So it’s a brand new start to a year, one which has been highly anticipated through the struggles of 2020. This is by no means a ‘new year new me’ post, as I don’t believe in that. I know that setting unrealistic and achievable goals can be really depressing when you don’t achieve them in the long run. So today I am bringing you 6 little ways to boost your overall health.
Before we start: this blog post will not encourage weight-loss culture, diet culture, get skinny culture, or any other fad culture. You’re safe with me!
6 little ways to boost your overall health:
1.Treat your mental health the same as your physical health.
This is actually not such a small one but I had to include it. We often find ourselves ignoring our mental health. (Which everyone has btw, whether it is healthy or not.)
Our mental health has been shown to overflow into almost every other area of life so we should pay attention to it and try to care for it in the same way that we care for physical health.
Here are a few ways you can achieve this:
Keeping a diary every day of your emotions, how your mind feels and reflecting on it at the end of the week.
Book a doctor’s appointment if you feel you are suffering.
Say No more times a day. Protect your time and energy for the things that are important to you.
On that note, check out my blog post on how to be brilliantly busy: setting boundaries and much more!
2. Make your bed and open a window every morning.
This is one of my favourites, I have gotten into a habit of making my bed every day.
It does help to give you that extra bit of motivation and sense of achievement to start the day.
It sets you up for a whole host of other healthy actions that day.
Opening your window is also a really healthy thing to do. I find it clears out any cobwebs immediately and energises me for the day.
3. Fresh air every day.
Did you know that around 20% of Oxygen we breathe in is directed to the brain for function?
Getting some fresh air could look like opening a door with your morning coffee, or it could be a nice long walk.
Fresh air will provide greater brain clarity and release serotonin, which can help your body to feel healthier.
4. Do one genuinely kind thing every day.
It can be really hard to be kind to others when we struggle to be kind to even ourselves, but it can make you feel so much better.
For example, kindness reduces stress, improves your mood, increases self-esteem and happiness too!
It can also give you a healthy perspective on the world and your place in it.
5. Move your body.
This is different for everyone, for some this is a nice walk. For others, it could be a home workout or going to the gym.
For me, I love just doing a 10-minute yoga stretching flow in the morning sometimes, or a run-walk through the woods where I live.
No matter what you can manage, do what feels good and do it to enjoy yourself. Movement can reduce the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease and so many other long term health issues, as well as just making you feel a bit better inside.
6. Do something for tomorrow.
This is a really well-known concept, ‘do something today your future self will thank you for.’ I sometimes the best way to improve your health is by doing the things you really don’t want to do.
Running away from tasks like this is kinda’ self-destructive.
One example that I am going to try this year is to do my laundry twice a week.
Every day, I put washing my clothes off, until I literally have no clothes to wear!
Doing my washing will not only clean up my room but prevent my future self a meltdown.
What little thing can you do to help out your future self?
So, to wrap up:
This year, lets try to be less obessed about radical fads and quick fixes and give ourselves the benefit of a bit of time and consistent effort, even if it is something small.
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