Take Better Care of Yourself With These 7 Tips

By Paisley Hansen

January 15 2022 - Whether you’re on a journey to recovery or you simply want to make improvements in your daily routine, good self-care is a process that requires mindful, compassionate decisions to treat your mind and body as best you can. To make the most of your self-care efforts, read on to discover helpful tools and tricks to become the healthiest, most fulfilled version of yourself.

1. Consider Your Needs

Before you begin to make changes to your day-to-day routines, it’s important to know what areas need improvement, where you’re succeeding and what your mind and body might need to become healthier and stronger. Take an inventory of where you are right now and note areas that could use some extra effort on your part. If needed, research and consider the wellness categories laid out by organizations such as USANA New Zealand to make sure you make a well-rounded index of how you’re doing.

2. Create Goals for Yourself

Maybe you’d like to see more progress in your fitness levels, or maybe you’d like to feel more well-rested throughout the day. Whatever your larger goals, break them down into smaller tasks that can be completed on a daily or weekly basis. An umbrella goal to eat healthier may contain smaller goals to eat at least one serving of vegetables with breakfast or skip the cream and sugar with your afternoon coffee.

3. Concentrate on Nutrients

A healthy diet is less about the avoidance of unhealthy food groups and more about ensuring that your body gets the nutrients it needs to function optimally. It’s important to look for ways to cut back on unhealthy fats, processed foods and added sugars, but it’s more important to pile your plate with fuel for your body. Focus on ways you can consume more of the essential vitamins and nutrients you need to think more clearly, have more energy, fight off illness and disease and support your body’s internal functions.

4. Drink Plenty of Water

Research has shown that the large majority of people live in various stages of dehydration, from mild levels to a serious lack of fluids. It’s likely that you are not getting enough water throughout the day, so take steps to incorporate fluid intake into your daily schedule. Try to drink a glass or two of water in the morning and keep up the habit throughout the day. It may be helpful to carry a reusable water bottle or set a reminder on your phone while you form better habits.

5. Get Restful Sleep

The average adult needs between seven to nine hours of sleep per night. If it seems as though you’re asleep for at least this long, but still feel groggy or fatigued throughout the day, you may need to make improvements in your bedtime routine to ensure that you not only spend the recommended number of hours in bed each night, but that those hours are properly restorative and restful. Cut down on electronic use before bed, set a firm bedtime, create a soothing bedroom environment and make sure to limit stimulant consumption throughout the day so you can get better sleep at night.

6. Exercise Regularly

Those who achieve at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week are more likely to report better quality sleep, an increased ability to concentrate during the day, fewer illnesses, positive mental health symptoms and a stronger, leaner body with fewer aches and pains. If a single extended stretch of exercise doesn’t work with your schedule, try to find ways to incorporate movement throughout the day whenever you can, such as taking the stairs, walking to lunch, performing more housework or taking a phone call on foot during your break.

7. Manage Stress

Stress is not only an uncomfortable experience, but it also impacts your health and wellness in tangible ways. Get ahead of stress with proactive management techniques that will help you to deal with the effects of stress when it happens as well as prevent some of the more distressing symptoms from interfering with your life before it happens altogether. Practices such as yoga, deep breathing, journaling, meditation and gentle exercise can go a long way in calming your mind and body in times of stress.

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