Our overall quality of life is dependent on a great many variables. But predominantly, it’s our daily habits that we embrace that can ultimately alter our lives in many ways.
Those who live a healthy lifestyle have developed positive habits that can be seen and felt. And along this same line, those who have poor habits will correspondingly have negative effects show up in their lives. And when it comes to our health, our habits play a crucial role.
Studies have shown that those who choose to embrace healthy habits live longer, have better relationships, and tend to live a much fuller life than those who don’t. But don’t worry. Even if you haven’t embraced a healthy lifestyle just yet, you can change course as you adopt healthier habits.
If you’re looking to make your life much more enjoyable, and you want to take your overall health seriously, the following will explore a few essential health habits for you to consider.
Oral Health
Your oral health plays a huge role in your overall health. And believe it or not, poor dental hygiene can manifest in many negative ways, and many of these don’t just affect your mouth.
For example, studies have shown a distinct link between gum disease and heart disease, particularly with endocarditis–when bacteria travel through the bloodstream and affects other parts of the body, particularly the heart. And this is a condition that can affect the body in many ways.
A few symptoms of endocarditis are as follows:
- Chest pains
- Heart valve inflammation
- Shortness of breath
- Flu-like symptoms
- Swollen feet, legs, and abdomen
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
At the end of the day, your oral hygiene plays a huge role in your overall health. But unfortunately, many people develop gum disease and tooth decay slowly over time and have to correct the problem through costly dental surgery which many people simply can’t afford.
However, there are other options to consider for correcting your smile while you wait to have dental surgery. And one of these less expensive options is to use veneers. With fake veneers, you can smile confidently while you begin your journey towards better oral hygiene.
Proper Daily Exercise
The health benefits of daily exercise have been studied by science for decades. And the general consensus is that any amount of light to moderate daily exercise can be of great benefit to your overall quality of life.
Studies have also shown that at least 30 minutes of light aerobic exercise each day can reduce your risk for heart disease and cardiovascular issues by 50 per cent for most age groups. And this includes the following daily exercises:
- Swimming laps
- Daily walking
- Running
- Yoga
- Intramural sports
- Cycling
- Dancing
- Push-ups
It’s good to note that for men if you’re able to do at least 40 pushups within 2 minutes, you’re 96 per cent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease. And this is a great number to shoot for if you’re just beginning your health journey.
Mental Agility
One part of your body that is critical to optimal health is your brain. And unfortunately, after late adolescence and early adulthood, not many people exercise the mind in such a fashion as while in school.
Cognitive health declines as we age. And like any muscle, if you don’t exercise your brain in the right way, your cognitive function can begin to slow down considerably. Thankfully, you have no shortage of methods for exercising the mind.
Such activities that you may want to consider for optimizing cognitive health throughout your life include reading, journaling, doing crossword puzzles, meditation, solving problems, or performing any complex mental tasks on a regular basis.
When it comes to optimizing cognitive ability, you have to remember that consistency is key. So the more that you exercise your mind, the stronger it becomes.
Going Forward with Healthy Habits
Studies on habit-forming in humans vary widely, but the general consensus is that if you perform the same activity, it can take as little as 18 days to as long as 254 days to develop a habit. However, it can take as little as 66 days to change behaviour through habitual conditioning.
Developing healthy habits is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. And even if you begin small, taking basic steps to improve your overall health through habitual conditioning, you’ll soon see progress in your health and in your life.
Remember, all journeys begin by taking the first step. And if you want to live a healthy life, considering the lifestyle choices listed here can be your first step on the road toward better health. (1)
Speaks from heart, always too passionate and driven by emotions. Spins the words with kindness & sharpness, intriguing your ever-inscrutable minds.