Happy New Year! 2020 is your chance to make your health a priority and we’ve got a few tips to help you with this process.
2020 is here! Happy New Year! It’s a new year and a new opportunity to make your health a priority. With obesity rates skyrocketing 168% and diabetes rates by 148% (americahealthrankings.org) over the past 30 years, it’s important now more than ever to make living a healthy lifestyle your priority. We believe this is the year for you to make your health a priority so we’ve compiled a few tips, tricks and practices to help you make 2020 your healthiest year yet.
Some easy and simple things you can implement in your life from today, include:
- Aim to consume at least 2-3 liters of water daily.
- Aim to get 6 – 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Aim to get 30 minutes – 1 hour of physical activity each day.
- Make fruits a daily part of your diet.
- Don’t skirt the veggies, they are important for providing numerous vitamins and minerals!
- Eat less processed foods and more whole foods. If it has an expiry date and comes in a sealed package, try to avoid it!
- Cut down on deep-fried, sugary foods.
- Consider adding prebiotic and fermented foods to your diet.
What you eat is only one part of the equation, however. Here are some other things you should consider to keep a healthy body:
- Prioritise preventative care. Make sure to get your annual wellness visits, screenings, immunizations and counseling.
- Avoid spending more than 3 hours in front of your electronic devices daily (phone, tablet, laptop, TV). If you must spend more time on them, consider investing in blue-light blocking glasses.
- Avoid cigarettes, tobacco and tobacco-based products.
- Practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth and flossing at least twice daily.
- Try to develop and stick to a sleep schedule, and make it a habit to shut off electronic devices 1-2 hours before bed.
- Test your blood sugar and blood pressure regularly.
Physical health is important, but it’s not the entire picture. To have good overall health, you must also have good mental health. Some simple and easy ways to improve and preserve your mental health include:
- Get lots of sunlight (vitamin D is important as it helps our brains to release chemicals which improve our mood, like endorphins and serotonin.)
- Learn how to manage and avoid stress.
- Remove negative thoughts and negative people from your life.
- Get out often. Try to spend time with your friends at least once a week.
- Find a hobby you love and do it often. It can be as simple as watching your favorite series, taking walks along a scenic route, reading, etc.
- Seek counselling/help if you’re having trouble
This year, resolve to be healthier and kinder to your body. Take the above tips and try to implement them into your lifestyle, you’ll thank us for it! For all your prescription and OTC needs, check us out at Walker’s Drug Store – the drug store that cares.