Staying healthy – and playing sports – is an important part of living a balanced lifestyle, but it can be hard to know where to start or how best to incorporate health tactics into your day-to-day life. Here, Gateway Cottage Wellness Center presents some strategies that you can easily incorporate into your routine that will help you feel your best!

Store Your Medical Records Digitally on PDFs

Storing medical records as PDFs has many benefits, including better organization and easier access. PDFs are also less likely to become corrupt or damaged than other file formats, making them safer for sensitive information. The files can also be password protected, so only the individuals with valid credentials can access the files. 

Additionally, when storing medical records in a PDF format, the files are easier to quickly search for specific information without having to manually go through all of the paper files.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining good health, so try and get 7-9 hours every night if possible. Creating a consistent bedtime routine can help get your body into the cycle of sleeping well every night. Turn off screens an hour before bedtime and listen to calming music or read a book instead — The Sleep Doctor notes that this will help signal to your brain that it’s time for rest.

Establish an Addiction Recovery Support System

If you struggle with addiction or substance abuse, develop a support system that will help you to stay sober. You may want to ask a few close friends to check in with you regularly and bring potentially dangerous patterns into light. It’s also important to find in-state addiction treatment options near you that offer support groups that you can attend. Being connected in this way can also make it easier to seek inpatient services if the need arises. 

Establish a Fitness Routine

Having an exercise routine helps you stay motivated when it comes to physical activity. Whether you prefer participating in sports, strength training, running, cycling, yoga or any other type of exercise, Clockwise suggests trying to break down your workouts into manageable chunks that fit around the schedule of other commitments such as work or family responsibilities. Aim for 3-4 workout sessions per week and take rest days too when necessary.

Try Walking Every Day

You don’t have to spend hours at the gym to stay active — just adding more walking into your day can make a big difference. Try parking further away from the office so that you get more steps in and increase your daily activity levels. Consider taking walking meetings with colleagues instead of sitting down over coffee. You can also find a pedestrian-friendly area near your home to take an evening stroll.

Adopt a Self-Care Routine

Self-care is an important part of staying healthy — both mentally and physically. Taking some time out of your day to focus on yourself can help reduce stress levels and boost your mood. This could be anything from reading a book, taking a bubble bath, taking a yoga class or doing something creative like painting. First things first: be sure your living space is as stress free as possible so you can focus on your self-care. This can be as simple as cleaning and decluttering, and consider incorporating houseplants throughout the home, which not only brings in a little Mother Nature, but helps to purify the air as well.

Incorporate activities such as meditation and journaling into your routine once or twice a week (or more!) so that you can take time out just for yourself and recharge after busy days. You could also try aromatherapy with essential oils like lavender or peppermint which can help relax tense muscles and promote feelings of calmness. And consider treating yourself to a refreshing retreat at Gateway Cottage Wellness Center where you can indulge in a massage or reiki session, take a guided hike, or participate in life coaching.

Eat a Healthier Diet

Finally, one step towards better health is eating nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins which provide our bodies with essential vitamins and minerals needed for optimal functioning throughout the day. Cutting down on processed foods, added sugar and refined carbohydrates will also help promote healthier eating habits. Consider meal prepping for the week ahead so that you can have healthy meals and snacks available at any time.

Pursue Your Dreams

It is easy to put off your goals and dreams when other, more seemingly important, things come up; but pursuing goals is important to your overall well-being. One common example includes feeling stuck in a job that doesn’t meet your needs. It could be that pursuing your dream of obtaining a Master’s degree in IT could open doors to the career you’ve wanted. Click for more information about online IT degrees to get started on your new career. 

Make Choices with Better Health in Mind

Taking care of yourself should always be the top priority - so make sure these head-to-toe strategies are incorporated into everyday life. Playing sports, eating right, exercising and walking regularly, getting enough sleep each night, adopting a self-care routine, and digitizing medical documents can play an important role in maintaining good health habits over a long time. So keep these tips in mind while working on achieving your personal health goals!

Written By: Jennifer McGregor