get the best performance out of it.
Develop a positive mindset
Having a positive attitude is something that many people overlook on their way to healthy living. In reality, the thoughts you think and the things you say to yourself contribute largely to your overall wellbeing.
Studies show that people who tend to think positively have lower levels of stress and improved health. Even if you’re not that good at positive thinking, you can always practice until it becomes second nature. Start by minimizing negative self-talk, try positive thinking, and develop an overall positive attitude. Not only does this contribute to better physiological and psychological health, but it also helps you attract the right people into your life. Which brings us to our last tip …
Keep good company around you
Those who surround themselves also contribute to how satisfied you are with your current lifestyle. Being around people you don’t particularly enjoy spending time with or with whom you are unrelated can be quite stressful. The negative thoughts, constant complaints, and other forms of negativity that these people display only occupy your precious thought space. To unleash your energy, reevaluate your circle and identify toxic relationships. Then let go of her.
To ensure personal growth, focus on connecting with those who stimulate you and make you want to be around them. Be very selective about who you let into your life as they all have a significant impact on you.
Wrap up
The truth is, very few adults can confidently say they are leading a healthy lifestyle and using their energies wisely. Fortunately, we can all change and adopt some healthy habits that will improve our health and quality of life.
Keep these tips in mind as you embark on your journey towards a healthier lifestyle, and you will manage to be successful and live longer, happier, healthier, and more productive lives.
