If this year has taught people anything, it’s how important it is to look after your wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light how vulnerable we can be, and how easy it is to fall into bad health unexpectedly. While you might not be able to fight off every illness or hardship in life, there are steps you can take to make sure your mind and body are both fighting fit for the best kind of life you should have. If you have been thinking about how to improve your health and wellbeing recently, here is a guide on how to look after yourself thoroughly and to get the best results.
Physical Health
Eyes
Many people take their eyesight for granted, but if you begin to have issues you mustn’t ignore the warning signs. Needing glasses to aid your vision is very common, and some people need to wear glasses or contact lenses their whole life, while others might find this happens to them in later life. In order to take good care of your vision, make sure you get eye tests on at least one occasion in your 20s, twice in your 30s, and a little more often as you get older. If you notice that your eyes are feeling strained (headaches and blurred vision are both signs of this), make an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible to find a solution. If you would like to switch to contact lenses instead of wearing glasses, ask your eye doctor for advice on how to wear lenses for the first time.
Dental
A lot of people have a fear of going to the dentist, but avoiding regular check-ups or ignoring issues such as bleeding or sensitive gums and teeth isn’t a good idea! It’s important to maintain a good dental hygiene routine, which involves brushing your teeth morning and night, flossing, and using a fluoride mouthwash. An electric toothbrush will give you a deeper clean than a manual one, so it’s worth investing to help reduce the chances of poor dental health.
Diet
The most obvious step to take if you want to maintain good health is to watch what you eat! This doesn’t mean getting obsessed over counting calories or only eating salads, quite the opposite. While being aware of the calories in your food can help you manage your diet, you should focus more on making sure your meals include all the right nutrients for your body. Making sure you’re eating enough protein, vegetables, and so on, is the key to a good diet. It’s perfectly fine to indulge once in a while, just make sure you’re not turning your treats into your everyday meals.
Exercise
Making sure you’re getting enough physical activity during the day is also key to maintaining good health. Even a simple 20–30-minute walk will help to keep your body in good shape, and if you’re not used to getting much exercise, this is a good way to ease you into it. It’s recommended that you get 150minutes of moderate cardio exercise in a week, or 75minutes if you are doing a more rigorous workout. It’s also important to think about strengthening exercises to help keep your muscles strong as well as maintaining a healthy weight.
Mental Health
Meditation
Moving on from your physical wellbeing, you must also make sure you’re working on your mental health. If you find yourself regularly feeling stressed or anxious, try doing some meditation each day and see how that can help reduce those negative emotions. Taking the time to switch off and calm your mind can be a big help, and will also leave you feeling more at ease and focused. If you haven’t tried meditation before, look at some guided meditation videos or podcasts to help you get started.
CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy)
CBT is a common therapy recommended by many mental health professionals for those who struggle with problems such as depression and anxiety. The aim is for you to focus more on the positive thoughts in your mind, rather than letting the negative ones take over. CBT can help you identify these negative thoughts and their patterns, and help you reconstruct your way of thinking to tackle the overwhelming emotions that can be associated with them. If you’re dealing with poor mental health, talking to a professional and finding out more about how CBT can help you is a good place to start. They will talk to you through the practice, and eventually, you’ll be able to do it yourself at home.
Get Back to Nature
It is a well-known fact that nature has a positive and calming effect on people. In the modern world, it’s easy to be consumed by technology and busy lifestyles, all of which can become overwhelming and stressful at times. If you feel like you need to get away and reset, taking a weekend trip to a place of natural beauty, or even spending the afternoon in your local park could help you feel revitalized and happier. You could even introduce more nature into your home environment by purchasing some potted plants or spending more time in your garden.
Relax
Taking the time to relax when you’re feeling unhappy or stressed out is very important. Whether it’s switching off your phone and soaking in a hot bath for an hour, or enjoying some arts and crafts, or getting lost in a great novel, finding an activity that you love will help to calm you down and relax. Try to make time for some self-care at least once a week if you can, as this could make a big difference to your mental wellbeing.
Socialize
Spending time with friends and family is another great way to boost your mood. They can help you through tough times by listening to your problems and supporting you through them, but they can also make you laugh and be happy even when nothing is wrong. It’s important to socialize with the people who have a positive effect on your life to maintain good mental health and to maintain these wonderful relationships.
If you want to start making changes to your lifestyle or the way you think, use this wellbeing guide to help you achieve your goals and feel better both physically and mentally.
