Eleven Ways To Gain Control Over Your Health
Self care is becoming more and more of a trend. We see people promoting and sharing their daily healthy habits on all kinds of social media platforms. By taking control over your own health you are benefiting in more than one way. You are not only improving your own physical and mental health, but you are also setting an example to those around you. People feed off of other people and when friends and family see you living a healthy lifestyle, you may just inspire them to follow in your footsteps. We as humans are curious creatures that want to learn new things and be better; yet we often have trouble finding the right place to start. Therefore, in this week’s blog we are giving you 11 ways to gain control over your own health and inspire others to do the same.
#1. Be Kind To Yourself
It is said that we are our own worst critics. We tend to nit pick at all that we do and overlook all the possible positives. While this is common behavior, it is not normal and can lead to negative thoughts. We should try to be more kind to ourselves. Instead of discovering all the negatives in what we do, we should instead focus on what we did right and be proud of it. Realize that we are constantly growing and learning and that nobody is perfect.
#2. Exercise consistently
Exercising has more benefits beyond just the physical ones. With consistent exercise you can improve your sleep, mood, energy, and more. Our bodies are not meant to live a sedentary lifestyle. We crave movement. So discover your preferred form of exercise and begin to incorporate it into your routine. Consistency is key.
#3. Eat clean
Our diet is one of the most important aspect of our health. What we eat influences not only just how we look, but also how we feel. Eating clean consists of eating whole fruits and veggies, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and lean meats. Staying away from the fatty, processed, inflammatory foods. By switching your diet to a clean one, you can expect your body to shape up in addition to an overall increase in mood and energy.
#4. Meal prep
Eating clean can be intimidating at first. However, meal prepping can make everything that much easier. Meal prepping involves setting aside one day a week to plan out your meals for the week and cook or prep the food. Doing this takes the stress out of worrying about what you are going to eat. It also helps save you from caving into the conveniences of fast food. Meal prepping is an efficient way to save time and insure that you are eating healthy as well.
#5. Create a morning ritual
There is something so peaceful about creating a morning ritual. Waking up before anyone else is awake and participating in activities that make you feel good can help set a positive tone for the day. Figure out what activities make you feel good: yoga, journaling, stretching, exercising, gratitude; and find ways to incorporate that into your morning ritual. Starting your days on a high note is one of the best ways to boost your mood and productivity for the rest of the day.
#6. Have a night routine
Humans are creatures of habit. We love when things are consistent and stick to our “normal”. Creating a night routine, in addition to a morning ritual, you can help your body develop new “normal” habits that can result in many benefits. The habits that come with having a consistent night time routine may help improve your overall sleep. Some habits to help you to wind down include: unplugging from technology 1 hour before bed, reading, yoga, mediating, stretching and more.
#7. Get out in nature
Nature is therapeutic. There are many different studies that support how nature actual improves human physical and mental health. Just by getting outside for 20-30 minutes each and everyday you can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, increase self-esteem, and more.
#8. Practice stress management
Stress is more than just stress. When we experience stress for long periods of time we are actually negatively impacting our physical body. Chronic episodes of stress can lead to chronic diseases and illness. This is why it is important to practice stress management. Whether that would be by attending therapy, meditating, or running; by managing your stress you are going to drastically reduce the risk of developing serious health conditions.
#9. Don’t worry about what other people think
You are in constant competition with yourself, nobody else. Regardless of what anyone says, your thoughts and actions are what truly matters. Too often people fall inferior to the talk and thoughts of other people, when in reality most of the time it doesn’t really matter. Everyday your job is to be better than you were yesterday, regardless of what other people think or say.
#10. See a chiropractor
Regular chiropractic care helps keep your body functioning at optimal levels. While chiropractic care does help with pain relief, it is much more than that! It taps into your body’s inner ability to heal and repair itself. Spinal misalignments, or subluxations, decreases this ability and may eventually lead to pain and organ disease. Chiropractic adjustments addresses these subluxations without drugs or surgery and helps promote a healthy lifestyle and overall wellness.
#11. Have realistic expectations and celebrate your achievements
Set SMART goals for yourself. These are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and have a Time frame. By setting SMART goals, you help reduce the risk of not achieving unrealistic goals that you set for yourself, which can result in a feeling of frustration. You should always set realistic goals for yourself, as well as celebrate when you achieve those goals. Accomplishments are not always easy, but when they are achieved they deserved to be celebrated.
The most important thing to keep in mind when gaining control of your health is consistency. Habits are nothing if they are not consistent. So once you set that SMART goal, put your all into it and remain consistent.
