The new year is nearly here. Are you one of the millions of Americans who plan to resolve to get healthier in 2022?
You don’t have to commit to losing 100 pounds or running a marathon to improve your overall well-being and energy levels. Here are five simple ways to live a healthier lifestyle that anyone can resolve to do in the coming year.
1. Get a Checkup
When was the last time that you saw your doctor? If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are uninsured or underinsured, you might put off your checkups for financial reasons. However, consider your actions carefully.
Sometimes, minor issues that you can correct if caught early can balloon into expensive nightmares — or, worse, proceed to the point where your disease becomes incurable.
Routine screenings can detect issues like Type 2 diabetes risk, a condition that’s often reversible with lifestyle changes if you catch it early. Letting it progress can lead to heart and kidney disease. Likewise, monitoring your blood pressure lets you know when to cut back on salt, alcohol and fat. STD screenings keep you and your future partners safer.
2. Move Your Body Daily
Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore that drains hours from every day. Although the World Health Organization recently revised their guidelines to 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity each week, that still only amounts to half an hour per day.
Plus, you don’t have to do it all at once. Many fitness apps and YouTube channels feature workouts as short as ten minutes. Do one during your morning break, one in the afternoon and a final after dinner to meet your requirement in short, fun bursts that boost your energy and productivity levels.
3. Prep Your Meals
Meals you prepare at home are generally healthier than takeout — and far easier on the pocketbook. Stock up on freezer bags and veggie storage containers to get your meal prep game on point.
One easy way to do so is to complete all your prep work on the weekends, such as chopping veggies and storing them in stay-fresh bins. You can even cook nutritious weekday dinners that require no more effort than popping them in the instant pot — talk about simple.
4. Connect With Others
Loneliness can kill. Research indicates that people who feel isolated from others increase their risk of death from all causes. If they aren’t sick, they may develop disease, and if they are ill, they may succumb.
Therefore, cherish your relationships. Take time to connect with those you love. Schedule date night with your spouse and arrange a babysitter well in advance. Spend a sunny Saturday with the entire family at the park. Reach out to older relatives, too, perhaps offering to help them with technology to help them stay connected if they’re still isolating due to Covid.
5. Spend Some Time Alone
Another simple way to live a healthier lifestyle is to take some time alone to work on your mind and emotions each day. You don’t have to take up a regular yoga practice — unless you want to, as it is a healing.
However, you can accomplish just as much with ten minutes of writing and reflecting in a journal. Even a short, brisk walk in nature without any devices lets you get into your inner world and shut out the distractions that bombard modern people nearly every second of the day.
Keep a sketch pad or diary on your nightstand to spend a few minutes in reflection before bedtime. If you’re religious, consider lighting a candle or stopping by your place of worship to reflect. Create a meditation corner at home, or find your favorite YouTube yogi and subscribe for new ways to reach zen.
Simple Ways to Live a Healthier Lifestyle
You don’t need to run a triathlon or embark on a paleo-vegan-gluten-free diet to improve your overall well-being. The five simple steps above will have you living a healthier lifestyle in no time.
