Simple, Everyday Strategies for Anyone Looking to Boost Their Overall Health

For most people, improving their head-to-toe health doesn’t have to involve massive life changes. Sure, there are exceptions to this, but the majority of people can be served by employing some small, simple, health-boosting strategies in their everyday life. Here are some things you can add to your daily routine to enhance your overall well-being. Replace Daily Beverages with Water, Tea, and Coffee We drink a lot of our calories. Sometimes, we don’t even know we are doing it. Sure, we know that soda isn’t good for us, but did you know that fruit juice has a similar amount of calories and sugar as a Coke? To help lower your intake of sugary drinks, simply replace your daily beverages with water, tea, and coffee. You can still indulge in a glass of wine or a beer, but the bulk of what you drink needs to be low-calorie and low-sugar. Practice Portion Control Everyone tends to focus so much on what

you need to eat to be healthy that we forget that how much is also important. Portions have gotten bigger in the United States for decades, and at home you can combat this by reining in the size of your meals. You can certainly do this on your own with the help of digital scales and measuring cups, and it’s also possible to practice portion control by using a food delivery service. Take a Walk Outside It sounds simple, but the benefits of taking a brief, 30- to 60-minute walk outside every single day are numerous. For one, it’s exercise. We know that daily exercise reduces strain on your joints, promotes heart health, and keeps you at a healthier weight. But maybe even more important than that is the fresh air you get from being outside. Fresh air can help boost your immune system, but it also has a greater effect on your mental health by promoting relaxation. Focus on Your Breathing for a Few Minutes Can something as simple as being mindful of your own breathing promote better overall health? Absolutely. Harvard Health notes that deep, focused breathing helps to reduce our body’s stress response. It’s that stress response that is responsible (at least in part) for higher blood pressure, a suppressed immune system, and increased levels of anxiety and depression. We don’t have to feel actively “stressed out” to be harming ourselves with stress either. So whether you feel stressed or not, it’s worth it to focus on deep breathing for at least 15 minutes a day. Keep Technology Out of Your Bedroom There’s a good chance that your nightly routine involves getting in bed and either watching some TV, scrolling through your phone, playing a game on your iPad, checking emails on your laptop, or some similar combination. It’s just what we do. It’s also harmful to our overall health because it can tank our sleep quality and leave our bodies confused about rest and sleep cycles. Studies have shown that the blue light from our most popular devices is the likely culprit. For better health, keep your electronic devices outside your bedroom. Although change can come at a fast clip, it’s way more common for lasting change to come in increments. By implementing some of these simple strategies into your daily life, you can begin to change your health for the better at a gradual pace. So, instead of overwhelming yourself with change, you can slowly acclimate to your newer, healthier lifestyle. Photo by Alex Vans-Colina on Unsplash