Self-care plays an important role in one’s overall well-being. It requires you to make good decisions, demonstrate self-love, partake in regular physical fitness and make a lifetime commitment to a healthy routine. Since it’s your life, only you can control what you do and how you live.
To get back on track, here are some general tips about physical fitness, health and wellness.
Exercise Regularly
When you workout, you want to focus on two kinds of exercise: cardio and weight resistance. Cardio is the type of exercise that strengthens your heart and lungs. It can be anything from running to taking the stairs to swimming. Weight resistance on the other hand, is more about building and maintaining muscle. You can do this by using weight machines at a gym, or by using your own body weight with exercises including push-ups, lunges and squats. Independently, these exercises can improve your health, but according to a study conducted at Hunter College in New York, they’re more impactful if they’re coupled together, especially when it comes to weight loss.
While any exercise is a step in the right direction, the best exercises will depend on your own individual needs and goals. Running is probably the top choice for weight loss alone. It’s also great because it doesn’t require any equipment and you can do it anywhere, anytime. For someone with a knee injury or arthritis, however, running may not be the best exercise (at least not all of the time) since it can exacerbate the issues at hand. In this case, the better option may be swimming or low-impact exercises including cycling, coupled with body weight exercises, especially ones that strengthen the quadriceps and hamstrings. This is only one example, which is why it’s important to take time to think about your specific needs or goals to find the right exercises for you.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
When stress piles up, it’s easy to return to old habits, whether it’s drinking, smoking, overeating or something else. To effectively deal with life’s little bumps, it’s important to find ways to manage stress in a positive manner. In case you’re out of ideas, here are a few that have been proven to work:
- Exercise. As long as you’re moving, any kind of exercise will release endorphins, which in return, makes you feel good, or more importantly, relieved. Side note: Physical fitness is a wonderful way to facilitate recovery because it allows you to find a replacement for your former behavior.
- Mediate. If you’ve never tried this before, keep in mind that there’s no right way. You can technically meditate anywhere, but it’s best to do it in a quiet place. The idea is to clear your mind and sit peacefully. Your goal is to not dwell on anything, but rather enjoy the stillness of the moment. It’s a true practice that teaches the beauty of letting go and finding inner calmness.
- Practice yoga. Join a community class or use the web to learn the basics. Like meditation, yoga is about focusing on the present and quieting your mind. It not only exercises your mind but also your body since it includes repetitive movements and holding poses.
Maintain A Healthy Routine
People often use the expression that it’s about the journey, not the destination. When you’re considering how to maintain an all-around healthy routine for the long haul, it can’t be all-or-nothing thinking. You’re bound to slip up at some point, or life may just get in the way. Don’t let this deter you from moving forward. Based on research, it takes about 66 days for any action to become a habit. Beyond that, it’s a new lifestyle.
Whatever may happen along your health journey, it’s important to remember that you’re not perfect. Treat yourself with kindness and compassion. Above all, listen to your body and always challenge yourself.
