Caring for your health is a lot easier than it’s made out. People assume that you have to undergo massive lifestyle changes to be healthy and to look after yourself. Realistically, all you need to do is make a few small changes and follow some good habits. Slowly but surely, all these little things add up into significant changes for your health and wellbeing.
As a result, you need to learn about some health care habits that you’re almost certainly not doing, but should start right now:
Stretching at your desk
Working at an office desk is genuinely one of the worst things for your physical health. It causes muscular imbalances that lead to chronic pain and issues with your posture. The biggest issue is that our body gets into a fixed position for hours on end. Typically, our upper back is hunched, our shoulders round forward, and our lower back can arch. Your head will also tilt forward, putting extra stress on your neck. So, get into the habit of stretching every now and then. You can do it at your desk, but you want to try the following:
- Stretch your chest and shoulder muscles
- Stretch your hips/glutes
- Stretch your quads
- Stretch your neck
Wearing hearing protection
Hearing loss is one of the most common health concerns for people over 65. Contrary to what you might believe, it affects more of your life than just the ability to hear. You will likely have many hearing loss communication issues that make it stressful to be out and about in social situations. You become embarrassed about having to repeat yourself, and it plays on your mental health.
Shockingly, a lot of hearing loss cases could’ve been prevented or delayed if the person wore hearing protection devices. This includes earplugs or earmuffs, and they protect your ears from loud noises. You’ll also be surprised to know how many dangerously loud sounds we subject our ears to every day. Things like a lawnmower, traffic, construction sounds - the list goes on. Get into the habit of protecting your ears when in the presence of loud sounds, and you can prevent hearing loss and stay healthy.
Sleeping eight hours a night
We’re all aware of the benefits of getting eight hours of sleep every night. If your body is a smartphone, then sleeping is your time to charge. Fail to get enough, and you’re running on 50 or 40% for the next day. Naturally, this means you’re more likely to burn out and feel sleepy. So much of your life is impacted by a lack of sleep, so it needs to stop. You can also put yourself at risk of multiple health problems.
This may be a habit we’re aware of, but how many of you honestly get the recommended hours of sleep a night? Try your best to get into a proper bedtime routine - like when you were a child. Set yourself a bedtime and stick to it! Then, watch your health improve and your life becomes more energized.
Everyone should try and commit to these health care habits if you want to improve your life. They aren’t too crazy, and you don’t have to adjust your lifestyle too much. Implement them into your routine and you will soon see the benefits.
