Smart Moves You Can Make in 2020 To Improve Your Health

We have all had moments where we made conscious decisions to make sweeping changes to our lifestyle. Most times these changes come in the form of goals or resolutions set for a new year; quit drinking, quit smoking, lose 20 pounds, join a yoga class and start exercising every day, etc.

While it is imperative always to strive to achieve these types of health goals, the journey to having better health doesn’t have to be hinged on you making really huge leaps. To improve your health markedly, you can actually spend a little over 30 minutes per day working out and engaging in other simple activities that are enjoyable but also really beneficial commitments you can easily keep to.

The simplicity of these activities makes it easy for you to incorporate them into your daily routine. This means that no matter how busy you are- even if you only have a few minutes, you can optimize that time to boost your well-being.

The following activities are smart choices that can help you create a new lease of life in the New Year. If you are able to build these simple steps into habits, they can have a significant positive impact on your general health in 2020.

1. 1. Take time out to de-stress

We often set our sights on activities such as meditation, breathing techniques, regular exercising as methods to reduce stress. However other simple and enjoyable activities like reading a good book, listening to calm music, soaking for minutes in a hot tub or just taking time to play with your ‘buddy’ dog can help you relax.

Experts advise that you should always take time out to relax through various activities that you find soothing to your personality. This is because prolonged stress has been known to cause or aggravate several health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, depression, ulcers, migraines and obesity.

Even if you don’t have a lot of time for the de-stressing methods highlighted above, you don’t have to worry or let that stress you out. Just like exercise, even short periods of relaxation can have a significant impact on your health.

But if you find it difficult to take a full break from whatever you are doing, then you may want to consider using some stress-relieving drugs, medications, or preparations, including CBD oil for anxiety and stress or any other product you trust to relieve yourself of stress.

2. Prioritize your Sleep

It is crucial you get enough hours of sleep. A Healthy adult needs between 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily to function properly.

It is easy to get caught up with a busy work schedule and deprive yourself of much-needed sleep, but this harmful habit has damning consequences on your health in the long run. Over time, a shortage of sleep exposes you to the risk of a heart attack or stroke, irrespective of your age weight or exercise routine.

Studies show that being awake for 16 hours straight has the same profound effect on your mental and physical abilities as a blood alcohol level of 0.5% (the legal limit for operating under the influence is .08%).

Getting adequate sleep is unarguably one of the best ways to improve your health. Try having a regular sleep and wake schedule, and make sure you stick to it. But if you’re unable to catch enough sleep, you need not worry. All you need is a few dose of the best CBD oils for sleep before your bedtime and before you know it, you’re already in your dreamland.

3. Take the Stairs

When next you are going up a building, skip using the elevator and use the stairs instead. This simple activity helps get your blood pumping, helps with your lung activity and works the muscles in your lower body.

For the year 2020, we advise that you form the habit of using the stairs more often as against the elevators. This is because most people find themselves in jobs where they have to sit for prolonged hours, thereby limiting the rate of physical activity our body goes through.

Also, the availability of Ubers makes it even easier to get through a day without exerting any physical effort on our bodies. Ironically, our bodies need a measurable level of physical activity to stay healthy.

Try incorporating activities that involve you walking, lifting and stretching into your daily routine.

4. It is Important you get Vaccinated

A healthy way to start the New Year is to get vaccinated. It only takes a few minutes, but it is a smart and straightforward choice for achieving better health while protecting the people around you.

Vaccines are captured under the Affordable Care Act’s preventive health benefits. There are a variety of vaccines you can get, including vaccines for Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Herpes Zoster, Tetanus, and so much more.

These services are provided for free but make sure you visit a doctor or provider covered in your plan’s network. It is important to note that vaccines do not last forever. For example, tetanus vaccinations require a booster once every ten years.

Set an appointment with your doctor for the New year and get vaccinated.

5. Make adequate dietary modifications

What you allow into your system can also play an important role in your overall health. To stay healthy throughout the year, you can make simple dietary modifications that will not cost you much but are highly beneficial.

• Replace white bread, rice, crackers and pasta with healthier whole-grain varieties.
• You can make use of skinless chicken and turkey in your cooking recipes instead of skin-on. Also, make use of leaner slices of other meats like beef or pork.
• Reduce your intake of sugary drinks like soda and juice. Increase your water intake.
• Maintain a healthy snacking habit between meals by snacking on things which have high protein as well as fiber. Healthy snacks include yoghurt and apple slices, cashews, carrot sticks, almonds, etc.

You can also incorporate an extra serving of nonstarchy vegetables into your daily diet.

It’s never too early or too late to make sweeping changes to live a healthy life, but you can start with these smart options for the year 2020.