Regular participation in physical activity can increase life expectancy.
Discover a range of ways to keep active, aim for 5 days a week, spending at least 30 minutes of activity each day. Combine a variety of cardiovascular activities which get both your heart and breathing rate up, as well as physical strengthening exercises.
1. Regular Physical Activity
Balance your body with a stretching routine, and aim for increasing the range of motion required by a healthy spine, as well as all four limbs. Being physically fit is so much more than ‘looking great.’ It means that your overall health is improved.
For example, engaging in regular physical fitness for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week can help control your stress. Further, regular exercise improves your immune system, sex life, and your mood.
Regular physical activity strengthens the heart muscle.
When planning your regular physical fitness activities, be sure to include the four essential components to obtain optimum physical activity benefits: aerobic fitness, muscular fitness, flexibility, and stability and balance.
2. Sound nutrition
While consulting with a registered dietician or nutritionist will offer you massive benefits as they can tailor a diet to your exact needs, it is possible to eat healthier without their guidance. However, if you have any medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, consulting an expert is definitely in your best interest.
"Do your best to cut out, or at least cutback, on fatty fast foods, alcohol, and sugar. A healthy diet, coupled with regular physical activity, will help you to maintain a healthy weight and body composition (more lean weight, less fat)."
Include a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, whole and sprouted grains, lean proteins, and water. Avoid highly processed foods. Most of your grocery cart items should come from the produce section! Likewise, do your best to avoid processed meats, sweetened drinks, and foods high in trans fats.
3. Time for Yourself
It is important to recharge, refresh, and recover from all that you do for others.
Never feel selfish about meeting your own needs; you can’t be there for others if your health fails. For me, that means activity to take time for reading, meditation, yoga, walks, and quiet reflection. Activity to spent time alone means time to reflect on your own feelings, needs, and emotions. Being in touch with yourself will improve your emotional intelligence.
Detaching yourself from work pressures and other stressors is essential to your overall health, particularly your mental health. Do not consider time for yourself as being selfish. Instead, refueling by taking the time for self rest and recovery will allow you to be at your best when you are needed the most.
4. Follow Your Passion
A well-lived life requires you to find your own joy, that one thing that makes you smile, feel alive, and something that you look forward to during your day-to-day.
I have several passions right now, including my darling grandbabies, mountain biking, camping, and of course, writing.
You may be lucky enough to have found something that you love, but if not, it’s not too late. So spend some time reflecting on what you find valuable and what kinds of activities or work are meaningful. When you are doing what you love, your motivation and focus are increased.
5. Connections
Relationships require work and nurturing; it’s unnecessary to have many friends, but those you do have should be healthy, meaningful relationships. Take the time to volunteer; many studies have shown that volunteering improves life satisfaction, better physical and mental health, and improved relationships.