Improve Your Lifestyle – Improve Your Health

You don’t have to change much to start seeing real benefits when it comes to improving your lifestyle. With even the smallest of changes, you will soon see short-term improvements. Maintain those changes and you might be surprised how impactful the long-term improvements are. From finding a better work-life balance, which can help reduce stress and all the health issues that can cause; to improving your physical health by kicking out some of the bad lifestyle habits we all pick up over the years.

Below are 4 easy ways to improve your lifestyle and increase your wellbeing.

Find a work-life balance

According to research conducted last year, 53 percent of employees said that a role allowing them to have a better work-life balance was very important to them.

About a third of people suffering from stress site work concerns as the main reason. In a fast-paced digital age, it’s easy to sometimes blur the lines of work and life, and you might often find yourself blending the two together. We’ve all been there, checking work emails out of hours, replying to the odd one here and there, and generally not switching off as much as we should. Try taking your work emails off your phone or having a seperate mobile for work related things and this way you won’t be tempted to just check them ‘quickly’.

Also set aside time in the evenings to do things that aren’t going to allow you to find an excuse to work. Why not meet up with friends or your partner and try doing something that will help you to switch off? You might also like to check out this article: 8 Ways to Achieve a Healthier Work-Life Balance

Take some time for you

Leading on from above, it’s important to take the time for you. So, if you do struggle switching off then plan in at least one evening a week where you spend some time looking after yourself and unwinding: maybe finally reading that book or watching a movie you’ve wanted to see for a while. Or why not enjoy a leaisurely soak in the bath in a warm, candlelit bathroom?

If you’ve got some time to kill on the weekends, then book yourself in to see an exhibition or head to a museum or gallery (for free!) to take some time switching off from the outside world and exploring something new. Or why not visit the Healthy Life Essex events pages for interesting wildlife and countryside events?

Improve your health

Your health should be a priority when it comes to improving your lifestyle. Obviously a healthy diet is a good starting point. Aim to meet your 5-a-day veg and fruit requirements, drink plenty of water and cook fresh, wholesome food rather than relying on ready meals and take-aways, which are frequently laden with too much salt and sugar and very little nutrition value.

But it’s not just eating better that’s important. If you’ve been meaning to try and kick any bad habits such as smoking, then now could be a good time to try and stop for good. There are plenty of resources available to help you, offering support and advice. If you have tried to quit before by going cold turkey and didn’t manage it for good, then try an alternative that will help you. Options such as e-cigarettes can offer a better alternative to smoking and are better for your health in the long run. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of great starter kits to help you give up cigarettes for good.

Get active

One of the most talked about ways to improve both your physical and mental health is getting active, particularly if you are in the fresh air.  Getting active doesn’t mean you have to dive right in to an extravagant fitness routine. Even the smallest changes can help you see vast improvements.

If you’re new to exercising, walking is always a great way to get started. You can start on your own, or why not enjoy a walking group and enjoy the company too? There are many low cost, and often free, beginners walking groups across the county with many featured in the Health Walks Events section.

Once you feel a bit more confident, then maybe find something else you enjoy doing, from jogging or running to classes where you can mix things up and try something new. And don’t forget dancing and gardening are both excellent for increasing fitness and general wellbeing.