Photo by Luiza Braun on Unsplash
Sometimes the smallest details have the greatest impact on our lives. You don’t have to go on a strict diet or drink vitamin drinks to lose weight or feel more energetic. Simply make a few minor changes to your daily routine and watch how your life changes. (Also see: 25 Frugal Changes You Can Make Right Now.)
More walking
Getting more exercise is difficult for many of us, but walking is a good place to start. Walking is one of the most affordable and low-impact forms of exercise.
The most difficult part is motivating yourself, so try to find something that will get you moving.
Eat more slowly/less frequently
How many of us eat mindlessly while staring at various screens (computer, television, iPad)? Eating slowly, paying attention to your food, and savoring each bite will help you eat more slowly, allowing you to feel full on less food. Mindful eating may appear to be a hippie-dippy practice, but it is something that anyone can benefit from. If you can set aside 20 minutes for each meal of the day, chew your food carefully and slowly, and put your fork down between bites, you will feel better, less full, and more energized in a matter of days.
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Consume more water
The news media is constantly harping on how no one drinks enough water. If this were true, we’d all perish from dehydration. However, it is worthwhile to check to see if you are getting enough clean water to drink. A simple test — the pee test! Is your urine nearly clear as water? No? Then you aren’t getting enough water.
Reduce your alcohol consumption
But wine is so healthy, right? Both yes and no. Wine thins the blood and is good for your heart, but it contains sugars that, if not burned off, can fatten your liver. A fatty liver can also contribute to a variety of alcohol-related health problems. Other issues associated with alcohol consumption include poor sleep habits, dehydration, memory loss, and, of course, one-night stands with horrifically ugly people.
Deep breathing/meditation
Taking a short break twice a day to focus your thoughts on a single subject (while breathing slowly and deeply) can help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as lower your blood pressure. You are not required to chant if it causes you discomfort; in fact, “spiritual” mantras have no effect on the effectiveness of meditation. Imagine what meditation can do for patients who require open-heart surgery.
Make a cup of tea
Drinking a cup of tea is a healthy and smart way to get your caffeine fix. Tea can help lower blood sugar levels, boost metabolism, and provide an excuse to socialize. If you want to drink tea later in the day, stick to decaf, but caffeinated tea is fine in the morning. If you dislike tea, it’s possible that you’re brewing it incorrectly. Green tea, for example, must be brewed at a much lower temperature than black tea.
More Sleep
Sleep deprivation causes weight gain. Seriously. When you’re low on energy, your body will burn less energy than usual and hold onto calories you don’t need. Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased risk of developing Type II diabetes.
Sleep is critical to your overall health. You may not be getting enough sleep for a variety of reasons, including poor sleeping habits, working overtime, stress, or sleep apnea. If there is one thing you can do today to improve your health, getting more sleep should be your top priority.
Train your brain
We don’t know whether doing small brain exercises like crossword puzzles or Sudoku can help prevent dementia in old age. Small brain teasers, such as those you can do during your lunch break, are a good way to help increase your memory capacity. Puzzles and quizzes are also good ways to kill time while waiting in line or on public transportation. You can relax while still using your brain. Don’t feel like putting together a puzzle? Attempt to keep a journal.
Even if you only write down the most insignificant events of the day, forcing yourself to remember what has happened since you got out of bed every morning is a good mental exercise, and it can help you recap your day right before bed.
More laughter
When you don’t feel happy, it can be difficult to smile, but conjuring up happy thoughts and truly putting on a (sincerely) happy face can improve your mood and the moods of those around you. According to the facial feedback hypothesis, getting rid of your scowl can have a real positive effect on your emotions.
Brush and Floss Your Teeth
Sure, flossing is less exciting than having regular, rewarding sex, but it can help your sex life by preventing gum disease AND tooth decay, because no one wants to make sweet, stress-relieving love to someone who has rotting teeth. Yes, flossing is extremely tedious. But it’s also very simple, inexpensive, and healthy. So go for it.
Do you have to go to the dentist?
The general rule is that you should visit the dentist twice a year, or every six months. However, multiple factors, such as dental history, oral hygiene habits, and risk factors, contribute to the more realistic answer. Many will argue that it is preferable to be proactive rather than reactive. If you need a dentist, we highly recommend a dentist in Kingman.
