5 Easy-to-Implement Health Strategies to Improve Your Life
Between work and home, life can get pretty hectic. But you do need to put self-care on your calendar to prevent stress, fatigue, and burnout. And here are five health strategies that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine to reach that goal.
Better Sleeping Habits
Improving your sleep has many mental and physical benefits. Getting the proper amount of shut-eye each night will help you be and feel your best throughout the day. Having a nighttime ritual can promote more restful slumber. Take a relaxing bath, read a few chapters of a book, or watch a TV show you enjoy before turning in for the night. Aromatherapy can also help you doze off: scents like lavender, frankincense, and valerian are said to have soothing properties. Chamomile and bergamot also have sleep-inducing properties, and you can enjoy them as a bedtime tea to put you in a relaxed state.
Healthier Meals and Snacks
Shop the perimeter of the grocery store and load up your basket with fresh fruits and veggies. Add more fiber to your diet by opting for whole-grain options when buying staples such as pasta and cereal. Always have a few healthy snacks such as trail mix, apple slices, and baby carrots at the ready so that when hunger strikes, you reach out to those healthy alternatives. Avoid frequenting fast foods when you’re on the road or on your lunch break, and try to pack yourself a nutritious meal instead: You’ll have a lot more energy during the workday.
More Daily Exercise
You don’t have to join a gym to keep a fitness routine going. Staying fit can be as easy as incorporating more steps into your day. If you live close enough to your place of employment, consider walking or biking there instead of taking your car. And if you have to drive, park further away from the building and enjoy a brisk walk to your office. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking to your colleagues’ workstations instead of emailing or messaging them will also go toward your daily step count, and it can quickly add up!
Better Work-Life Balance
If your workload is causing you a lot of stress and leaving you little time for family life, learning to set boundaries and to say “no” can help you regain some balance. If your supervisor asks you to take on extra work, explain that you’re committed to delivering the best results and adding to your already-full plate would mean having to take shortcuts for some tasks, putting the quality of your work in jeopardy. Let them know that you also need time outside of work to recharge and keep your creativity and productivity going, making you a better employee in the long run.
More Creative Endeavors
A study published in 2012 linked creativity to a better ability to handle stress, solve problems, and even lead a longer life. Even if you don’t think of yourself as an artist, take time to let your mind wander and do something creative to open up to new possibilities: start journaling or doodling, pick up an adult coloring book, or take a music class to learn an instrument. Sign up for a dance class and mix creativity with fitness. Go for a walk in a nearby park and take photographs of leaves turning color, or pick them up and press them to turn them into beautiful works of art. When it comes to creativity, the possibilities are endless.
Implement health strategies in your daily life by making a few easy changes to your sleeping habits, diet, and activities. Add more steps to reduce health issues and increase productivity, and make time for enjoyable hobbies, so you always have something to look forward to, however busy your week gets.
At Cleveland Health and Wellness Center, we provide compassionate mental health care for adults, adolescents, and children. Make a virtual or in-person appointment with us online or by calling 216-777-8834.