Health tips for all busy professionals
Learning to manage my anger, and the decision to be consciously healthy were the two things that completely changed my life. There is so much information out there about healthy living but most of it requires a lot of effort. Some of us live extremely busy lives, and some of us are just plain lazy.
To some extent, I fall into both those categories. I have a busy life and when I do have time, I would much rather read a book curled up in my bed.
So, these health tips are for those who love to discuss the topic of good health to absolute death but aren’t committed enough to actually doing something about it.
Before we go any further, let me give you a little incentive to get to the end of this article.
Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live.
7 signs indicative of bad health-
You check any three of these and you, my friend, are in trouble.
1) Skin breakouts
The moment I stop exercising and/or being careful about my diet, my body promptly expresses its annoyance by turning my face into one giant pimple.
Luckily, I don’t suffer from normal acne, I suffer from cystic acne – painful, ugly, and always huge. I am being sarcastic, in case you missed that. Turns out, breakouts are a common indicator of bad health.
They are supposed to help your clueless self understand that there is something in urgent need of a fix.
2) Poor sleep
If you don’t sleep well or wake up several times during the night, it means your body suffers from imbalance.
At night our stress hormones drop, allowing us to go off to sleep without any hitch or at least, that’s what is supposed to happen.
Related: How to relax before bedtime and sleep better naturally
If it doesn’t, you really should pay better attention to your health.
3) Lack of energy and drive
Fairly self-explanatory and also not something you can overlook. A lack of energy will compromise your productivity and more often than not, it can find its root in an unhealthy lifestyle.
4) Extremely bad period pain
How your body behaves before, during and after period can say a lot about your health.
Yes, periods are painful, but they’re not supposed to be so painful that you can’t go about your business. You are not supposed to turn into an invalid. The advertisements always show the girls laughing, dancing, and generally, having a good time. They are not wrong.
Unless you have a medical condition, the pain is supposed to be bearable. The only time my period pain is bad enough to need sick leave is when my period announces itself with a migraine, or I have been abusing my body left, right, and center.
The level of your period pain is an excellent indicator of the state of your health.
5) Dark urine
Dark urine means you’re not drinking enough water which is a MAJOR problem.
Your urine is supposed to be transparent; it is a sign of a well-hydrated body.
6) Easy target for germs
If you find yourself falling sick with every change in the weather or easily catching a cold, you can safely conclude that your immune system is not working to its optimum capacity. A weakened immune system can lead to a whole host of trouble. You may end up catching a disease worse than flu.
7) Irregular and Infrequent bowel movement
If your bowel movements are irregular or infrequent, your body is not healthy. I hope for your sake that this isn’t brand new information for you because if it is, I am genuinely worried about you. Every time, I experience even one of these issues, I go into a mild panic. Before you know it, my life has been rearranged to put my health first place.
Also, these are more prominent indicators, but by no means are they the only ones. Lip chaffing, rapid fluctuation in body temperature, confusion, snoring, itchiness can also indicate bad health.
Easy tips to cultivate better health-
Each and every one of these health tips is doctor approved. These are simply things I do in everyday life to maintain good health without it taking over my whole day.
1. Breathing Exercises
Let’s start easy.
Practice deep breathing. You can do it anywhere, anytime and, the benefits are numerous –
- Better heart function
- Increased oxygen intake
- Detoxification
- Weight loss (it burns fat)
- Decrease in anxiety
- Increased Endorphins (trust me, we can all use more endorphins!)
This is literally the easiest thing to do in the whole wide world. Just put a reminder on the back of your hand and do it whenever you see it. You don’t need to make time for it. It’ll help you think better so, you can do it in the middle of a crisis even.
2. Nap more
I don’t get a lot of sleep at night.
Instead of walking around like a zombie, I nap. whenever I get sleepy, I catnap. Even if you nap for 10 minutes, it will make you feel better.
During the workday, you’re bound to get tired and drowsy. Instead of putting up with it just step away for a few minutes, and take a quick, small nap. It will make you feel 100% better, and you won’t end up compromising your productivity with yawns.
Related: How to relax before bedtime and sleep better naturally
Napping for 15 to 120 minutes is actually doctor recommended. It helps with stress and cognitive functions.
3. Stay hydrated
We are supposed to drink 2-5 liters of water every day. If you just start drinking a sufficient amount of water, most of your health issues will disappear plus, you get glowing skin.
If you have time to put goo on your face and style your hair in fifty different ways, you have time to drink water!
I love coffee and I’ve no intention of ever giving it up so, I balance my caffeine intake with water. After every cup of coffee, I drink a glass of water. Also, drinking enough water can help you sleep better.
4. Quick Exercise routine
I love exercising! The moment I start skipping my exercise, everything goes to hell. My workout routines are my key to having a better mood and increased energy. The problem is making time for exercise and not just once in a blue moon, but every single day till you actually see results.
Related: Easy indoor no-sweat workouts for better health
Once you reach a healthier state, you have to sustain it. The solution is to start small. Exercising for just 15 minutes can also have a positive impact on your body and therefore your life. Once the results start showing, the change in your body and your energy levels will be all the motivation you need.
Related: How To Keep Your Energy Up Throughout The Day?
If you are too busy, exercise whenever you find a free minute during the day. Exercise doesn’t require a gym or expensive machines. Start small with a few minutes here and there carved out of your day. Do exercise that doesn’t require a machine or weights. Initially, train with your own body weight.
If you have the time, but no motivation then, download one of those exercise apps that breaks down the routine into smaller, manageable chunks. The app (30-Day Challenge) I use shows me a graphic of raining confetti whenever I get through one set of exercise.
Also, some days I am fully aware that I won’t make time for exercise so, if nothing else, I get away to the washroom and do quick stretches or squats in the middle of my workday.
You will never be healthy without exercise. Adding exercise to your daily schedule will improve your health by leaps and bounds. Start small just as long as you do start. Take your time with it. The results will show up.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to a Daily System for Higher Productivity
Revolutionise your Mornings
5. Tweak your diet
Eating healthy is a lot like exercising, in that you’ll hate it when you start, but the results will be so heady that you would not want to stop.
Related: 5 Ridiculously Easy Diet Changes With Multiple Benefits!
We all like eating junk food, and that’s okay as long as you at least try and maintain some semblance of balance. If pizza is your favourite thing in the world, then try and make friends with Broccoli as well. It’s okay to eat junk twice a week as long as, you’re having green vegetables/fruits the other 5 days.
Drink protein-rich smoothies or a tall glass of fruit juice. Tiny, little changes with massive impact. You must have seen those posters about how exercising will never be enough if you don’t eat well. It is 100% true.
If you are looking to lose weight, consuming the right diet is necessary. Do that, and you’ll see the benefits in the changing shape of your body. Also, eating healthy will keep your body from becoming sluggish, and give you the energy required for long, hectic days.
6. Explore your options
We can’t all go to the gym and bust our ass and emerge beautiful, healthy and toned. Some of us prefer different, less sweaty forms of exercise. So, explore your options and find one that helps without making you bitch and moan about having to do it. This whole process will be much easier if you have your own cooperation.
Explore options like power yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, Aerobics, etc., whatever you like. Swimming is a great form of exercise too, and it’s fun.
7. Think happy and healthy
Did you know that pessimistic thinking can actually weaken your immune system?
Related: 15 Activities That Can Make You Instantly Happy
Well, it’s true. Unhappy people are more prone to sickness than happy people. So, laugh more and think happy thoughts. Create a positive environment conducive to growth. Laugh often and every time you see your reflection in the mirror, FEEL good about yourself.
There is no sure shot method that works for everyone. It’s all trial and error. We find what works best for ourselves, and we run with it. I use all of these 7 health tips. They have helped me improve the quality of my life.
It all started with me making up my mind to be healthier, and not spend every day dealing with drooping energy levels or migraine attacks.
I want to travel the world and create beautiful things and most importantly, I have to take care of the people I love – that’s my motivation.
The travel, the creativity, and the loved ones -all of those things are important to me, and my love for it is what keeps me from letting my health slide. Find your motivation, and find what works best for you because it is a long, arduous journey and a healthy body and mind are the only two things that will get you to the finish line.
3 comments
Glad to see the blog, thanks for sharing!
Great post. I knew about these things already but it’s good to have them in a list with details. Good reminder that I need to work on them.
Yes, I guess everyone is aware of this stuffy, but I think it gives you a push when other people add the weight of their own vote of confidence & experience to it ?