It’s always a good time to start thinking about ways to live a healthier lifestyle, even if you never have before. Choosing to live a healthier lifestyle does not mean you have to make huge changes, undergo strict diets, or complete the most difficult exercises every single day; making small changes in your life can not only help you live a healthier life and take care of your body, but they can also be easy to implement! Check out the recommendations below for small changes you can make in your life that can help you take care of your body. After all, you’re only given one!
Work in Movement
We’ve all seen the strict and strenuous workout plans, or the articles about celebrity workouts that seem like you need to hit the gym all day every day. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that difficult to add a bit of exercise into your daily life without even needing to go to the gym! Making small lifestyle changes can add some extra movement to your day without drastically changing your schedule. Working extra movement into your day can be as easy as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, getting up from your desk once an hour for a short, brisk walk, or taking the dog out for a walk at the end of the day instead of letting him into your backyard. The more you try to make these small changes, the more ways you will think of to get in that bit of extra movement! It all adds up in the end.
Make (small) Diet Changes
You do not have to embark on a strict diet to eat healthier and live a healthier lifestyle. In fact, sometimes taking on a really strict diet can have the opposite effect that you are trying to achieve, and you can end up giving up quickly and eating more or unhealthier options than you would have in the first place. In my opinion, the key to making long-lasting changes is moderation and small changes. Starting with small changes can eventually lead to bigger changes, but won’t be drastic enough to discourage you when just starting out. These small changes can include things like incorporating one piece of fruit into your diet each day, swapping out your potato chips for berries, nuts, or another healthy snack, or meal prepping your lunches to keep you from eating an unhealthy fast food meal in the middle of the day. The sky’s the limit, but making smaller changes rather than drastic changes can keep you motivated and on-track.
Switch Up your Office Furniture
With so many of us working from home more frequently, you might find yourself experiencing more back pain than usual. You are not alone! As people have transitioned to the work-from-home lifestyle, many gave up their nice office chairs in exchange for a dining room chair or even the couch or recliner. While these pieces of furniture might seem more comfortable, they can negatively affect your posture, leading to back pain. Investing in a nice office chair or standing desk can help reduce your back pain by improving your posture while you work all day. It might seem like a big task to get these heavy pieces of furniture to your home, but it doesn’t have to be! Hiring a moving company can make getting that new furniture easy. My recommendation is Consider it Moving. They do Business Relocation in Long Island and full-service residential moving services, as well. They say, “One of the most important things to consider when searching for moving companies in Long Island is experience. If you hire local movers that are inexperienced and unequipped to handle your move, it’ll just put even more work on you.” and that is so true.
Reduce Screen Time
There is one final seemingly small change you can make that can have very big effects on your health, both physical and mental: Make efforts to reduce your screen time. Increased screen time has been linked to mental health problems and obesity. This change doesn’t have to be huge – once again, start small and aim to make bigger changes over time. My biggest recommendation for reducing your screen time is to find something outdoors that you enjoy doing. This could be gardening, playing a sport, hanging out with friends, or even just sitting and enjoying the fresh air. This will both reduce your screen time, and get you some fresh air and vitamin D.
As you can see, making long-lasting changes to care for your body doesn’t have to be difficult! Starting with small steps can lead to an improvement in your mental and physical health. Take care of yourself and you will reap the benefits for years to come.
All very good ideas!!
THANK YOU that was great advice