It’s easy to say you’re going to start living a healthier life, but how do you get started? You may have some ideas about the things you want to do, but an overall strategy might be escaping you. This overview can help you develop a philosophy that will get you closer to achieving your goals.
Eating Healthy
Of course, the first step in living a healthier way of life is becoming more conscious about the foods and beverages you consume. While it’s unreasonable to assume you can completely eliminate sugar from your diet, you can cut out added and refined sugars. Additionally, stay away from trans fats. The best diet involves eating plant-based foods, whole grains, and lean red meat. In place of soda and juice, you should be drinking a minimum of eight 8 ounce servings of water each day.
Getting Physically Active
Everyone should be getting a minimum of thirty minutes of moderate to high-intensity exercise each day. If you have previously lived a sedentary lifestyle, you may want to start out slowly. A longer, low-intensity cardio workout can help you achieve similar results without putting too much strain on your body. You can start out with activities like hiking, bicycling, swimming, or using an elliptical machine. As you advance and build up your muscular endurance, you can increase the intensity of your workouts and try new, more strenuous activities.
Eliminating Substance Abuse
When we think of addiction, we often think of an addict who has hit rock bottom and has nowhere to turn. In fact, many people have substance abuse problems without even realizing it. The first step will be admitting you have a problem. The second step is to get clean. Getting withdrawal help from professionals in addiction treatment is not uncommon. A medicated detox will help you get clean without subjecting you to the full effect of your withdrawal symptoms. Once the alcohol or drugs have been flushed from your system, you’ll go through addiction counseling to learn how to control your cravings.
Get the Sleep You Need
You may not realize the importance of sleep, but your body goes through some extreme changes as you sleep. During your resting state, your body is repairing and rejuvenating the muscles you stressed in your daily workouts. Additionally, sleep allows your body the opportunity to reduce stress and alleviate inflammation. Failing to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night means your body isn’t able to complete these functions and the many other tasks it performs as you sleep. If you have tried various methods of relaxation and you still can’t get a good night’s sleep, it may be time to discuss sleep disorders with your doctor.
See Your Doctor
Regardless of positive changes you plan to make to your diet and lifestyle, you should always work closely with your doctor. Even advising your physician about a new vitamin supplement you plan to take can help you avoid harmful interactions with other medications and supplements. Similarly, discussing your plans to start a new physical activity will ensure you get the expert advice that will help you do it safely.
While this overview isn’t exhaustive, it is enough to get you started on a path to wellness. As you begin making lifestyle changes, you’ll start to feel better about yourself and that will encourage you to keep going. The hardest part may be finding the motivation to get started, but, once you do, the rewards will keep you invested in living your healthier way of life.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.