Health and Wellness Tips I've Picked Up

I recently celebrated my birthday (my second in lockdown, for anyone counting) and there’s something that was suddenly very clear to me – I’m not getting any younger. As I turned 28 this year, it struck me that I am without a doubt now in my late 20s and that I should be putting more focus in my health.

I’m sure you’ve heard it many times in the past year that you should take care of your health, especially during the pandemic but it’s true! It’s a scary world out there and to be honest, it really doesn’t take much effort or thought to switch up your diet and habits so you can live a healthier life.

Here are some of the health and wellness tips I’ve picked up and incorporated into my life.

1. Don’t drink calories 

You probably don’t realize it (because I certainly didn’t), but sugary drinks are the most fattening things you can put into your body! You probably don’t realize it because your brain doesn’t register it the same way it does solid food. That and you consume it so quickly. Switching out your drinks to purely water can actually help you shed weight and control your sugar intake easily. And I’m not just talking about soda! Fruit juices also have a lot of sugar in them. Did you know that a glass of bottled fruit juice can contain as much sugar as a commercial doughnut?

2. Get enough sleep 

This simple health tip for everyday living that we can easily incorporate into our lives can even affect our weight and life expectancy!

For years we’ve been exposed to countless quotes, videos, and blogs about how we should hustle and grind, especially while we’re young. For some reason, people have glorified overworking to the point that if you aren’t losing sleep over a side hustle or even your main job, you’re not doing enough. Well, I for one am no longer doing this to my body. I am committing to getting at least 7 hours of sleep daily, as this helps drive my insulin resistance, up my physical and mental performance, and regulate my appetite hormone.

3. Happy gut happy life

The bacteria in your stomach, called gut microbiota, can surprisingly improve our overall health. Our gut health has been linked to not just our physical health but our mental health as well. Eating for better gut health includes adding probiotic foods like yogurt into our diets, taking probiotic supplements, and fiber-rich foods. This year, I encourage you to join me eat your way to better health!

4. Get that D 

We’ve been cooped up for over a year now, so we don’t get as much exposure to the sun as we need. Lack of exposure to the vitamin D can cause a decrease in bone density, strength, depression, and may even lead to cancer. Some studies have even shown that vitamin D helps prevent COVID! While the sun may be the only natural source of vitamin D, there are over-the-counter alternatives you can take which are found in any drugstore and that will do for now as it isn’t safe to go outside just yet.

Q1 of 2021 flew by quickly but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for you to start adapting these health and wellness tips yourself. These may seem like small changes, but they make a big impact – something your future self will definitely thank you for!