5 Tips to Improve your Health and Wellness

Anybody wishes to be “well”—to live free from illnesses and diseases. But wellness is more than not being sick; it also means leading a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. And this means taking care of your mental and physical well-being.

Achieving wellness doesn’t always mean making drastic changes in your life. It starts with small actions that you can incorporate into your existing routine. Here are some tips on how you can improve your health and wellness:

Swap your food for healthier options

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is one of the most important habits to develop if you want to be healthy. However, many people believe that eating healthy means overhauling their diet and adopting unrealistic eating habits.

You can gradually start changing your diet by swapping your existing food choices with healthier options. Instead of eating white bread, start shopping for whole-grain bread. Replace potato chips with almonds or cashews. Instead of drinking soda, keep a bottle of water near you all the time. Even sparkling water works, to trick your tongue into enjoying the carbonation. With our typical Filipino diet, here are other tips as well: replace white rice with quinoa, fatty meat with lean meat, fruits for dessert instead of “kakanin” or cake. 

Make sure to include one serving of vegetables and fruits in your meals every day. Toss a salad, serve them as side dishes, or add them to your sandwiches. Smoothies are also a fun way to have fruits and vegetables. It’s all about those little adjustments instead of outright dissatisfaction!

Get your blood pumping

Nowadays, it’s easier to slip into a sedentary lifestyle—everything is designed to make life more convenient. Therefore, it’s important to insert physical activity into your daily routine. The good news is you don’t have to go to the gym just to get your blood pumping.

On your way to work, you can opt to walk or ride a bike if possible. Take the stairs instead of using the elevator. Stretch your legs regularly by walking through the corridors during your break. Most of our smartphones come with health apps, make good use of them too. Install a pedometer app, and if you can’t hit the gym, shoot for 10,000 steps on your app. This is a great way to keep track of your movement. 

You can also exercise at home by doing chores. Mow the lawn, mop the floor, walk the dog, or wash your car. The best part? You don’t have to dedicate several hours just to go to the gym (and end up forgetting or ditching it completely).

Get enough sleep

Trying to balance a 9-5 job, a side hustle, and your social life might be challenging for most adults. As a result, you often sacrifice some much-needed sleep—an essential part of health and wellness. 

Make sure to get 7 hours of sleep every day. Remember, this is the only time your body regenerates and heals itself. Cut back on unnecessary activities during the day so you can go to bed earlier. Ideally, you should go to bed at the same time every day so your body can establish a proper circadian rhythm.

A study reveals that irregular sleep habits are linked to poor health. Not getting enough shut-eye can affect your metabolism, immune system, and mental health. You’re also putting yourself at risk for obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, and other illnesses.

To help you sleep better at night, avoid using electronics an hour prior to bedtime. Keep your bedroom dark, cool, and comfortable. Establishing a night time routine will also signal your body that it’s time to snooze and help you fall asleep better.

Maintain a proper posture

It’s such a simple habit that is often neglected, but maintaining a proper posture can spell wonders for your health. Back pain is one of the most common health problems in the US, and when left untreated, could lead to depression and disability.

To help prevent back pain, check your posture from time to time. Keep your back straight, your chest out, and your stomach tucked in. Ensure that the chair you’re using in your workstation is ergonomic, especially if you’ll be sitting for long periods of time.

Practice self-care

Constant stress and anxiety can wear your mental health down and affect your well-being. To help you de-stress, practicing self-care is necessary.

Self-care doesn’t always mean bubble baths, scented candles, and face masks (although these things are good for you too). It often means sorting out your finances, cleaning your room, setting boundaries for yourself, decluttering, or talking to a friend. 

Journaling helps a lot too! Learn how to self-therapize, it helps you manage your neurosis, get rid of limiting beliefs, and gets you in a way better mood to power you through a productive day. Check out free Youtube videos  and audios for this. Anything that helps improve your life is a form of self-care.

At haws, soon, you can partner with psychologists to help or assist you in dealing with stress and other mental health concerns.

Final Thoughts

Improving your health starts with small lifestyle adjustments. Choosing to eat healthy food, sleeping earlier, exercising, improving your posture, and de-stressing may not feel like they are making a difference to your well-being now. But if these things become a habit, it can greatly improve your overall health and wellness.

Here at HAWS, Inc., we’re devoted to helping you get in the pink of health!  

Remember to visit haws facebook page to know more about our app that will be launching real soon.