HOW MINOR EFFORTS CAN BRING ABOUT MAJOR AND MIRACULOUS CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE.
A BRIEF DISCUSSION OVER ENHANCING LIFESTYLE AND ABANDONING THE IDEA THAT GLORIFIES UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE
What is the easiest way to start one?
Your journey toward a healthier lifestyle starts with small changes that you feel confident you can achieve. Consider making “SMART” goals. SMART stands for:
specific
measurable
attainable
relevant
time-bound (met by a deadline and done in a certain amount of time)
When you focus on SMART goals, you could find more success. And one initial “win” will propel you to set new, bigger goals.
Consider the following tips for beginning to improve your overall health.
- Eat more vegetables
A 2010 analysisTrusted Source of prospective studies suggests consuming more veggies and fruit is associated with lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and premature death.
Although eating more vegetables is better, you don’t have to go from zero to nine servings a day. Perhaps your goal is eating one serving of vegetables at dinner. If you already do that, consider eating one vegetable or fruit at every meal.
Keep in mind that less-processed veggies are better. Rather than fries, try roasted potatoes seasoned with herbs or make a stir-fry of several colorful vegetables and drizzle them with a tasty vinaigrette.
Control stress
Chronic stress puts your body into fight-or-flight mode all the time. This taxes your immune system and makes you more susceptible to health problems, including:
heart disease
diabetes
digestive problems
depression
high blood pressure
anxiety
difficulty sleeping
Exercise can help reduce stress by releasing pent-up energy. Physical activity can also boost the release of mood-lifting hormones called endorphins.
For others, mindfulness practices — like meditation, deep breathing, journaling, or spending time in nature — can help to lower stress. Talking to friends can also help.