While there are days when you’re ready to take on the world, there are others when you may feel sluggish and lack muster. It’s hard to accomplish what you want to do, and you’re simply dragging. It’s a frustrating feeling.
Taking care of your body is critical to help it do its best daily. When it’s worn out, it’s not giving you as much as you need. You want it primed to work well; that takes effort and focus. Therefore, get your body set and ready to go, igniting your to-do list with energy and enthusiasm. The following are tips to help you optimize your general wellness.
1. Put Your Health First
Life gets busy. You’re juggling work and family obligations. Sometimes, you’re just moving from one thing to the next with little time to think about what your body needs. Stop and take the time to think about yourself.
What can you do to support your health? You fill your car’s gas tank, so it keeps going. Without that fuel, it’s going to stop. You’re the same. You need to think about the choices you make from morning to night. What do you eat throughout the day? Consider your hydration needs and have an immune support supplement in your medicine cabinet. Your decisions on how you fuel your system matter in maintaining energy levels and wellness.
Eat as much clean food as possible. Think ahead about snacks so you aren’t hitting the drive-thru: store nutritious, non-greasy options in the glove compartment. Bring water wherever you go and think about the germs you are battling, supporting your body as best as possible.
2. Get Your Sleep
Allow your system to reset at night. Those long hours in the evening could prevent your body from getting the appropriate rest it requires. Cleveland Clinic notes that poor sleep could impact your mood and health. If you’re skipping out on a well-rested evening, you could limit your next day’s activities. The organization emphasizes that even one day of poor slumber could lead to drowsiness, poor focus, increased stress and weaker recall.
Help yourself by establishing a sleep routine. Turn the room temperature down, create a cool environment and shut off the lights. Pick a time to head to bed at night and stay consistent with the decision.
3. Practice Mindfulness
Do you let life’s challenges hold you back? Mindfulness is the act of remaining aware of your surroundings and choices. Psychology Today describes it as the state of “living in the moment.” Don’t let the bad things hold you back. Acknowledge your mistakes and problems, and embrace your strengths. Get your head ready to handle the ups and downs of life, prepared to conquer the obstacles ahead.
Practice breathing techniques and learn more about acceptance and awareness. Consider journaling your thoughts for the day and embracing criticism.
4. Move Daily
Exercise regularly throughout the week, and if you can’t fit in a workout, find a way to avoid sitting all day. Consider your environment. Are you sitting at a desk? Set a timer and encourage yourself to get up and walk around every half hour to an hour. Do you have kids in sports? Consider standing up and watching the game rather than sitting down in the chair. Other options include eating lunch at your desk so you can go for a walk during break time. Assess your schedule and find ways to sneak in mobility.
5. Set Goals
Give yourself a chance to progress by setting objectives for the year or month. Push yourself to do more or make changes. Sit down and write out a list of things you have wanted to accomplish. These could be anything from organizing a room in your home to taking extra classes. You might even want to fight negative habits like nail-biting or drinking too much caffeine.
Make this year better by helping you get the most from yourself. Consider your general wellness, set some goals and work towards accomplishing more.