Health has several parameters; lifestyle is one of them – the biggest one, in fact. Any doctor will tell you that lifestyle is the crucial facet of health in the present world where everyday life is dictated by the lifestyle one adopts – owing to finances, environment or society.
On a general scale, the key to a healthy lifestyle is, obviously, moderation, whether the reference is to food, drinks or workouts. Ask any doctor. When the details are laid out, it might seem a big ask if one is occupied in a stressful job or has a hectic pace of life that leaves no space for oneself, but if you are willing to adopt little changes – one step at a time – into your life, health would be a given.
Here is a quick snapshot of a healthy lifestyle:
Stay Active
Staying active or being on the move cannot be overemphasised, it appears. Simply taking the stairs instead of the lift, parking the car a couple of minutes away from the office…can easily provide you with an avenue to keep your body moving. Dedicating time for exercising, at least five times a week, should become a norm than an exception. Studies have found that working out, even walking, a few minutes a day can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It will help improve stability and also flexibility. People who are exposed to stressful situations could also benefit from a simple walk.
Eat Right
A healthy diet is all about making conscious choices about what to consume at different times of the day. Studies and counter studies may have repeatedly told us what to eat and not to eat, but there are no two opinions about including green leafy vegetables and fruits in the diet. While a complete overhaul of one’s food habit can be drastic and may not even provide the required effect, the objective should be to start with small changes that could lead to bigger and more responsible change. You could start by adding fruits into the cereals, salads or dinner and giving the regular pizza a veggie twist. The biggest, rather difficult, the change would be cutting down on sugar and lowering salt intake.
Sleep Enough
While there is no denying the importance of the right diet and daily workouts, it has to, necessarily, complement adequate sleep. Your body requires sleep for optimum functioning; it is the sleep that helps your body to self-repair according to the doctors. Although most experts prescribe eight hours of sleep, what is more important is the quality of that sleep. For good quality sleep, one that is not disturbed will make you feel better about yourself. It will benefit your heart, mind and weight and usher in a healthy lifestyle. A good night’s sleep can improve memory, spur creativity, improve attention and cognitive performance and also reduce stress and anxiety.
Reduce Stress
Stress is the biggest bane of the modern world; one that requires to be tackled right to ensure it doesn’t spread its tentacles in other aspects of your life. This puts the onus on you to introduce stress management into your lifestyle and find ways to relax and unwind after a long day at work. Simple stretching exercises, meditation practices or even indulging in a hobby or activity could get you started on the healthy lifestyle path.
Take one step at a time to introduce a healthy lifestyle into your life and stay happy!
