Thanks to advancements in technology, medicine and science, we have longer life expectations than ever before. As a society as a whole, we have much better access to food and medication, solid housing infrastructure and heating.
However, even with this increase in life expectancy, our health is confronted with more obstacles than ever before and we are more accountable for maintaining our safety and health. Our lives are often filled with employment, family responsibilities, social obligations and other things, and our individual well-being is all too often disregarded. We act only if the problem itself is known, and by this point it can be much more difficult, if not too late, to do something about it.
The continuing Coronavirus pandemic has caused many of us to take a big step back and reassess our lives. We have come to realize that our health needs to be seen as a primary consideration, because poor health can lead to increased risks from diseases such as coronavirus. Here, we are looking at some of the basic things you can do to look after your health and make it a priority in 2021.
Make sure that you eat well
It is pretty apparent, but at a time when many of us work incredibly hard and have hectic lifestyles, we often get the most convenient thing to eat, which are not usually the best things.
Eating a balanced, healthy diet does not mean turning down all the cake and cutting out every sweet treat that is offered to us, but it does mean eating it in reasonable quantities alongside at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, whole grains, pulses and healthy fats. Avoid fad diets which can be difficult to stick to – choose something that aligns with your lifestyle. For example, meat eaters will do well looking at and trying out these carnivore diet recipes.
Very often, we equate eating healthy with losing weight, but it’s a lot more than that. A sensible diet improves every feature in your body, from your capacity to repair and recover to your immune system that stops you from getting sick in the first place. If you eat well, you have a much greater chance of living a longer and more satisfying life.
Go to regular health appointments and checkups
A regular medical test is one of the best ways to prevent many health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, hearing problems, etc. Some conditions and diseases are tested for after a certain age, such as breast cancer, bowel cancer, and cervical tests. Others, you need to put forth the effort and book it yourself. Other important check ups include hearing, dental, and eye tests, all of which can give you a glimpse into other facets of your health. For example, some brain conditions have been detected in eye tests.
Physical activity
Like eating habits, this can often be associated with weight loss, but it should be something that we all do at least three times a week, no matter what our level of fitness is. Exercise enables us to remain strong, bolster our immune system, maintain our metabolism, control our weight, and keep our organs healthy and strong. Many immediate benefits, such as improved natural strength and improved mood, can also be obtained. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to build a healthy and active lifestyle. At least fifteen minutes of the physical activity should be sufficiently intense to speed up your pulse. The rest can be done via everyday activity such as using the stairs instead of a lift, walking more and parking further away.
Monitor your mental health as well as your physical health
We’ve never been more cognizant with our mental health than we are now, and that’s a positive step. That being said, we still have a long way to go before we accept that mental health conditions need to be treated just as physical ones do. If you feel that your mental health is not as robust as it could be-you feel sad for no explicable reason, worry more than normal or feel lonely and depressed, try to obtain help as soon as possible. It’s hard to ask for help, but you’re far from the only person struggling, and there’s no taboo in having a mental health issue.
Get plenty of sleep
Sleep is undervalued. It’s one of the most important things we can do for our health. Endeavor to have at least eight hours of restful sleep every night. This will give you more energy and make you feel more capable of coping with whatever the day throws at you.