The cliches are many.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
“Anything good is worth fighting for.”
“There are no shortcuts to success.”
The list goes on.
However, when it comes to personal health, these tired old sayings carry a lot of truth. It is simply unrealistic to expect meaningful changes to happen overnight. It is even counterproductive to believe so, as the reality the next morning can leave you feeling defeated.
Therefore, change the way you view personal health. Think of it as a journey instead of a destination. Keep reading as we explore some smart daily choices that can transform your health in the long run.
Develop Consistent Sleep Patterns
Everyone has heard the advice: get at least 8 hours of sleep every night.
However, research indicates there is more to be said for getting consistent sleep than a lot of sleep. In one study, sleep regularity was found to reduce mortality risk by 20% over sleep duration.
Therefore, develop a consistent routine for the most impactful rest. Keep it the same every day–even on weekends. Tuck the phone away an hour before bedtime. Light some candles. Take a warm shower or bath. Get into some cozy pajamas. Read a book.
This will set the foundation for consistent sleep that does more to refresh and invigorate you than sleeping in until noon on a random Sunday morning.
Don’t Become a Victim of Convenience Nutrition
It’s fairly common knowledge these days to avoid highly processed packaged foods. If you can’t pronounce the list of ingredients, it’s probably not good for you.
Unfortunately, when you’re hungry, you’re hungry. If these are the only types of food in your house, it’s going to be hard to avoid them.
This is further compounded in our convenience-oriented culture. Nobody wants to take the time to cook healthy meals when you can just put some ramen in the microwave or have Chick-Fil-A delivered to your front door.
Therefore, find some creative ways to add convenience to your diet without the unhealthy drawbacks associated with convenience foods. Don’t leave those fruits and veggies in the refrigerator to rot. Take an hour one day a week to break out the cutting board and chop them down to edible portions. Throw an entire package of lean chicken breasts on the grill. They taste great when reheated and are delicious cold as a part of salads and wraps. Look into lightly salted nuts, chickpeas, and other nutrient-dense legumes in place of empty-calorie snacks.
Find the “Why” in Exercise
There are few things in life as difficult as sticking to an exercise regimen. Most New Year’s resolution workout plans are declared officially dead by February. With so many people wanting to get in shape, why is it so difficult to stay committed?
More often than not, it is a lack of results.
Not losing enough weight, setting new personal records, or noticing a change in physique can quickly cause people to write off their exercise plans.
Therefore, it is crucial to shift the paradigm when working out so your efforts don’t feel so fruitless. Start with something simple and easily obtainable. Maybe it’s just 10 pushups. Or a 10-minute walk. Keep the goals small in the beginning so you can often say “I did it.” These small victories will compound over time, slowly building until exercise is part of your lifestyle and more ambitious milestones are fully attainable.
Leverage Advances in Personalized Healthcare
Personalized healthcare, also known as precision healthcare, is an innovative approach to modern wellness. Rather than wait for a health issue to arise and seek treatment, personalized healthcare focuses on proactive measures to help patients stay ahead of any health concerns for richer, more fulfilling lives that are not bound by the confines of debilitating ailments. It uses biotechnology, genomics, and data-driven insights to identify possible risk factors and make necessary changes to diet, lifestyle, and/or medication.
Patient empowerment is the name of the game to this approach. A “one-size-fits-all” system is no longer the answer. Patients can work in unison with their healthcare providers to arrive at the most effective treatment for their specific genetic makeup. This allows for targeted treatments of cancer, diabetes, and other long-term ailments, improving results and reducing side effects. Medically-supervised weight loss injections Phoenix, Las Vegas, and other local markets give patients a science-backed head start on controlling weight-related chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Preventive plans can be put into place, with patients leveraging vitamins, nutrition, and other body-specific exercise plans to reduce their risks of diseases ever emerging.
Engage in Mindfulness Activities
Stress and anxiety. On one hand, they are “hot button” issues in contemporary society. On the other, they are far too trivialized.
When left unchecked, they can cause a number of negative physical and mental health implications such as high blood pressure, indigestion, headaches, hormone suppression, weight gain, and more serious mental health conditions.
Therefore, take a few minutes each day to decompress and practice some mindfulness techniques. Some ideas include:
- Meditation
- Deep breathing
- Journaling
- Walking barefoot through the grass
These simple steps can provide a nice reset for an overworked mind for improved wellbeing.
Live a Happier, Healthier Life with Informed Health Choices
When it comes to health, the small choices you make on a daily basis can often be the most impactful. From developing a consistent bedtime routine to engaging in mindfulness exercises, explore any of the smart choices listed above to transform your health. For more of the latest trends in fitness, health, and wellness, explore the resources at Fitness Drum for the leading insights in the industry!
Author’s Bio:
Vanessa Cabrera, founder of Phoenix Mobile IV Therapy and Las Vegas Mobile IV Therapy prides herself in educating readers on the benefits of Mobile IV services. As a healthcare professional, she understands the value of providing excellent services to patients in the comfort of their own homes or space.