You may have heard the same health tips over and over. You might implement one or two when you can but it’s important to follow as many you can. You might want to include tips for your whole family but aren’t sure where to begin or which tips to follow. We compiled a few tips to keep you and your family healthy throughout this year.
Top Tips to Stay Healthy
This year hasn’t been the easiest on anyone. We realize and recognize the same old tips you hear won’t always apply since you may get stuck at home and can’t go to the gym or hang out with friends when you’re sad. The following tips will keep you and your family in good health and good spirits.
Play a Game or Immerse Yourself in Nature
The Japanese practice a concept called Shinrin-yoku. It translates to “forest bathing”. All it means is to surround yourself with nature. Heavily wooded areas have been shown to improve mental health and reduce stress. Trees release a chemical called terpene which activates the parasympathetic nervous system. It sends your body into de-stress mode.
If nature isn’t your thing, you can play games instead. Games have been found to reduce stress and calm the mind. We don’t mean video games either. You can use board games like Monopoly or Risk, or card games like Cards Against Humanity or Apples to Apples. You can play games virtually with friends too like Words With Friends.
Get Quality Sleep
It’s not a secret that sleep is extremely important to your immune system, mental health, and physical health. Many people don’t get the proper sleep they need each night. Sleepless nights might be caused by stress, alcohol, a bad diet, or even a poor mattress. Luckily, you can make changes to ensure an adequate night’s sleep.
For starters, you can exercise or practice mindfulness to reduce stress. Cutting back on sugary drinks and alcohol can put you to sleep quicker and you’ll sleep longer. A poor diet might keep you up at night if it causes stomach aches or heartburn. Try not to consume heavy snacks or sauces before bedtime.
Poor mattresses cause not only sleep issues but health issues too. You might maintain poor posture or hurt your neck while sleeping. Getting a new frame, adjustable bed, or a new mattress could solve these issues. When it comes to sleep, you want to go with the best. You will want to look for the best adjustable bed or the best mattress for your family members. Keep in mind what makes you sleep best. That might look like a cooling pillow or an extra firm mattress.
Practice Preventative Care and Seek Medical Care
We all know regular checkups are important. However, we tend to visit a doctor when something is wrong. It may seem like it makes sense, but you can have issues that won’t get discovered without a blood test or a physical check-up. We don’t just mean your family doctor either. Your eyes, teeth, and mental health need care routinely too.
It’s important to take preventative measures. This ties in with the above about routinely seeing doctors before you contract an ailment. There are ways to prevent illnesses. You have the basic advice to make sure you eat healthily, get adequate sleep, take vitamins, and exercise.
However, there’s more to it than that. You want to make sure you don’t isolate and keep up your relationships with others. Humans are social creatures. To prevent illnesses, wash your hands, stay home when you don’t feel well or seek a doctor, and never cough or sneeze into your hands. Care for your teeth and gums by brushing and flossing multiple times per day. If you wear or are supposed to wear glasses or contacts, ensure your prescription is current and you wear them as directed.
Build Support Network
We all get distracted by social media and the internet. It becomes more of a challenge to reach out to others when our families and friends are spread out geographically. We can become a recluse without realizing it. In some ways, technology makes it easier to communicate. Make time to schedule virtual chats with your friends and family. Organizations have recently begun to hold virtual meetings. If you can’t physically get to organizations or parks. These virtual meetings make a good alternative. You may even end up making a friend or two.
Final Thoughts
It’s not always easy to stay healthy. We get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. However, you don’t want to slack to the point you become ill or worn out. Take care of yourself now to avoid problems later on.
