Focus on these simple mantras and reap the health benefits
Making healthy changes to your lifestyle doesn’t have to be a hard slog. In fact, the best tweaks are the ones that are easy to maintain. Here are a few new habits you can squeeze into your day.
STOP & SMELL THE ROSES
Stop what you’re doing right now and list three things you’re thankful for, then try to make this a daily habit. Research has shown that gratitude can make you happier, improve relationships and potentially even counteract depression.
Some studies go as far as to show that gratitude is associated with fewer aches and pains and better cardiovascular health. Not sure what to list? It can be as simple as appreciating the natural beauty around you or a hug from the kids. Oh, and literally stopping to smell the roses has another benefit – research shows that rose scents help with information retention and learning success!
FIND LITTLE WAYS TO STAY ACTIVE
We all know exercise is good for us –there’s irrefutable evidence that regular physical activity can help in the prevention of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis. Many of us don’t have time or the budget to factor in a gym class or personal training at a certain time on any given day, but that doesn’t mean we can’t exercise.
There are plenty of ways to sneak it in – get in the habit of taking that lunchtime walk, or park the car a little further away from the school when picking up the kids and walk to the gate (it’s easier to find a park that way too!). Only got 10 minutes or less? Download the 7 Minute Workout app for a quick session.
GET ENOUGH ZZZS
Have trouble nodding off? Maybe you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t doze off again. We’re always told to get enough sleep, and studies back up the numerous negative effects that sleep deprivation has on our health, from messing with hormones to hypertension.
A pre-sleep routine to relax you may help. Research suggests the blue light from laptops, tablets and phones affects our circadian rhythm by tricking our brains into thinking it’s still daytime. Instead, listen to apps with guided meditations such as Calm and Headspace to wind down before bed or to fall back to sleep.
AVOID RESTRICTIVE DIETS
Restrictive dieting is not the answer. Research shows that the majority of people will gain back most of the weight they lose while dieting and will even end up weighing more than before.
Overly restrictive diets actually lower your metabolic rate, or the amount of calories you burn, making it more difficult to lose weight. Plus, ever noticed that any time a diet begins, you immediately become preoccupied with food? The solution? Focus on nourishing your body with a healthy diet instead of depriving it.
STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH HEALTH CHECKS
Healthy people know to get regular health checks at their GP. Book in now for the full check-up. As we get older our risk of heart disease increases, and it can sneak up on you, so have your blood pressure and cholesterol tested. And while you’re there, get blood tests done, skin checked, breasts checked and a pap smear. If you’re over 50 years old, send that stool sample in the mail for the free bowel cancer screening.
