If you want to maintain good overall health, it’s important to understand how your everyday activities affect you – for better and for worse. Many people don’t think much about their health until they get sick. You’ll be ahead of the curve if you can work good health habits into your day-to-day routine. Here are five of the ways your habits could be affecting your well-being.
1. Sleep
Do you get eight hours of sleep every night? Is your sleep schedule regular? If the answer to either of those questions is “no,” you could be setting yourself up for problems down the road. Your body needs sleep to repair itself and fight off illnesses. Sleep also makes a big difference to your mental and emotional health. Consistently getting eight hours of sleep a night will make you healthier in the long run.
2. Diet
“Just one cookie won’t hurt anything!” If you’ve ever said that to yourself, you also probably know how easy it is for “just one” to turn into several. Your diet plays a major role in your health and well-being, so it’s best to nip bad habits – like overeating or undereating, eating too much sugar, or not eating a balanced diet – in the bud. If your daily diet includes plenty of nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains, you’re probably on the path to good health.
3. Sexual activity
If you’re sexually active, it’s important to be aware that your sex life can impact your health. You can keep yourself clean and reduce your risk of complications from STDs by practicing safe sex every time you have intercourse. For most people, this involves using condoms, especially with new partners. Condoms don’t prevent 100% of STDs, but you’re a lot safer with one than without one. It’s also smart to look for a free STD testing clinic in your area, especially if you’ve had multiple partners and haven’t gotten tested recently.
4. Social life
You might be surprised to find out that people with thriving social lives are physically and mentally healthier than their lonely counterparts, but it’s true. People who spend lots of quality time with their friends and family are more physically resilient and less likely to suffer from depression or anxiety. If you get lots of positive social contact, you’re on track for staying healthy into old age.
5. Physical activity
Are you sedentary? Then you could be setting yourself up for weight gain, inflammation, and all the diseases that go along with those conditions, including heart disease and cancer. Exercising regularly keeps you fit and prevents lots of different health problems. Even little habits, like walking to the coffee shop instead of driving, can make a big difference.
Little choices add up over time, and your day-to-day habits matter a lot when it comes to your health. Why not give yourself the best possible chance at a healthy future by applying the tips on this list to your own life?