As the new year begins, many people will begin working towards their new year resolutions. Whatever your goals maybe, this is the perfect time to develop a plan to improve your quality of life. One of the best ways to do this is to focus on your health. While there are many fad diets and exercise plans that pop up on the internet, the best way to improve your overall health is to apply simple, tried, and true methods, and do so consistently. ARcare wants to help you achieve and maintain that consistency by providing these healthy habits to develop in 2019.
1. Exercise
Regular exercise, even as little as 30 minutes a day, can dramatically improve your health. Consistent physical activity can improve your mood and emotional health, lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and improve your self-esteem as you lose excess weight. If you have children, this can also be a great way to set an example and incentivize them to live an active and healthy lifestyle. This can be a great family activity. Set aside short periods to exercise daily, and make being more active a priority in 2019.
2. Diet
Healthy eating is one of the most effective ways to improve your health. Eating quality foods with high nutritional value has numerous health benefits. Improving your diet may require you to develop some new eating habits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests using a method called Reflect, Replace, Reinforce. The process involves reflecting on your eating habits, both the good and the bad, and then replacing the bad habits with better choices. Once this is established, you can reinforce your new habits until they become a regular part of your lifestyle.
When changing your diet, it is important to start with small, gradual changes. You could start by changing one meal a day, adding more vegetables to your diet, or avoiding processed foods in favor of more nutrient-dense options.
3. Drink more water
As you seek to improve your eating habits, it is equally important that you evaluate what kinds of liquids you consume. Limit your consumption of artificially flavored drinks, sodas, dairy, or sports drinks. You should also avoid drinking alcohol as this has negative side-effects and can negatively impact your health as well.
You should start the processing of replacing these unhealthy choices with water. Water is going to be your best option and has several benefits. Water regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, prevents infections, and helps the body eliminate waste, to name a few of the benefits. Water is a critical element to your overall health. You can find more information about the importance of drinking water in this ARcare article, One of The Easiest Things You Can Do to Be Healthier.
4. Get plenty of sleep
Sleep is one of the most important contributors to your overall health. Many people have such busy lifestyles that they neglect the importance of getting enough sleep. There is plenty of research that shows how getting enough sleep is dynamically connected to being healthy. Your body needs adequate amounts of sleep to function properly.
There are multiple things you can do to improve not only the quantity of sleep that you get but also the quality. First, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, whenever possible. This will allow your body to get into a rhythm and will allow you to have a much better sleep. Second, develop a bedtime routine that you can follow every night. A routine can help you to wind down as it is closer to your bedtime. Third, turn downlights and limit your time in front of screens before bed. This can increase the amount of melatonin that your body produces, which will assist in sleep.
5. Develop your relationships
Relationships are a major part of our emotional health. Surrounding yourself with good people and close friends can have a positive influence on your health. Volunteering with other people can be an incredibly rewarding experience as well, which can increase your well-being. Seek to be intentional in 2019 about developing the relationships you have. Look for ways to improve your relationships with your spouse, friends, or other family members. Maybe you could write down the names of friends you haven’t seen in a while and set a date to go see them. All these things can be beneficial to your health as you improve the relationships in your life.
6. Prioritize self care
Taking care of yourself is important if you want to live a healthy lifestyle. It has already been shown how diet, exercise, and drinking water can improve your health. These are all part of self-care, but it is equally important that you take time to do things you enjoy to relieve stress. Make time to reward yourself occasionally by doing things you enjoy. Find ways to have more fun by looking for new hobbies or activities that you enjoy. Schedule time to engage in these activities either alone or with friends. Work is important, but it is also important to set aside time for play.
7. Get regular and annual check-ups
Getting regular check-ups at a family health center in Arkansas is an important step to take if you want to live a healthy lifestyle. This will allow a trained professional to review your medical history, evaluate your current lifestyle habits, and identify any potential risks or concerns that may be present. This can also allow you to get answers to any questions you may have regarding your health.
If you are looking for a family health center in Arkansas to get healthier or for a wellness center near me in Arkansas, contact us at ARcare by calling (866)-550-4719 to schedule an appointment. We provide affordable and convenient healthcare services for families in Arkansas. We can help guide you in your health journey by providing more new year health tips.