Health is wealth, so they say. Despite the fact that most people consider being healthy as the state of being free from disease, health is diverse. Health generally refers to an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. All the same, it is unfortunate that this well-being can be affected by more than just a few factors, including genetics and exposure to toxins, allergens, pollutants, agents of disease, and even inherent factors that originate from our own bodies.
However, overall wellness largely depends on an individual’s lifestyle habits, such as diet, activity, thoughts, routine, and practices. In other words, what you let into your body or the things you come into contact with can affect your physical health, whereas the experiences you’re exposed to can affect your mental and emotional health. It gets even more complex since the mind, body, and spirit are intertwined.
But one this is for sure. Among the many factors in question, lifestyle is the largest determinant of good or bad health. From fighting diseases to improving your mood, boosting your life expectancy, improving your energy, and so forth, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can have multiple benefits to an individual. So, you might be on a healthy diet regimen already, you’re avoiding junk food and perhaps you hit the gym 4 days a week. Maybe you even quit smoking, cut down on the bottle and visit the massage parlor or spa every so often. Kudos, you’re definitely on the right track! However, is that all? Well, probably not… because here are some top 5 unpopular healthy practices to consider.
1. Quit Smoking If You Do
Forgive me on this one, but I used to smoke until my health started deteriorating, my lungs were choking, and I was diagnosed with a heart condition that forces me to take meds every day to date, two years down the line. Enough was enough and I had to quit. I was just lucky that I did so just in time, but habitual cigarette smoking is as good as digging your own grave. Apologies once more for the seemingly harsh tone, but the doctors out there will agree with (or at least support) my sentiments. But enough about me! I’m in good, but not perfect health now; how about your own if you’re a smoker? If you smoke cigarettes, the best remedy is to quit, there’s no shortcut around it.
If you do a bit of weed, well, the smoke may also have certain unpleasant effects on you, but when it comes to CBD products; not so much. Perhaps due to the emerging proof about the benefits of the ingredients in the hemp or cannabis plant, its use has become legalized in many countries and states around the world. CBD manufacturers at www.genius-labs.com say that especially for medical use, cannabidiol is available as CBD oils, tinctures, vapes, crystals, powders, chewing gum, and even topical creams. During their manufacture, these CBD products usually undergo a sophisticated purification process that ensures safety for human consumption while preserving effectiveness, efficacy in delivering the various health benefits of CBD.
They are also safer than smoking the dried leaves, buds, or stems of the plant since these contain a higher concentration of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is known to cause the crazy high associated with smoking cannabis. Plus, you don’t want to jeopardize the function of your lungs anyway.
2. Always Get a Good Night’s Sleep
With the crazy economy in the world we live in, it’s not uncommon to find people working more than 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet. More often than not, you’ll find that these are people who also try to juggle between work and study while also parenting and trying to keep up with the social world. All these tasks and activities can be taxing to your body, and for it to rejuvenate and get re-energized after a busy day, you need a good dose of quality sleep.
Unbeknownst to many, the lack of enough sleep can negatively affect your mental, physical, and emotional health. It can also lower your body’s defense mechanisms, making you more prone to infections and chronic illnesses. You don’t want to imagine what inadequate sleep can do to your productivity at work, which could be another source of lifelong problems, stress, and depression.
3. Laugh More
As we all know, stress can be a killer, especially if it proceeds to chronic stress and depression. It may not be common knowledge, but laughing more actually reduces stress, makes one happier and free from tension. Adopting the habit of maintaining a positive mindset, letting loose from time to time, and having a sense of humor can do wonders for your health. Even though studies are ongoing about the therapeutic value of laughing, a laugh a day can keep poor health away. Laughter can actually extend your longevity in a way.
4. Learn To Forgive and Let Go
You may consider it a bit weird, but forgiveness is actually good for your health. This is mostly because it’s the ability to let go of something that makes you hurt, angry, or feel irritated inside. If you hold on to that feeling of sadness, anger, remorse, all you do is store negative energy in your body. This negative energy could end up affecting your mental, emotional, and physical well being. In addition to triggering stress, these negative feelings could also lead to chronic illnesses. The spirit of forgiveness can also strengthen your social relationships, and one of the most important determinants of a healthy lifestyle is the people that surround you.
5. Practice Meditation and Mindfulness for a Calm Mind
As earlier pointed out, the mind, body, and spirit are always interconnected. This means that if you can be able to take some time, seclude yourself from the usual day-to-day activities and relax, you can easily get rid of any tensions, pressures, and anxieties that may be lurking within you. You can achieve this by looking for a quiet space and meditate there while performing breathing exercises. While at it, be sure to observe your thoughts or practice mindfulness. Including meditation, yoga, and mindfulness in your lifestyle practices can help you get a better reflection of yourself and the occurrences in your life as you tap into your inner strength for improved overall well-being.
As we all know, health is a broad subject, which is perhaps why medical practitioners spend a gazillion years studying. Even though there are many other lifestyle practices you can adopt for a healthier you, the above few are unpopular to many people. On top of these though, don’t forget to eat well, get active, take regular health screening checks, and stay out of trouble.