Healthy habits are crucial for living a long and prosperous life, but it can be hard to keep up with all the new health trends and know which ones are beneficial for you.
This post goes back to basics and highlights some of the important habits that are crucial to your health but are often neglected.
#1 Not hitting snooze
As small as it may seem, the habit of hitting your snooze button every morning can have a detrimental impact on your health. Short term, it can leave you feeling groggy and disoriented in the morning because it interrupts your sleeping cycle every time you hit snooze.
When you snooze, you don’t often fall back into a deep sleep. This is because your body is confused and as a result, will often leave you tossing and turning and affect the quality of your sleep. This means you could be losing out on several hours of sleep every week which in the long run, can make it harder to fall asleep at night as well as impact your focus, immunity, and stress levels.
#2 Staying home when you feel sick
Pre covid, it was frustrating when you would fall ill to have to stay at home when you have hundreds of things you need to do. It is quite common to also feel pressure from your colleagues and superiors in your office. This usually results in people who are unwell, to act as if nothing is wrong. A cold may seem minor to some, but your whole body is working hard to fight the illness. If you exert yourself too much and try to carry on with the usual hustle and bustle of life, you will only prolong your body’s recovery time. For your health, as well as your colleagues, it is best to stay at home and recover quickly.
#3 Dental hygiene
Dental hygiene is often limited to brushing your teeth twice a day. And while this is great, there is much more to dental hygiene that keeps you healthy that is often neglected. For example, visiting your local dentist for a check-up and flossing between meals. These two crucial habits are key to avoiding long-term health issues. Your dentist will be able to advise if you need teeth braces or teeth cleaning as well as identify gum disease, cavities, and other issues that can manifest into bigger problems.
#4 Getting 5-9 fruits or vegetables every day
It has been advised that everyone should get at least 5-9 fruits and vegetables per day. However, it has been estimated that 87% of the world’s population does not consume enough fruit or vegetables.
When you lead a busy life, it is easy to pick up a quick meal from the supermarket or local takeaway. Every so often it is fine, but on a long-term basis can lead to decreased mental health, concentration, and nutritional deficiencies.
Although 9 vegetables seem like a lot, there are many inexpensive and delicious ways you can work them in. It doesn’t have to be 9 to start with. Aim for 5 per day and see where you can work in some extras.
Being healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. Implementing those small habits that you have neglected can be a great way to live a longer, happier life.