- Rid your home of clutter and keep it tidy
Having clean, organized surroundings reduces stress, boosts energy,
keeps cold and flu germs at bay, and may even make you more likely to
eat healthier and exercise more. Not to mention, housework can be great
exercise!
- Wear sunblock every day
If you’re not using sunblock every day, even in winter, you’ll regret
it 20 years from now. With skin cancer rates on the rise, it’s your
best defense against almost any type of skin cancer (especially melanoma
– the deadliest variety). Plus preventing sun damage keeps your skin
looking younger longer.
- Boost your brain power with dark chocolate
The micronutrients in dark chocolate have been shown to improve blood
flow to the brain and guard brain cells against free-radical damage.
Essentially, eating dark chocolate brings more oxygen to your brain, and
oxygen is your brain’s caffeine!
- Give more hugs
A hug a day could keep the doctor away. Researchers think this is
because hugging increases oxytocin. This “bonding hormone” sets off a
chain reaction of stress-reducing chemical changes in your body that
helps protect you from getting sick.
- Get a massage once a month
According to the Mayo Clinic, a massage can relieve digestive
disorders, insomnia, migraines, joint pain and many types of chronic or
injury-related pain. It’s also one of the best stress relievers ever.
- Spend time in nature
Studies from around the world, and as far back as the 1980s, show
that spending time in nature boosts your immune system, lowers blood
pressure, increases focus and patience, decreases depression and anxiety
symptoms, and may even help you recover faster from surgery.
- Spend 10-15 minutes of one-on-one time with each of your children, each day
One-on-one time with you makes your kids feel loved and appreciated.
It deepens your bond with them, and allows you to more fully enjoy the
parenting journey. You might even find that they’re more well-behaved.
(What parent doesn’t want more of that, right?)
- Wash your face every night
Gently washing away the dirt, oil and debris from your face every
night is one of the first and most important steps toward controlling
acne and other skin problems. It also helps keep your skin looking
younger longer. So don’t skip it!
- Get a dental checkup every 6 months
Aside from keeping your smile gorgeous, regular dental care may also
reduce your risk of heart disease and prevent infection in other parts
of the body. Plus it may help keep your memory sharp and your blood
sugar stable.
- Schedule and keep annual wellness checkup appointments
Regular wellness checkups – including dermatology – help your doctor
detect early warning signs of serious health problems so they can be
treated early – before they become harder to manage, more expensive to
treat and more life-threatening.
- Show appreciation to your partner
Appreciation means the world to your partner – and your relationship.
Feeling and expressing gratitude toward your partner can make both of
you happier and more likely to stay in the relationship.
- Add a superfood to every meal and snack
Superfoods are nature’s superheroes. They pack a mighty nutritional
punch! They ward off all kinds of diseases (including cancer and heart
disease), strengthen your immune system, protect your cells from damage
and inflammation, improve your digestion and help regulate your
metabolism.
- Plant a small garden
Gardening reduces stress, anxiety and depression. It also reduces
your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Plant some superfoods to add
more bang to your gardening buck. The fruits (and vegetables) of your
labor will motivate you to eat healthier!
- Put a live plant in every room
Houseplants are nature’s air purifiers. They reduce pollutants and
airborne dust in your home, increase humidity and remove carbon dioxide.
Plus different types of houseplants have surprising mental and physical
health benefits.
- Take a 15- to 20-minute walk at lunchtime
A quick 15-minute walk can boost your creativity and energy levels for several hours.
- Have dinner with your family 2-3 times a week
The benefits of family dinners for kids have been known for
generations, but it turns out they’re great for parents, too. Studies
show that regular family dinners help dads hit the drive thru less often
and help moms manage their carb cravings.
- Get a flu shot – and any other vaccinations your doctor recommends *
Flu shots are hands-down your best defense against the flu. Even if
you get a post-flu-shot case of the flu, it probably won’t pack as much
of wallop. Make sure you’re up to date on any other vaccines you might
need, too. This protects you and anyone in your life who’s too young or
too sick to get vaccinated. *Although recommended by most medical professionals, if you are doing everything you know to boost your immune system naturally; vaccines may not be necessary for you.
- Clean your closet once a year and give away anything you haven’t worn in a year
An organized closet erases most of your “what to wear” stress and
sets the tone for a less stressful day. Giving away clothes and shoes to
someone who needs them and will enjoy them – that just feels really
good.
- Simplify your wardrobe
While you’re cleaning your closet, hang on to (or make an investment
in) a few quality, timeless, versatile separates that you can mix and
match a bunch of different ways. You may even want to perfect your own
signature “work uniform.”
- Take your shoes off when you get home
You’re probably ready to kick off your shoes after a long day anyway,
right? This easy little habit keeps environmental toxins, germs, dirt,
allergens and dust from entering your home where they can linger, settle
into your carpet and rugs, and make you sick.
