Start Living a Fuller, Healthier Life
We only have one life, and we should be living it to the fullest. But this can be more difficult to achieve than you may think. Our bodies and minds need to be in the right place - which means they should be at their healthiest. We’re going to take a quick look at the areas that most people tend to neglect quite a lot in their life. These basic steps will make more difference to your outlook and general health than you might think.
Sleeping and reading
It is recommended that we get between seven and eight hours sleep per night. Any less and most people will start to struggle, even if they don’t notice it at first. Your mental capacity is reduced, making it harder to concentrate even on small tasks. Sleep deprivation builds up over time; if you’re only getting a few hours night sleep each night, then this will have long-term health effects.
Most people don’t get enough sleep because they’re using technology too late into the evening. Books are what you should be enjoying before bed! You can read more at www.sheknows.com. Using smartphones, laptops, or watching television in the hour or so before you go to bed affects your ability to wind down. So switch off your gadgets and do some reading!
Exercise
It’s obvious that exercise does wonders for our body. It can make use more toned and lose weight, for example. But exercise should also be credited with doing amazing things for our brains. It is now well-acknowledged to be great at fighting all sorts of problems, from simple fatigue to depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, most people don’t get nearly as much exercise as they should.
You need to ease yourself into a suitable routine. The right equipment can also help. Cycling is a great way of easing yourself into some really good cardiovascular exercise; you can read more about the right equipment at www.bintellibicycles.com. Getting at least half an hour of exercise on a daily basis is what you should be aiming for. Whatever you do, don’t sit around for eight hours a day uninterrupted. Get your heart rate up every couple of hours!
Good food and hydration
Two words: home cooking. If you’re relying on restaurants and store-bought meals, then this is going to drag you down eventually. You can read more about the health benefits of home cooking your meals over at www.healthfitnessrevolution.com. A bad diet, as well as a lack of water, affects you both inside and out. The more colorful your plate of food is, the more nutrients and essential variety you’re probably getting. And no, this doesn’t mean you should just order more toppings on your takeout pizzas.
As for hydration, drinking plenty of water - between 1.5 to 2 liters a day - is best. I’m not going to say you should cut down on soda - you should cut soda out completely. Coffee is great, but most people actually drink a little too much, affecting their stress levels and ability to sleep. Replace some of those coffees with green tea. When you wake up, the first thing you should do is drink a glass of water - and if it has the juice of half a lemon in it, that’s even better!
