4 Health Habits To Start In 2018!

Health is something we take for granted until we lose it. In our youth, we may enjoy an abundance of good health, but by our 40’s an accumulation of life’s stresses begins to take their toll on our health. Fortunately, you can improve your health in your 40s and beyond by following a few simple healthy habits like improving the quality of our sleep, eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, developing a more positive attitude, and learning how to manage our stress. 

1. Get enough high-quality sleep. 

If you are not getting enough sleep, it could be due to the environment or health challenges.  

If you sleep in a bright environment, perhaps because of all the electronic screens you have in your bedroom or because of street lights, you should find ways to darken the room. Darkness is important for the secretion of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Another reason why you aren’t sleeping well is because you have a lumpy mattress. There are many first-rate mattress stores like Bedding Mart who will help you find the perfect mattress for you at an affordable. 

If you are not getting enough sleep due to health problems, like sleep apnea, then it’s a good idea to speak to a doctor. If you have insomnia or difficulty falling asleep, it could be due to a magnesium or zinc deficiency. A blood test will check to see if this is the case. You can then start eating foods in the minerals you need or take supplements.  

Sometimes, it’s just being able to quiet our minds. A good supplement like l theanine gaba could help you transition to tranquility, bringing a sense of calm, and thus aid sleep.

If you don’t get enough sleep, your body does not have enough time to do its housekeeping, repairing tissue and removing toxins. Sleep is important for your brain, too, because that is the time, it flushes out metabolites. 

2. Start eating healthy foods. 

The best way to start the habit of healthy eating is to start reading books on nutrition. You will learn about what foods to eat and what foods to avoid. You will also learn about hydration, improving bowel flora, making sure that you eat the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, how to eat the right portions, and how to eat the right number of calories. Simply deciding to start eating healthy isn’t enough, nor is it to follow a few suggestions. We are not taught about healthy eating in school and we have been misinformed for years about health by the food industry who have a vested interest in defining healthy foods. So, it is essential that you embark on a program of self-education to learn how to eat healthy. When you eat right you will look and feel your best at every stage of your life, and you will learn to recognize and eliminate eating comfort foods to improve your moods. 

3. Begin to exercise. 

The human body was designed for movement, but our current lifestyle often forces us to sit for hours when we work at an office job. Start your exercise program by doing something as simple as going for a daily walk. Buy a wearable fitness device to motivate you to take at least 10,000 steps a day. Once you’ve started to walk regularly, then add in some daily stretching. Later, consider adding yoga or Tai Chi to stretch the muscles, gently stimulate the internal organs, and tone and strengthen muscles. After your body has got used to regular exercise, think about expanding your range of exercises by biking, swimming, lifting weights, etc. 

4. Develop a positive attitude. 

Your thoughts affect your emotions and your emotions affect your biochemistry. If you feel bitter or angry about things, this will affect your health. Although life is hard, you will not be able to improve your health if you are consistently pessimistic. Find an effective psychotherapist who can help you heal some of the past traumas that have made you angry and bitter about life. If you have some recurring issues, for instance, mood disorders like anxiety or depression, a psychotherapist will be especially helpful.  

Although it’s obvious that health is important, it’s easy enough to not bother to improve your health. There are numerous distractions that keep us from developing healthy habits. When working to improve your health, just adopt one habit at a time. Give each habit about a month before you adopt another one. Over the course of a year, you will acquire many habits to improve your overall health.