Preventative Health: 5 Habits To Adopt To Empower Yourself From the Inside Out
Looking for the panacea or ‘cure-all’ to your health problems? We get it. We spent many years looking for it too. Want to know what we found?
Sadly, we didn’t find a panacea. But the search didn’t go completely in vain. We found that it takes a series of habits and routines to maintain total well-being.
You’ve likely heard about these habits before. But, we’re going to provide a fresh take on them. One that’s full of positivity and optimism. We’ll explain why each of them really matters.
Ready to jump in? Let’s do this.
1. Move Your Body
Exercise! Most people I know either love or hate exercise. Where do you stand? If you’re the type that dreads exercise, allow us to share some suggestions with you.
First off, try not to think about physical movement as exercise. Think of it as an opportunity to shake off your bad mood, or sweat out the anger you felt while fighting with a friend. Our bodies hold onto the stressors of our day and they accumulate if we don’t release them.
Moving your body is an amazing way to release them. And you don’t have to have a gym membership to do this. Long walks are a form of movement. So is dancing, tai chi, swimming, biking, rollerblading, yoga, and running around with your kids or pets.
Whatever feels good for you, do that. Make the time for yourself, because when you do something you enjoy, it will always make you feel better. Or at the very least it will bring a smile to your face, and that’s pretty cool too.
2. Be Still & Meditate
Do you cringe when you hear the word meditation? Most likely, you didn’t grow up meditating and trying something new can be scary or intimidating.
Fortunately, meditation is becoming more popular in western societies. So, there's a lot of resources out there to help us learn. Many people love using the app “Calm” while others seek out experienced meditation teachers for guidance.
So, how is this habit important for preventative health? Well, for starters mediation helps to quiet our minds. For most of us, our minds race incessantly throughout the day. We hardly get a break — until we go to sleep.
But, why not give our minds a break more often, such as during a meditation session. By focusing on our breath and simply observing our thoughts, we experience a sense of calm. We move away from the busyness of our daily lives and take a moment to regain some balance, some peace, and find relief.
3. Prioritize Your Sleep
Feels like we’re preaching to the choir with this one. You get it, sleep’s important.
We don’t always have the ability to get enough sleep due to our jobs, family life, or chosen lifestyle. Even when we get used to a lack of sleep, it never really gets easier per se.
That’s because our bodies were designed to restore themselves — during deep sleep. We demand so much of our bodies and minds during the day, that sleep is essential. There’s no getting around it.
Try your best to get the restorative sleep that you deserve. If it’s hard to do, try getting a nap in on your days off work. Or take some breaks during the day to meditate, stretch, or be outside in nature.
These little tips can help offset the lack of sleep from the night before. The more rest you can get the better, even when you're not hitting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Find wins anywhere you can.
4. You Are What You Eat
The food you eat is very important not only for your physical health, but studies show the foods you eat can impact your mental health too. It’s no secret that processed foods and refined sugars are not good for you, so staying away from those is step number one.
But, what else?
Eat as many fresh, organic vegetables and fruits that are in season every day. Next, think about buying some seeds and nuts. Almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, etc. are great sources of fat and have lots of sustenance.
Add unprocessed, whole grains into your day or week along with legumes like beans and lentils. These are good sources of protein for vegetarians or vegans.
Lastly, if you eat animal protein include some fish, eggs, chicken, turkey, pork, and beef into your diet. Everyone has a different opinion about whether to eat red meat and animal-proteins in general. Do your research and eat what feels right to you.
You know your body better than anyone else. Trust your gut.
5. Herbal Supplements
When you can’t get enough nutrition from your food, you can always utilize the power of herbal supplements. Things like CBD oil, ashwagandha, ginseng, saw palmetto, black cohosh, turmeric, and others get used every day by millions of people.
These kinds of supplements have the ability to help our endocannabinoid system, endocrine system, digestive system, and more. They can also assist with certain processes and functions within our body. You can think of herbal supplements as little helpers, giving you some assistance where your body needs it most.
In Summary
Again, there’s no ‘quick-fix’ when it comes to achieving optimal health. It takes conscious effort, time, and a variety of habits to adopt and implement.
But, you can do it.
When you make your health a priority, time will automatically free up. You’ll start to find the resources and information to get you started. You’ll meet people who can advise you on how to get started. You’ll read blogs like this one!
I’ve personally implemented all these suggestions into my life, strayed away for a bit, and ultimately came back to them. Because I realized that nothing can replace good health. There’s no better feeling than vitality, natural energy, alertness, and being calm.
It all starts with a single step.
We’d love to hear what step you’re willing to take first. Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
We’re rooting for you!