As many of us are wont to do whenever a new year rolls around, resolutions have most likely been made (and maybe even broken already)
Being healthy is more than just a number on the scale. If you’re looking to adopt better habits for your overall health here are a few alternative resolutions that if you’re able to keep successfully will improve not just your health but your overall well being.
1. Go to the doctor.
Even when you feel like you’re in perfect health, it’s still important to get a checkup every-so-often to make sure you’re in tip-top shape. Visit your physician to do a proper physical and mental health evaluation, make sure you’re up-to-date with all your vaccinations and ask to do a blood test and other recommended tests based on your age such as pap smears for sexually active women over 21yrs of age.
2. Eat more vitamin-rich foods.
Many people have a vitamin deficiency and sometimes the symptoms are very unspecific and some of which can be rectified just by tweaking your diet. Foods like spinach are high in iron and drinks like milk provide your body with a healthy dose of vitamin D. Generally plant based foods are richer in vitamins and nutrients so include more of them in your diet. Find out from your doctor if there are any vitamin discrepancies you should be monitoring.
3. Drink more water.
Ignore that label that says diet soda, cut out sugary juices and switch to water instead. You’ll not only feel more hydrated, but your physical appearance will show it, too. Getting the right amount of water is a vital part in staying healthy. Not to forget glowing skin too.
4. Ditch your device before bed.
These days many of us are social media fanatics and are therefore glued to our phones half the time. Research shows the blue light emitted from screens can wreak havoc on your sleep quality. So as difficult as it might be (sorry Instagram scrollers) try to log out before crawling into bed each night.
5. Take more walks.
As innocuous as it might seem, Walking can actually be a hardcore exercise. It improves cardiovascular strength, lowers blood sugar levels, and easier to stick with it than other exercises. Not only that, research shows walks in nature may help with symptoms of depression. So what are you waiting for, get to steppin’.
6. Pack your lunch.
Not only will this save you a lot of money, you may be consuming quite a few more calories than you normally would making your own. Because you really don’t need all the oil in that efo from mama Bisi around the corner from your office. And you can’t be sure how hygienic the food preparation was either.
7. Floss more often.
This one is easy to gloss over (see what I did there) because it seems rather unimportant but it is infact a necessity. Healthy gums can protect you against gingivitis (gum disease) which can cause really bad breath and other unpleasant complications. Sounds like a pretty good reason to get out that floss.
8. Volunteer more often.
Kindness does the body (and mind) good. Research shows volunteering has significant benefits, from improved heart health to greater happiness. Even if you only do it once a month, find a local orphanage or charity to physically volunteer at and not just donate to. You’ll be making a difference in the community — and yourself.
9. Try therapy.
Just a friendly reminder that there’s nothing wrong with seeking help. Sometimes life can get quite overwhelming. Even if you aren’t experiencing mental health issues, there’s no harm in getting advice on how to handle life’s challenges. Even though it seems “foreign” to us as Nigerians.
A healthy mind and brain are just as important as healthy teeth and liver and kidneys so if you will seek help to have those organs be healthy, why not do the same for your mental health.
10. Get to know yourself.
Everyone operates differently when it comes to their health. You may hate running but prefer group fitness classes (like me). You may prefer life coaching to therapy. Get familiar with your needs, what you like and what you don’t like. What works for you and what doesn’t.
The best gift you can give yourself is the knowledge of who you are and what makes you healthy and happy. Everything else will fall into place — including any resolutions to better your life.
