Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Make this Spring
Spring is here, and what better time to transform your health than during a new season filled with blossoming life? Lean into these healthy lifestyle changes this spring and beyond to support your mental and physical health and well-being.
Exercise Weekly
Daily movement is crucial for your mental and physical health. According to the current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity each week. Even if it’s only 10 minutes a day, get up and move. Being physically active during the day can even help you fall asleep more easily at night.
Be Proactive about your Health
Scheduling and attending an annual physical exam can be hard to stay on top of but it has a variety of benefits for your health. From early detection to monitoring and managing existing conditions to building a relationship with your doctor, annual exams are important. Attending regular appointments and getting screening done are also a pivotal part of being proactive about your health.
Maintain Healthy Eating Habits
Incorporating healthy eating habits into your daily routine is essential to support your overall well-being and reduce your cancer risk. It’s key to eat a diverse diet consisting of a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains. Focus on consuming foods high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients. Limit your processed food intake and cook more meals at home.
Take Steps for Better Sleep
Good sleep is essential to good health. Some habits that can improve your sleep health include being consistent with your sleep schedule, creating a relaxing sleep environment, removing electronic devices from your bedroom, limiting screen time before bedtime, and avoiding large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime, and
Practice Mindfulness
There are many ways to practice mindfulness, each offering various benefits, including stress reduction, improved mental clarity, nervous system regulation, pain management, increased resilience, improved quality of life, and better sleep.
Implement Self-Care Rituals
Making time and space for yourself by practicing a daily self-care ritual is important. Whether it’s going for a walk, meditating, a nightly skincare routine, taking a bath, making art or crafting, arranging flowers, or practicing yoga, find self-care rituals that work best for you, nourishing your mind, body, and soul.
Go Outside
Spring is an incredible time to be in nature. It’s filled with new life, fresh blooms, and warmer days ahead. Nature has an innate power to heal. Evidence reveals an association between nature exposure and improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity, and sleep. Find a way to incorporate time in nature into your weekly routine and get yourself outside, even if it's just going for a walk.
Sources:
CDC: How much physical activity do adults need?
NIH: Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence