We lead hectic lives. We wake up early to prepare for work, commute to the office and back, and find ourselves with very little time at the end of the day. We constantly feel stressed and tired because of everything that’s constantly happening. Because of how busy we are, we tend to overlook how all of this can negatively affect the body and mind.
Thankfully, even with a busy schedule, there are a lot of ways you can do to improve your health. We’ll be taking a look at some of them below. Of course, these are changes that need to be included in your everyday life. The good thing is they’re small and unobtrusive, so you can slowly integrate them and start living healthily, little by little.
Sleep Better, Not Just Longer
Have you ever woken up groggy despite getting around 8 hours of sleep? You’re not alone. Many people are reporting feelings of fatigue despite getting the prescribed 8 hours of sleep. And the reason is rather interesting: the length of sleep matters, yes. But the quality of sleep matters as well. Sleeping continuously for six hours will result in a much better morning than sleeping 8 hours but broken into three increments because of late-night disturbances.
However, it can be hard to sleep ‘better.’ First of all, you need to address why your sleep lacks quality. Perhaps it is because your sleeping position doesn’t allow for maximum comfort and circulation, and if this is the case, look into getting more comfortable mattresses. Another reason could be air circulation. Make sure that your room has good ventilation so you can sleep better.
Stay Hydrated
You would be surprised at how people don’t drink enough water. When mixed with work and general busy-ness in life, we tend to forget to drink water and only drink when we see the water. Many people assume that fluids like coffee or soda are sufficient to hydrate you- while they quench thirst, water is still the best in that job.
Staying hydrated is vital to our well-being. We’re 60% water, after all. Being dehydrated affects us both mentally and physically. Even being mildly dehydrated can affect our mood, making us feel cranky or irritable. It also helps maintain a sense of satiety, so we don’t end up filling our stomach with sugars and carbohydrates. Lastly, it helps keep the body in complete working condition as our many organs require water to function properly.
Manage Your Workflow Better
If you’re the type to work till you drop, then that bodes negatively in the future. Overworking is a common disease that plagues many of us, as society places importance on working hard. Working hard is necessary, yes, as many things can only be accomplished when we are focused and giving it our best. But being rested enough (both mentally and physically) is also necessary to make sure that we can work hard.
Instead of working yourself non-stop, take short, frequent breaks instead. This allows our mind to refresh and re-energize. Often, we will even see solutions we did not see in our fatigued state. Consider trying the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes, then taking a break for 5 minutes before resuming another 25-minute workload. This helps fight procrastination and gives the mind enough breathing room to go on extended bouts of thinking.
Exercise is Good for the Mind and Body
We all know that exercise is good for our bodies. But it is even better than we initially imagined. Exercise brings its usual benefits: it improves cardiovascular performance, strengthens the muscles and the bones, keeps the body active and fit, and helps our mental state.
Exercising has been found to have positive effects on the mind as it helps relieve stress, keeps your memory sharp, and helps you get better sleep. It also helps in fighting depression and anxiety. Strength training not only helps make the body stronger but also introduces a sense of psychological resiliency as you will learn how to progress and face challenges. The next time you are exercising, keep these in mind: you are not just exercising for a good body, but for better mental health.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Being cooped up in our offices, sitting more than 8 hours a day, and staring at the computer for days on end simply can’t be good for us. This kind of sedentary lifestyle has been known to cause a litany of physical ailments, not to mention the mental toll it has on us.
Luckily, this can be remedied by simply going outside. Walk under the sun for at least five minutes, or go to parks on weekends. However, you get your dose of outdoors matters little, as what’s important is you get your vitamin D and your fill of being outside and enjoying nature.
With these ideas in mind, you don’t have to exert too much effort to remain healthy and fit. You can do simple activities and still be fit mentally and physically.
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