Easy Tips to Improve Health
If you search online for “hacks to improve…”, the list will take you down a rabbit hole and could potentially be dangerous. When people discuss hacks, these are usually seen as shortcuts or a minimally physical strategy like taking a pill, fasting, or surgery. These aren’t addressing the root cause. Using an iceberg as an analogy, these tactics are only addressing what you can see above the surface while disregarding the base that supports these issues. Looking for hacks will likely leave you much like the Titanic, unsuccessful and upset. While I caution to use the term hacks, there are some strategies that every single person can use that will have a profound impact on their life. Nothing with health and fitness is singular, but rather is multi factorial. This popped into my head when a family member was discussing that during busy times of the year, she lets her fitness slide. As fitness slides, her nutrition goes with it. Followed is decreased quality of sleep and increase in stress and also inflammation. Most people have experiences like this, but either are unaware of the dots being connected or many times their current health doesn’t allow them to notice the changes. This is to simply show you four things to make a true holistic change to your health. There is nothing to buy, no sell, and no promise to a quick fix.
Create a Sleep Schedule
This one is fairly funny. Most of our friends have younger kids and they all preach about the importance of their sleep schedules. As we grow up and become adults, we think we for some reason don’t need a sleep schedule anymore. This has been one of the best things I’ve done in my adult life. Your body has a natural rhythm and if we go to bed and wake up at different times every day, our body is always thrown off. My current sleep schedule has been sleep 9pm and wake up at 4am. This has been a great schedule for me as I have more energy earlier in the day. Find what’s best for you and then build your day around that.
Go on a Walk
Outside. No headphones. Every day. If you have trouble with this, get a dog and they’ll remind you they need to walk each day. Walking is good for your waistline, your joints, and your mental health. Being outside brings benefits of natural light, cold or warm air, and uneven surfaces that you have to adapt to. Walking also will help with digestion significantly. If you can’t commit to a long duration walk, simply try 10 minute walks after your meals. Use this as a chance to disconnect from the world and reconnect with yourself and your thoughts. We have input all day, but walks force us to be present and not doing other tasks.
Cook your Meals
There is peace is the cooking process. It’s essentially puzzle building to make your taste buds happy. By cooking your own meals, you will also be aware of every single ingredient that goes into the food you’re eating. This includes oils and butters. You get to choose the quality of everything of everything and piece it together as you like. You might not be good at cooking now, but over time and practice you’ll become better. If you’re a busy person, use a crock pot for some of your meals to cook in advance.
Stop Watching the News
If you have friends that are news junkies, they are certainly always aware of the terrible thing that is about to happen. Oddly enough, most of these events never come to fruition while other terrible events that they never saw coming did happen. News is sensationalized to keep eyes on screens. We stopped watching the news over two years ago and I can say with full confidence that we don’t feel left out or unaware and we also noticed our amount of worry lowered significantly. If you’re concerned with news and what’s happening, get involved with your local organizations and find ways to make a direct impact in your community. This is what you’ll see the most of and where you can make the biggest change.
Nick Showman