Five Things You Can Do Today for Better Health

Oftentimes life keeps us pretty busy and focusing on healthy behaviors can drop down the priority list.  Stress is a major contributor to unhealthy habits which can lead to poorer health and lower quality of life.  The good news is that oftentimes all that we need is to make a few good choices during the day to accomplish our health goals and get back on track.  Remember that healthy living is made up of every choice that you make throughout the day, every day.  Try making these five choices today to start improving your quality of life.

1.       Eat breakfast.  I know that you hear this often but starting the day out with a solid breakfast will be a key factor in how you feel for the rest of the day.  Skip the bagel and doughnuts though and grab some berries, yogurt, whole grain cereal or an egg white omelet instead. 

2.      Drink water.  Summer is officially here and that means that you are much more likely to become dehydrated.  Our bodies need a minimum amount of water daily to function properly and dehydration can make you feel tired and run down all day.

3.      Go for a walk.  Whether it is 15 min during your lunch break, 20min before work or 30min or more after work head outside and go for a stroll.  We often think that exercise means sweating and exerting a lot of energy but all activity throughout the day counts.  Vigorous exercise is definitely recommended at least twice a week but those little walks really add up to better health at the end of the day.

4.      Catch up with someone today.  It can be as simple as a phone call, chatting via the computer or having coffee with a friend but personal relationships add to our quality of life.  Call someone you have been meaning to talk to or have lunch or dinner with your co-worker or significant other to just chat about your day. 

5.      Go to bed early.  Sleeping less than 7-8 hours a night can lead to tiredness the next day and for many people a higher intake of calories.  When our bodies don’t get enough sleep we don’t have enough energy to get through the day.  So have a cup of (non-caffeinated) tea and hit the hay early tonight for a better tomorrow.