With the fast pace of modern life making it more difficult than ever to focus time and energy into self care, many people are suffering due to poor mental or physical health.

Looking after your mind and body should always be a main priority if you want to live a long and happy life, but it can no doubt feel tricky to figure out exactly where to begin. Fortunately, learning more about how to take great care of yourself doesn’t have to be as complex, time consuming or expensive as you might initially imagine, as there are a number of simple steps that you can follow to make a noticeable difference in no time at all. So, if you’re ready to boost both your body and mind, then read on to discover more!

Eat A Balanced, Natural Diet 

One of the most important features of your daily life that contributes massively towards your overall health and wellbeing is your diet. The food that you eat can either help your body to heal and grow in the most productive manner, or fail to provide you with the vitamins and minerals that you desperately need in order to thrive. With convenience being the order of the day for most people, it’s easy to fall into the trap of relying upon processed food for the bulk of your calorie intake. However, though it may be easy and accessible, it certainly isn’t healthy! Regularly consuming thinks like microwave meals, take out burgers, deep fried items and other packaged or mass produced foods that are high in fat, salt, sugar and artificial additives, preservatives, colors and flavors can be so detrimental for both your mental and physical health, as you are likely to encounter a number of troublesome issues due to regular consumption. Diabetes, high cholesterol, weight gain and insomnia are just a few of the most common ailments that accompany a highly processed diet, so there truly is no time like the present to switch up the way that you eat! Opting for a natural, balanced diet will provide you with the most health benefits, as wholefoods are generally much higher in essential nutrients that help to support great wellbeing. A good plate should consist of 3 main items – a portion of complex carbohydrates taking up around ¼, a portion of lean protein filling another ¼, and a serving of fruits or vegetables covering ½ of your plate! Good sources of complex carbohydrates include things like wholewheat pasta, sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, rye bread and porridge oats, while lean protein can come in the form of chicken breast, fish, tofu, beans and some dairy such as natural yogurt. When it comes to fruit and vegetables your aim should be to eat the rainbow, as different colors suggest the presence of different vitamins and minerals. For example, oranges are filled with vitamin C, while bananas are high in potassium and blueberries are a great source of antioxidants. Spinach is rich in iron while tomatoes contain lots of vitamin K! The more natural your diet can be, the better you are likely to feel in both your body and mind, so skip your usual fast food fried chicken fest and substitute it for a nutrient packed pasta salad with grilled chicken instead! It can also be a good idea to explore supplements if you want to ensure you’re getting enough vitamins while maintaining the most healthy hormone balance, so take the time to research this topic if it’s something you’d like to consider.

Always Get A Good Night’s Sleep 

Getting a good night’s sleep is absolutely vital, as sleep provides your body with its main opportunity to heal and rest. Regularly missing out on sleep or experiencing low quality, interrupted sleep can have a very detrimental impact on the way that you feel, as you risk symptoms such as a lack of energy, poor concentration, low mood and even a weakened immune system. An average adult needs at least 6-8 hours of restful sleep each night in order to feel their best, but unfortunately this isn’t a very common occurrence. A number of different things can keep you awake at night, but thankfully there are an equal number of solutions that you can implement to give yourself a better chance of getting a good night’s sleep. First off, make a conscious effort to avoid your smartphone or computer for at least an hour or 2 before you intend on going to bed – the artificial light that is expelled from the screen can trick your body into thinking it’s still day time, making it more difficult to fall asleep. It’s also a good idea to avoid eating anything for a few hours before you go to sleep, especially fried or spicy foods which are harder to digest. Making sure your sleeping environment is as suitable as possible can be of further benefit, as a comfortable bed, supportive pillows and a set of black out curtains can make a world of difference. There are many devices and apps that are said to track your sleep, so this might be an option you would like to explore to get a better idea of your individual sleeping habits. 

Make An Effort To Take Time Out 

Modern life can easily become overwhelming, so it’s always good to make an effort to take time out for the sake of your mental health. Pressure at work, issues with your personal life and the pressures of trying to fit in with society can weigh on your shoulders, so failing to take the opportunity to let go every now and then can impact massively on the way that you feel. There are many different methods that you can consider to take time out, starting off with meditation. Meditation is a practice that has been utilized by many different cultures and peoples, and it aims to help the participant reconnect with the ‘here and now’. The aim is  to let go of the past and stop fearing the future, so you need to clear your mind of passing thoughts through various breathing exercises and a little concentration. Meditating a couple of times a week can have a very positive impact on your mental health, so it’s certainly something you should aim to get involved with. If this doesn’t sound like your kind of thing then don’t fret, as there are many other calming and uplifting options that you can make the most of. For example you might like to head out for a stroll around a local nature reserve, or even visit the gym so that you can distract yourself by working up a sweat. As long as you can make an effort to take time out from the hustle and bustle of modern life as frequently as possible, then your mental wellbeing is sure to benefit.

Take Socializing Seriously 

Unfortunately, in today’s online world where so many people are beginning to exist exclusively through their social media accounts and online profiles, it’s never been more difficult to maintain an active social life. It’s all too common for users to spend upwards of 8-10 hours on the web every single day, and this can leave little time for socialization in the real world. Regularly missing out on face to face socialization can cause you to feel anxious, lonely and isolated to say the very least, and you may even begin to lose sleep or experience a change in your appetite. You need to make an effort to take socializing seriously if you’re going to stand a chance at maintaining good mental health, as you must take the opportunity to experience new places with new people to keep your mind (and body) as active as can be. Adopt a ‘yes’ policy when it comes to being invited to places – if someone asks you out, no matter where they might be headed, just say yes! This might be something as simple as grabbing a coffee and a slice of cake with a colleague during your lunch break at work, or even going out on a friday night with your friends to celebrate the start of the weekend! You deserve to have fun and enjoy yourself in the company of others, so there’s no time like the present to channel more energy into socializing. Getting over a certain level of social anxiety may be an intimidating endeavor, but once you throw yourself in at the deep end by simply saying ‘yes’ when making plans, the process will be much easier than you might imagine. 

Health truly is wealth, and if you can utilize the information in this guide then you can no doubt feel richer than ever before! The tips and tricks described above will have a noticeable impact on the way that you feel in both body and mind, so what are you waiting for? Take back control of your health today so that you can feel as right as rain physically and mentally. 

Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.

-Diego

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