5 Habits for a Healthier Life

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We live in an age where health is thought to be more about cures than prevention. However, habits that promote wellness and prevent illness are the best way to ensure a healthier, longer life. Here are some healthy habits that you should incorporate into your lifestyle.

Sunscreen

Dr Sam Won Yi encourages all of his patients to use sunscreen for protection from the sun’s UV radiation, which greatly increases your risk of developing skin cancer and having aging skin problems. Most people only use sunscreen when they tan or go to the beach. However, the sun’s rays are affecting you throughout the entire year. Your skin is even being damaged on cloudy days. You should apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with a rating of SPF 15 or higher every time you leave the house during the day.

Sit Less

As society moves towards having more white collar office jobs, more people are spending more of their days sitting. Sitting for long periods of time has extremely negative effects on your health. Since sitting burns fewer calories than standing or walking around, it is linked to obesity. It also causes a number of postural defects that are associated with chronic pain. Finally, there is some research showing that sitting six or more hours in total per day takes years off of your life. This effect is observed even if you exercise regularly. If your job requires you to sit, take frequent breaks to move around. Convert to a standing desk or a kneeling desk if at all possible.

Walks

Since much of the world’s infrastructure revolves around cars, people are getting too little activity throughout the day. Although exercise helps, it is also important to incorporate mild activity throughout your day. Going for walks can greatly improve both your physical and mental health. It will help you stay in shape. It will also improve your mood and mental activity. Many of the great thinkers and most successful people throughout history incorporated long walks into their daily routine.

Prepare Your Own Food

It is no secret that obesity is on the rise. It also no secret that the tough economy makes it difficult for many people to make ends meet. Preparing your own food can help alleviate both of these problems. Food from restaurants tends to be much more fattening and unhealthy than food that you prepare at home. Since restaurants need to turn a profit, they also have a big markup on their prices. By bringing your own food to work and making your own meals at home, you will save money, eat healthier and probably enjoy meals that taste better.

Sleep More

Most people are not getting enough sleep. Regularly getting less than six hours of sleep each night will greatly reduce your lifespan. It will also make it more difficult to function while you are awake. Although you might think that you can do more with more hours of wakefulness, chances are that the stronger cognitive skills that proper sleep grants you will help you achieve more in less time.

Health is about habits, not quick fixes. If you incorporate healthy habits into your daily life, you will live longer and be happier.

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Melissa Thompson

Melissa is a mother of 2, lives in Utah, and writes for a multitude of sites. She is currently the EIC of HarcourtHealth.com and writes about health, wellness, and business topics.