Improving your health and fitness doesn’t have to be hard work. Sure, building an athletic, cover-model body is not easy. But if your objective is simply to feel a little healthier, look a little better and put a bit of a spring in your step, then you have plenty of simple options.
Getting healthier is a marathon, not a sprint: It’s the result of hundreds of small choices that we make over the long haul—eating natural products and veggies each day, working out three times a week, choosing chamomile tea over wine (most evenings, anyway). But indeed the most beneficial of wellbeing nuts long for something speedy and simple.
And in fact, knowing these easy hacks to improve your wellbeing is actually crucial when it comes to getting that killer body too. Why? Because a making these changes can give you the energy and the ability you need to make the bigger changes. These are those first small steps that make everything else possible.
Here are some good places to begin…
- Drink More Water
Recent studies suggest that swapping all your drinks for water can make huge differences to your energy levels, your weight loss and even your mental focus. The reason for this is not only that you’ll be putting fewer empty calories into your body, but also that you’ll be increasing your metabolism to burn fat at a faster and more efficient rate.
When the stomach senses that it is full, it sends signals to the brain to stop eating. Water can help to take up space in the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and reducing hunger. A person may also think that they are hungry when they are actually thirsty. Drinking a glass of water before reaching for something to eat can help to curb unnecessary snacking.
2. Get more sleep
What could be easier than lying in bed longer? As it happens, this is actually one of the very best ways to burn more calories and will also help you to wake up feeling more refreshed and rejuvenated, ready for the day ahead!
Going to bed at different times each night is a common habit for many people. In any case, these irregular sleeping patterns could interfere with sleep because they hinder the body’s circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm could be a determination of behavioral, physical, and mental changes that take after a 24-hour cycle. A essential work of the circadian rhythm is to determine whether the body is prepared for rest or not. Thus create a sleep pattern, such as reading for 30 mins before you sleep, or meditate for 20 mins before sleeping, or pray for 30 mins before resting.
3. Meditate
Okay, so getting into the habit of meditation isn’t easy per-say. But doing it for just five minutes a day is a much easier habit and something that there’s really no excuse not to do. And the benefits of this practice are absolutely huge… so it’s time you gave it a try! Set a timer for five minutes before you start your day and tackle the day ahead calmer, happier and more focussed.
Meditation has many wonderful benefits for stress management. One of the most valuable aspects of meditation is that it can build resilience over time, but it can also help one feel less stressed in minutes if used as a tool to simply relax your body and mind. A good app to use is Abide, headspace or calm.
4. Take technology breaks
There’s little doubt the always-on nature of our world creates feelings of stress and dissatisfaction. Look around a restaurant and chances are there are people spending more time on their phones than interacting with those around them.
Watch parents at a park and many are scrolling through their social feeds while the kids play. Teens have even been known to converse via texts even though they’re sitting next to each other. That’s not to say smartphones aren’t beneficial. They are a great tool that keeps people more closely connected despite distances.
Studies have shown that the presence of a phone, even if turned off, creates feelings of being less connected or listened to. Taking a break from this will allow you to have closer relationships with the ones that you love.
Besides, your productivity levels will increase ten fold. While many people think they can multitask, the reality is that it is a myth. Constant texts and emails disrupt focus and can lead to tasks taking longer. Put away all devices and be more present. If necessary, keep the phones in a bag or drawer so there will be less temptation to use them. Turn on “Do Not Disturb,” especially in meetings, or when facing a daunting task like writing a report or studying.
5. Take more vitamins and supplements
Recent studies show that vitamin C is extremely effective in combating colds and flus. Vitamins and minerals support your body in a wide variety of ways, many of them working together. For example, vitamin E helps repair DNA while vitamin B12 helps build it. Vitamin A supports bone health, as do calcium and vitamin D. Your body takes most of these nutrients from your food.