We have only one home that we’ll truly live in our whole lives, and that is our bodies. Taking care of our physical health is so important if we want to live long, healthy and happy lives and unfortunately, many people neglect this in various ways. Keep reading for a reminder of some big and small things that you should be doing to take care of your body.
Make a Dentist’s Appointment
Nobody finds the dentist’s chair a fun place to be, but we can’t avoid it forever. Good dental hygiene is an important aspect of your health and shouldn’t be overlooked or swept under the rug for any reason. Regular dentist check-ups to make sure that everything is clean and in place should be a non-negotiable on your annual medical to-do list. If it’s fear that might be holding you back from calling the doc, don’t forget that there’s laughing gas for root canal, the dentist knows what he’s doing and it’ll be over before you know it. If you can’t remember the last time someone stuck a mirror in your mouth, this is your reminder to book an appointment ASAP.
Schedule in a Meatless Monday
Chucking a steak and some potatoes onto your plate is an easy way to fill the hole in your stomach after a long day at work, but overdoing it on the animal protein isn’t necessarily a good thing. It’s important to find a healthy balance in your diet and sometimes the best way to achieve that is to force yourself out of your comfort zone. Having a Meatless Monday every now and then will encourage you and your family to get in your veggies, in new and creative ways since you can’t rely on meat to be the main element on your plate. Protein is important, but don’t forget your vitamins and minerals which are packed into the vegetables you always seem to skip.
Try a New Workout Class
You hate running, and you know it. Finding a workout routine that you really love is a key factor in actually sticking to it consistently and staying fit all year long. If you haven’t been working out and can’t get yourself out of bed in the morning to exercise, it may be a good idea to try out some new forms of exercise. Lacing up your runners or hitting the gym aren’t your only options when it comes to getting your sweat on. You could try out different types of workouts like tennis or soccer, a dance class, martial arts or boxing, swimming or yoga. If you already have a gym membership, take a look at what classes are offered there and you might find that you’re a Zumba person after all.
Get Outside
People tend to underestimate how much we really need to be in nature. The vast majority of us spend all day long cooped up in some kind of office, in front of a screen. After that, we typically go home, make dinner and spend the rest of our evenings relaxing in front of a different screen. Believe it or not, this can take its toll on the body. Scheduling in a little time each day or each week to get outside and feel the sunshine is important. Vitamin D is a crucial vitamin for the body and you’re not going to find it anywhere other than the sunshine in the great outdoors – unless you’re supplementing which is a good idea anyway. Supplements or not, there’s nothing quite like the real thing and a daily walk outside will do anybody the world of good.
Stress Management
While this may sound more like a mental health tip, our brains and bodies are linked in more ways than you might imagine. In fact, our stress levels play a vital role in our overall physical health. Too much stress can negatively impact our gut health and digestion, our sleep, recovery from exercise and injury and can also be a major factor in poor dietary decisions. It’s important to find ways in which to healthily relieve stress and manage our emotions, both for the benefit of our physical health and mental health. Consider trying out breathing exercises or meditation and make sure that you know what activities help you manage your stress, be it a hobby, exercise, journaling, spending time with friends and family or simply relaxing with a good book before bed. Taking care of your mind is a big part of taking care of your body too.