Healthy habits for a healthier lifestyle
13 January 2022
Modern life seems to be full of so-called time and labour-saving devices, but even so, it’s easy to feel as if we don’t actually have enough time in the day to look after ourselves. Exercise can go out the window, good diet takes second place to convenience, we forget to take breaks and a decent night’s sleep becomes an elusive luxury. But all these things can actually be doing us harm. The good news is, these habits are easy to break, and can be replaced by better habits for good health and wellbeing.
Take a look at our top four habits to introduce into your daily life.
Find 30 minutes each day to exercise
Doing some moderate exercise each day can make a huge difference to our heart health, and the great thing is, you don’t need any special equipment or gym memberships to achieve it. Just comfortable footwear and half an hour in your day. Plus, how you get your exercise is up to you, as long as you raise your heartrate above normal for at least 30 minutes. That could be as simple as going for a walk, doing some active gardening or heading out on the bike. What’s more, you don’t even need to do it all in one session, and a couple of fifteen-minute walks each day – especially with friends – can be as good for the mind as it is for the body.
Take a stand against sitting
Our increasingly sedentary lifestyle sees many Australians spending too much time sitting for extended periods in front of computers, behind steering wheels or on couches. All that sitting can contribute to a host of health conditions including muscle deterioration, type-2 diabetes, heart disease, back problems, anxiety and depression, and even some cancers. To help avoid this, many of us need to move more during the day, which can be as simple as taking lunch breaks away from the office, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and even using a smartphone app to remind you to stand and take a stroll.
Sleep well
A good night’s sleep is vital for good health. It’s when our body recovers from the rigours of the day, our mind settles (hopefully), our senses take a break, and we sub-consciously prepare ourselves for a new day. But enjoying a proper sleep is more than just getting seven or so hours of shut-eye. Quality is just as important as quantity, so try to avoid coffee from late afternoon, give yourself a break from the screen before bedtime (especially social media), invest in a good quality pillow and mattress, and prepare your bedroom for relaxation such as dimming the lighting, and even meditating if you’re prone to lying awake with your mind buzzing.
Reduce your salt intake
Some salt in our diet is necessary for our health, but in today’s modern diet, most of us are consuming way too much, and we probably don’t know it. Hidden salt is everywhere in our foods – it’s even in sweets – and excess sodium (salt) can quickly lead to serious health problems. To help reduce your salt intake, check the sodium levels in pre-packaged foods, reduce the amount of processed food in your diet (particularly deli meats, ready-meals and soups, pre-made sauces and baked goods), and avoid adding salt to your food before you’ve even tasted it.
Gradually cutting excessive salt can help lower your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney problems, osteoporosis, stroke, stomach cancer and fluid retention. And the good news is, it only takes a few weeks before tastebuds adapt to lower levels of salt.
These four health tips can all be incorporated into daily lifestyles fairly easily. Of course, if you have any concerns, especially about starting exercise again or reducing salt in your diet, have a chat to your GP.
