What does living your best life mean to you? Maybe it means traveling the world, reaching new heights in your career, or being able to spend quality time with your family for many years to come.
No matter what your dream is for your life, the one thing that can help make it possible is maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
By taking manageable actions like limiting junk food, taking vitamins, drinking water, and exercising regularly, you give your body the nourishment it needs, so you're free and able to pursue your goals.
Despite what diet culture may tell you, it's not hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle! Here are nine steps to better health that you can incorporate into your daily routine right away.
Step 1: Monitor and Keep a Record of Your Weight
Weight is an important part of physical fitness and we shouldn't ignore it. Check your weight regularly, keep a record of it, and use it as part of a more comprehensive healthy lifestyle plan.
A lot of people dread getting on the scale, so just remember that we don't have to judge ourselves personally if we fall short of our weight loss (or weight gain) goals. Being healthy is a journey with many mountains and valleys.
Step 2: Limit Junk Food and Choose Healthy Meals
Junk food like chips, cookies, ice cream, fried foods, pizza, and all the other greasy, salty, sugary treats we love are also infamous for how bad they are for our health. Long-term eating of junk food has been associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, dental problems, and a long list of other health issues.
Limit unhealthy foods like the ones we mentioned above, as well as foods that contain saturated fats like cream and whole milk. Instead, choose healthy meals that are high in protein, fruits, and vegetables.
Step 3: Take Vitamin Supplements
It's estimated that around 2 billion people across the globe are lacking important micronutrients such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron. These are important components that allow our bodies to develop healthy connections between cells and provide us with immunity, energy, and healing.
Consider starting a multivitamin or having a blood panel done to pinpoint exactly which vitamins you're deficient in.
Step 4: Drink Water and Limit Sugary Drinks
Did you know that nearly 50% of adults in the United States don't drink enough water? Water helps our bodies stay hydrated, which in turn helps us digest food, lower inflammation, maintain a lower body temperature, and perform so many other beneficial functions.
All that to say, drink more water! Mayo Clinic recommends around 3.7 liters for men and 2.7 liters for women, but this can vary from person to person. Also, avoid sugary drinks, as sugar can cause you to become dehydrated (as well as cause a lot of other health problems, including cavities and inflammation).
Step 5: Exercise Regularly and Stay Physically Active
Another important aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is exercising regularly and staying physically active. It's also one of the top recommended lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure.
For this step, you can go to the gym or the park, but there are also creative ways to do low-impact exercises at home or work. One solution is getting a portable treadmill, like this 2-in-1 under-desk treadmill from Redliro. It folds up for easy storage, is slim enough to fit under a desk, and doubles as both a walking and running treadmill. This way, you can get an invigorating walk, jog, or run in while you work.
Step 6: Reduce Time Spent Sitting and Watching the Screen
Everyone wants to be a couch potato once in a while. But being a couch potato and watching television or your mobile device all the time won't help you reach your healthy lifestyle goals.
Reduce the time you spend sitting around the house with your eyes glued to the screen, by getting the Redliro portable mini treadmill. Smaller than the 2-in-1 treadmill, this model is best for walkers and joggers who want the option to work out in the comfort of their homes.
It's also quiet enough that if you decide to keep watching your favorite Netflix series, you can do so while you exercise!
Step 7: Get a Good Night's Sleep
If you're following all the steps we've mentioned so far, but you're not getting a good night's sleep, you may find that all your efforts are ineffective. That's because sleeping at least 7 or more hours a night as an adult is crucial for healing from wounds and illnesses, improving mental clarity, and regulating your mood.
If sleep evades you when your head hits the pillow, consider making environmental changes like turning down the temperature in your bedroom or installing blackout curtains. You may also consider cutting back on caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants late in the day. Finally, talk to your doctor about a sleep aid supplement like melatonin or magnesium glycinate.
Step 8: Stop Drinking Alcohol and Smoking
Few things are more harmful to your health than drinking alcohol and smoking. Long-term consumption of alcoholic beverages, including wine, beer, and liquor, can lead to liver disease, heart problems, and even cancer. Meanwhile, smokers often suffer from respiratory issues, asthma, and lung cancer.
It's imperative that you stop drinking alcohol and smoking as soon as possible. If you have one or both of these habits and are having trouble breaking it, talk to your doctor and consider reaching out to local support groups for help.
Step 9: Find Healthy Ways To Manage Stress
If you don't learn to manage it, stress can build up over time and make you more vulnerable to cancer, heart attacks, liver cirrhosis, and more. Not to mention the mental distress it puts you in, which makes it harder for you to make healthy lifestyle choices.
That's why we recommend finding healthy ways to manage your stress. For some people, exercise like walking, jogging, or running on a treadmill can help relieve pressure. Others benefit from therapy, and still, others feel better when they improve their lifestyle and address their vitamin deficiencies.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do if you want to live your best life. Taking the steps we recommended, including exercising regularly at work and home on a Redliro treadmill, will help you feel better so that you can live better. Be healthy and follow your dreams!