7 Tips for Living a Healthy Lifestyle

The beginning of a new year is likely to make you think about resolutions for improving your life. After a holiday season filled with decadent treats and feasts, it is common to consider taking some steps to lose weight and to make other lifestyle changes to improve your health.

1. Laugh more.

Laugh as much as possible. There is little doubt that having people around you that lighten your mood makes you feel better about the world. Huffington Post suggests laughing and smiling often since it is associated with strengthening immunity, stress reduction, a healthier heart, and a better mood.

2. Eat healthy food, cutting out the junk food.

When your mother told you to eat your vegetables as a child, she was giving you good advice. Eating at least five servings of vegetables a day or more and cutting out sugar will boost your energy and help you lose weight. Eliminating soft drinks and junk food like potato chips is also excellent advice. Few people would argue this point.

3. Get rid of unwanted pest.

Pest control needs to be a priority especially if you are living in the midwest. Unwanted pests have been known to bring in disease, and other dangerous germs. Be sure to call a pest control company in St. Louis that residents and others can trust to get rid of any unwanted visitors that might show up from stored boxes.

4. Practice meditation.

Many health professionals agree that meditation is good for you. Huffington Post recommends meditating for at least 20 minutes daily for best results. There are many benefits derived from meditation. Healthline reports that meditation reduces stress, improves sleep and calms anxiety issues.

5. Exercise regularly.

There is no debate about the fact that exercising on a regular basis is good for your health. Even moderate exercises like walking briskly will energize you and make you feel the glow of good health. While there is some debate about how much exercise is recommended for optimal benefits, there seems to be some agreement that exercising 30 minutes or more on most days of the week is a good idea.

6. Stand more and sit less.

There is growing evidence that sitting too much is bad for your health. Consumer Reports cites research that supports this supposition. An American Cancer Society study indicates that women who sit for six hours or longer during a typical 24-hour period are 10 percent more likely to develop cancer.

This distressing finding has fueled the acceptance of the standing desks that many people use now at work and at home. Counterintuitive to what the average person might have presumed in the past, many people report that standing more and sitting less actually invigorates them and leaves them less tired at the end of the day.

7. Consistently get a good night's sleep.

If you've ever tried to function after not getting enough sleep, then you know how not getting enough sleep can impair your ability to get things done. Any person who does not obtain the recommended amount of sleep necessary to feel their best can appreciate the importance of sleep for feeling fresh and reinvigorated. Healthfinder.gov reports that adults require seven to eight hours of quality sleep every night.

Children need nine to 12 hours of quality sleep, while teeagers should aim to get eight to 10 hours of shuteye. Without enough consistent sleep, WebMD reports there is a link to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and even obesity.

Conclusion

Good health is a priority for most people. The seven tips above can change the quality of your life, improving both your mental and physical well being. In a culture where health is often discussed and debated in the media and everyday conversation, the seven recommendations listed here offer practical ways to bolster your health.