How you feel can have an enormous impact on the quality of your life. When you feel tired or struggle with pain or discomfort, it’s difficult to feel content and fulfilled. Because the quality of your life is so closely linked to your health, it’s wise to be proactive and take steps that can optimize your wellbeing, and in turn, your happiness.
Practice Preventative Health Care
Discovering health issues as soon as possible is one of the keys to living a healthy life because time is often the most critical factor in determining whether a full recovery is possible or not. For example, if you discover cancer during the early stages, your odds for recovery are high. However, if it has already progressed and spread to other organs or your bones, gaining the control needed to eradicate the cancer can be much more difficult.
To stay on top of things, schedule a yearly physical examination with your primary doctor. Also, make sure to follow the recommended guidelines for medical screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.
Stay on Top of Your Health Statistics
In addition to getting annual check-ups and routine health screenings, it’s also wise to get blood tests regularly to track important health statistics. For example, regular bloodwork can provide information on:
- Cholesterol levels, including HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol ratio
- Mineral levels, such as magnesium, potassium, and iron
- Vitamin levels, including vitamins D and B12
- Thyroid hormone levels, such as TSH
Knowing and tracking these vital health indicators not only helps you establish your baseline but also allows you to quickly discover when something has gone wrong. This edge can make all the difference.
Prioritize the Quality and Quantity of Your Sleep
To feel your best when going about your daily life, you need to ensure that you get enough quality sleep each night. According to the Center for Disease Control, most adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night, but when life gets busy, rest is often the first thing people sacrifice.
Ironically, cutting back on sleep makes it more difficult to effectively accomplish the work that is making you so busy in the first place. A better solution is to carve out enough time to ensure that both your body and brain have the needed time to rest and refuel. When you prioritize sleep, you enjoy a slew of benefits, including:
- Better cardiovascular health
- Stronger immune system
- Better weight control
- Relief from anxiety and depression
- Better focus and memory skills
- Improved regulation of blood sugar
Integrate More Movement Into Your Daily Life
Making sure you squeeze physical activity into your day-to-day life can help you feel your best and improve your overall health. To begin, try to break up your workday with a 5-minute stretch or walk every hour. Also, integrate movement into your daily life by ditching the elevator in favor of the stairs and walking to your destination rather than driving. These small efforts can add up and help you shift your habits to a more active lifestyle.
Once you become comfortable with this level of activity, you should take the next step by finding a physical activity you enjoy, such as hiking, biking, or yoga. The activity itself is not as important as consistency, so find something you love to improve your chances for success.
Because feeling your best can impact all aspects of your life, be proactive and prioritize your health. By pursuing preventative care, staying on top of your key health statistics, making sure you get enough rest, and integrating more physical activity into your day, you can feel your best and enjoy a healthy and happy life.
