We're all familiar with the idea of losing weight to feel healthier, but there are other ways to improve your wellness that don't involve a trip to the gym. Whether you're trying to lose weight or just want an overall boost in energy and health, these simple changes can help make you feel better both physically and mentally:
Drink more water.
- Drink water before you feel thirsty.
- Drink water when you exercise, especially if it's hot or humid outside.
- Drinking water helps with digestion and can help prevent constipation, bloating, gas and other digestive problems.
- Drinking water also helps keep skin young-looking because it keeps skin cells hydrated so they look healthier and more elastic than dry skin cells do (and we all know what happens when our bodies get dehydrated!).
- Drinking enough water daily can also aid in weight loss by helping us feel fuller faster so we're less likely to overeat later on!
Take more time for yourself.
Taking time for yourself is an important part of maintaining your overall wellness. There are many ways to carve out this time, but here are some ideas:
- Take a bath or shower and relax in the warm water.
- Read a book with no distractions--no phone, TV or computer; just you and the story!
- Meditate for 10 minutes each day (and don't worry if it's hard at first). You'll feel better when you're done!
- Visit friends and do something together that is fun
- Go on a walk in nature by yourself or with friends or family members who understand how important it is for everyone involved that they not talk while walking together--just enjoy nature's beauty together as best they can!
Get outside.
Studies have shown that spending time in nature can improve mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and increase overall happiness. Vitamin C is also important for many reasons (it supports your immune system and helps heal wounds), so getting some fresh air could be a great excuse to get more physical activity as well. Here are some things you can do outside:
- Go for a walk or hike (bonus points if you have a pet you can bring!)
- Take a bike ride
- Visit the beach or a lake to go for a swim or to relax
- Go to the park
- Try a new sport out or join a local sports league
Try to get outside for at least one hour every day, even if it's cold or hot, and make sure to wear sunscreen if you are going outside in the sun.
Get up and move.
Exercise is good for your health.
- It can relieve stress and improve sleep.
- Keep weight in check.
- Help with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
It can also help you live longer and improve your overall quality of life. Exercise may be one of the best ways to manage stress, but it’s important to remember that not all exercise is created equal. For example, running or walking outside in nature has been shown to have more benefits than simply putting on a pair of sneakers and pounding the pavement for 30 minutes at a time.
Drink less alcohol and caffeine.
While alcohol is a depressant and caffeine is a stimulant, both can cause anxiety, insomnia and weight gain. They also dehydrate the body by making you urinate more frequently than normal (and often at night). If you're drinking too much alcohol or consuming too much caffeine on a regular basis--or if you're just feeling like your body needs a break from both--it might be time to take a break from them altogether!
Get enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep is important for your health, and it can have a big impact on your overall wellness.
Sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain, poor decision making and lack of focus (not only at work but also in your personal life). A lack of energy or motivation may also be signs that you aren't getting enough rest.
Cut out stressful situations.
The next step to improving your wellness is to cut out stressful situations. Stress is a major cause of poor health, and can lead to illness, depression and poor sleep. It also leads people to make poor nutritional choices because they're too busy trying to deal with their stressors or they just don't feel like eating well when they're stressed out.
There are many ways that you can reduce the amount of stress in your life: meditation or yoga classes are two examples that come immediately to mind but there are many others too! While we realize there are some situations you cannot cut out that might be stressful, try your best to make the most of the situation, and if it is possible to change something (such as getting a new job or removing a toxic person from your life) do it if you think it will be for the best.
Make better food choices.
When you're trying to improve your overall wellness, the first step is making better food choices. This can be difficult when eating patterns are established in childhood and adolescence. If you grew up eating fast food or junk food on a regular basis, it may take some time for your taste buds to adjust and enjoy healthier options like vegetables and fruit instead of pizza or ice cream. But if you make this effort, it will pay off in many ways:
Start by limiting the amount of saturated fats (the kind found in animal products), sugar and salt that you eat each day. These ingredients have been linked with an increased risk for heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). They also contribute significantly toward weight gain over time--and being overweight has been shown not only increase one's risk for these diseases but also lead directly into other conditions such as cancerous tumors!
Don't compare yourself to others.
It's important to be your own person, and it's easy to get caught up in comparing yourself with others. You may find yourself thinking things like: "I wish I were more like her." or "Why can't I be as successful as him?" But you have your own goals and aspirations that are unique from anyone else's, so don't waste time focusing on what other people have done with their lives--instead, focus on what YOU want out of yours!
Learn to relax
Relaxation is important for your overall health. It can help you sleep better, reduce stress and anxiety, boost mood, improve circulation and digestion and even help you manage pain. There are many different techniques that people use to relax: deep breathing exercises (sometimes called "diaphragmatic breathing"), meditation, yoga or tai chi--the list goes on! The important thing is finding something that works for you personally; if one method doesn't feel right then try another until you find something that fits comfortably into your life routine.
Conclusion
Making small changes to improve your overall wellness can make a big difference! The best thing about these changes is that they're so easy to make. You don't have to overhaul your entire lifestyle or go on some crazy diet--just a few small tweaks here and there can add up over time!
