Losing a few lockdown pounds and improving your mental health can seem like a daunting task at times. With so much information out there, it can be hard to understand what we should and shouldn’t be doing to improve our daily lives.
While we all put pressure on ourselves to see results quickly, when things don’t progress as fast as we’d like we often give up. But did you know that you don’t have to make drastic changes to your lifestyle to strengthen your health and wellbeing?
There are plenty of small, achievable changes you can make that are easier to maintain in the long run.
Below are 7 ways you can strengthen your health and wellness.
Make a few dietary changes
The key to a healthy body is a balanced diet. The food you eat determines how healthy your body is, but it also helps to determine your emotional health too. Instead of starting a new diet, why not make some easy diet changes instead?
The below swaps are some of the easiest to make and follow:
- Swap white bread, pasta, and rice for healthier wholegrain versions
- Increase your water intake
- Swap unhealthy snacks with high protein alternatives such as Beef Biltong – Find out more about ‘What is Biltong’.
Get active
If you’re a regular gym-goer – keep it up! If you don’t know where to start, consider getting more active each day. We don’t mean setting yourself a goal competing in the next Olympics but consider increasing your activity levels each day.
You don’t need to do intense exercise to reap the benefits either, sometimes it can be just as simple as taking a walk on your lunch break.
As well as all the health benefits associated with regular activity including improving heart health and reducing the risk of diabetes, regular activity has been linked to improving mental health. That’s right – getting outside and going for a walk has been shown to reduce tension and manage depression as it releases feel good chemicals in the brain that make you feel happier and healthier.
Find new hobbies
Hobbies help us keep busy, feel engaged and meet new people. When you have an interest in something and enjoy doing them, you boost your mental and emotional wellbeing. It also helps to keep stress and depression at bay.
Tell someone you love them
With the stresses of everyday life, it can be easy to take all the great things in our lives for granted, especially our loved ones. Taking the time out of your day to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you can lead to a deeper emotional connection, which releases feel good chemicals in the brain and makes us feel better.
Showing appreciation costs nothing and will remind others around you how much you love and care for them.
Drink plenty of water
It’s suggested that you drink around eight to ten glasses of water per day. Ensuring you’re hydrated during the day is vital to a strong body and mind. Not only does hydration affect energy levels and brain function, but it can also help to boost physical performance, help to prevent headaches, and can help to aid weight loss.
Take supplements
Although there is no evidence that taking certain supplements will strengthen your immune system, studies have shown that certain supplements help to strengthen your body’s general immune system and fight off infections quickly. Supplements like Vitamins C & D as well as Zinc have been proven to reduce the duration of cold and flu in adults.
Don’t take life too seriously!
Last, but by no means least is laughter. They say laughter is the best medicine and those that remain happy also smile more and try to keep themselves healthier, experiencing a much better quality of life than those who are often stressed or worried. Staying happy and not taking life too seriously is vital for quality of life.
Final thoughts
A few simple lifestyle changes can go a long way toward improving your mental and physical health. If you’re trying to live a healthier life, don’t just focus on the foods you eat. Exercise, stay hydrated, spend time doing the things you enjoy and don’t take life too seriously!
