We all want to be happy and healthy. Your overall well-being is attainable with these four easy steps that focus on your body, heart and mind.
Fitness
You don’t have to hit the gym for an hour a day and be a bodybuilder to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle. Staying active does wonders for your body, heart, and mind. If you’re inactive, start by going for a walk outside daily. Your body will benefit from this simple activity in many ways. To begin with, most of the U.S. population has a sedentary lifestyle, especially at work. Getting out of your chair and walking increases your blood flow, alleviating back and leg problems. Plus, you may notice a loosening of the belt! If you need ideas to be more active, check out these recent fitness trends.
Walking outside is good for your mind as studies show we don’t get enough connection to nature. Fresh air, even in the winter months, can calm your mind, increasing your overall well-being. Just be sure to get out and away from electronics to reap the most benefits.
Eat Right
All that activity won’t do you any good if you’re loading your body with sugar and processed foods. You’ll still feel sluggish. Eating right a majority of the time reduces brain fog and mental cognition. If you’re not feeling mentally alert, your overall well-being suffers. Plus, getting adequate fruits and vegetables improves your heart health and provides the vitamins you need to boost your immunity.
Sleep
Getting enough sleep has tremendous benefits on your well-being. We all know what it feels like to function on 3 or 4 hours of sleep. But did you know that getting less than the optimum 7 hours nightly can have adverse effects on your health? Alternatively, however tempting it is to sleep in during the cold winter months, opt for no more than 8 hours of sleep. Too little sleep can lead to weight gain as well as difficulty concentrating. Too much can leave you sluggish.
Meditate
We have many distractions in our day-to-day lives. From email and text notifications, work responsibilities, household duties and family activities, we are constantly on the go. Taking time to slow down and focus on the now is vital to your whole health. Meditating provides a mind-body connection, slows the heart rate, eliminates distractions, and can provide focus and intention for the day.
Meditation does not have to be an hour sitting in a room filled with incense. Simply taking five to ten minutes to sit in peace while focusing on your breathing helps. Quieting the mind takes some practice, so even practicing a simple breath in/breath out chant can help drive out the ever-present to-do list in your head. Alternatively, you can take ten minutes at the beginning of the day to set your intentions and ten minutes in the evening to practice gratitude. Not only will your mood improve, you’ll increase focus. Meditation can take place anytime and anywhere.
What are your thoughts on well-being? Have you tried any of these tips and how did they work for you? We’d love to hear from you.
