Getting started with healthy habits can feel so overwhelming. This can be acutely true when you are also struggling with diabetes and other conditions — and perhaps feel some guilt and confusion.
It can help to have a few pointers to begin making healthy changes on your own because there’s a lot of misinformation out there! The tips below are proven to help you preserve your youth and avoid feeling older.
Ready to make lasting improvements to your health and wellbeing? The Thrivhers Masterclass Library has the tools, advice and exercises you need to reach your wellness goals! Reach out if you have any questions.
1. You are What — and How — You Eat
Your parents were right. What you eat has so much to do with how you look and feel. If you want to slow the signs of ageing, most experts recommend eating a well-balanced diet and not following along with diet trends — many of which can do more damage than good.
Need a blueprint for your nutrition? The top recommended healthy eating plans to follow include the Mediterranean and DASH plans. Each of these plans allows for a good balance of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
You’ll also be consuming healthy fats that will keep your brain and heart in top shape. That’s very important, no matter your age, but especially so if you are an older adult. It’s equally essential to have a healthy relationship with food, as well, to get the nutrition you need.
2. Lifestyle Changes Shouldn’t Be Stressful
The main issue with fast fixes and crash diets is that they require you to make drastic changes and those changes are not likely to stick. Any diet, fitness, or wellness plan that leaves you feeling more stressed or overwhelmed should give you pause. Instead, focus on small changes that will eventually add up to big improvements in your health and well-being.
For instance, if you want to eat healthier, don’t purge your kitchen just yet! Do yourself and your budget a favor and use those staples to throw together healthy and simple recipes. Everyone has a can or two of beans that can be transformed into delicious soups and sandwiches. If you do want to start from scratch, you could also make an “empty-the-pantry” stew.
Another simple change you can make is to declutter and organize your home. It may sound strange, but research shows that tidying up can indeed reduce the amount of stress you and your family feel every single day. You can also open a few windows for more fresh air.
3. Yes, You Do Need 7–8 Hours of Sleep
You 100% need a good night’s sleep every night in order to avoid looking or feeling older than your actual age. Losing out on your beauty sleep? Chronic stress could be one culprit. When you’re stressed and chronically in a fight-or-flight response, cortisone is coursing through your body. This normally helpful hormone can then cause disruptions in your sleep routine. Too much cortisol can also lead to excess fat, higher blood pressure, mental fog, and decreased bone density — all of which are bound to leave you feeling so much older.
Finding balance should be at the heart of any health and wellness plan. You can start by making simple changes — like the suggestions above — that will keep you balanced as you age. For more specific advice and guidance, consider working with a licensed and trained health coach. Think of it as an investment in your health, your well-being, and your happiness for life.
By Sheila Johnson from Well Shiela
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