Now more than ever, many of us are concerned about improving our health. As the global pandemic has billions of people confined to their homes, it’s important to look for ways to live a healthier life, starting at home. Whether it is to improve our eating habits, finances, fitness regime or lead a more sustainable life, working on some or all of these things will undoubtedly allow you to enhance your mental and physical health and live a better life. Keep reading to find out about some of the ways you can start living a healthier life whilst at home today.
- Grow your own food
If you’re looking to up your fitness and stock up on leafy greens, then why not spend some time gardening? Committing to growing your own food can burn hundreds of calories while lowering your blood pressure and relieving unnecessary stress. Take advantage of the fresh air as you grow vegetables, fruit, and herbs, which will not only give you more control over what you eat but provides you with the opportunity to make your meals from scratch and come up with some delicious recipes!
- Meditate and practice yoga
There are many benefits to doing yoga, and you can practice as often as you like at home. People use meditation and yoga exercises to help with chronic pain, relieve stress, and tone, and maintain weight loss. It can also aid with balance, flexibility, and overall physical strength. Those who practice on a regular basis have noted that their sleep quality has improved and that they feel more positive in their daily lives. If you don’t fancy balancing and just want to focus on your breathing instead, there are plenty of online meditation tutorials to do in the morning or before bed. These can help relieve tension and help reduce migraines and headaches if you’re suffering from them whilst at home.
- Drink plenty of water
Drinking plenty of water will keep the body hydrated and help the skin to stay healthy, and boost the body’s performance when exercising. Doctors usually recommend drinking between 2-3 liters per day on top of any foods that have high water content. Upping your water intake, especially during the summer months, will replenish the body as we lose fluids when we sweat. Drinking enough water will also help your kidneys work more efficiently to maintain a healthy body.
- Make your home eco-friendly
Leading a healthier life can mean becoming more sustainable. There are many ways you can adopt a sustainable lifestyle, from recycling to using natural cleaning products, and you might even consider installing eco-features throughout your home. All these things will lead to an eco-friendly life that will reduce your carbon footprint, positively impacting the environment’s health and minimizing your exposure to harmful chemicals, as well as significantly lowering your energy bills. Eco-features can include anything from lighting to heating and even harvesting rainwater to help with plumbing. For more ideas, look at eco-friendly properties like Element Developments who are working hard to provide a more sustainable life to future tenants.
- Invest in your future
Finally, worrying about your finances can have a detrimental effect on your health, and during a time of crisis, people will be watching their bank accounts more closely. If you want to cut back on outgoings, why not try a weekly or monthly budget tracker? There’s plenty of apps available nowadays, or simply write down all your expenses and look for ways to reduce bills or cancel unnecessary subscriptions. Once your finances are in check, you could look to improve your financial health and start investing for your future. Where you’ve managed to save some money, why not use it to invest? You could look to set up an investment portfolio which gives you the opportunity to learn about different markets and ways to make an additional income. More and more people are considering investing in property, so look for online guides like the ones from RWinvest that teach you how to get started.
- Continue to learn new things
Whilst some people are spending more time at home, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn new things. If you’re working from home without the need for a long commute, why not use this time to pick up a new skill like learning a new language? If that’s too ambitious, use the extra hours to pick up that book you have been meaning to read or try out a new recipe. The number of new things you can learn is endless. Acquiring knowledge is invaluable and can make for new experiences or bursts of creativity.
- Maintain a clean and tidy home
As we’ve been staring at the same four walls for longer than usual lately, it’s left many of us reaching for the paint to redecorate or completing chores that we probably would never have gotten around to. Spending more time at home could lead to even more mess when it comes to hanging up clothes and tending to the forever growing pile of dishes. Thankfully, there is an upside to keeping the house clean and tidy, as sweeping alone can burn up to 300 calories. Maintaining a clutter-free and clean environment will help to reduce stress levels and boost your mental health, especially when working from home.
- Make sure you get enough sleep
It goes without saying that the past year has been a tough one which may have lead to having more on your mind than you would like to. If things are worrying you, this can cause unnecessary stress and lower the quality of your sleep. Maintaining a good night’s sleep and getting the recommended eight hours is essential when it comes to feeling your best. If you’re struggling at the moment, try reading before bed, and refrain from using electronic devices at least half an hour before your bedtime. Sticking to a consistent bedtime is also crucial as your body clock will know when it is time to wind down.
