With all the diets, trends, high stress, social media influences, food marketing and the impact of diet-culture, our perspective on what it means to be healthy can get lost.
We have to keep in mind that heart disease, breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, anxiety, suicide and depression are still on the rise and although aesthetic goals are great, it’s important to put your overall health first.
Here are a few steps to aid in prioritizing your health.
PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY
Put your phone and other electronics in another room while you sleep. Our electronics emit blue light rays which studies have shown can inhibit the production of the sleep hormone melatonin and interrupt your circadian rhythms. Putting the electronic outside of the bedroom can also help eliminate the distraction of scrolling and emailing when you should be focusing on shutting down and resting up.
BREATHE
Practice deep breathing and meditation at least once a day to reduce stress.
RELAX
Dedicate intentional time to post-workout recovery. The longevity of the body relies on proper recovery. Practices like therapeutic massages, foam rolling, chiropractor visits, epsom salt baths, and active isolated stretching are great practice to work into your regimen. An easy way to start is stretch for 2-5 minutes right when you wake up.
MOVE YOUR BODY
Get moving! You don’t have to workout 5-6 days a week at the gym to get active. It starts with simple things like taking breaks from busy work to get up and move around (if you have a sedentary type of job), walking more, doing quick 10-15 minute workouts before you get your day started, taking the stairs instead of the elevator and making fitness/moving fun by connecting it to things you enjoy (example – if you like to dance take a dance cardio class).
CONSIDER HEALTHIER OPTIONS
Swap it out – start making healthier swaps when it comes to your food choices. Think about the food you enjoy that doesn’t contribute to your healthy lifestyle goals, then find healthier alternatives that have less processed sugar, less chemicals and less saturated fat. Small steps like this can help you start making changes without doing anything drastic.
