When it comes to health and wellness, most people usually focus on exercise and dieting. While this is no doubt useful, being healthy is not only about working out and eating less. There are many other components to it. It’s about your state of mind, your place in society, and even your financial security.
With that in mind, let us look at three interesting, less common ways to stay healthy in the coming year.
Owning a Home
Most people wouldn’t consider buying a house as a way to be healthier. After all, a house is a physical, brick-and-mortar construction. It has nothing to do with your body or your mind. Yet, as studies show, the relationship between health and homeownership is much closer than you think.
We can look at this from two different angles, your body or physical health and your mind or mental well-being. From a physical standpoint, a house serves as protection from the outside. This includes not only natural elements like rain, wind, extreme sunshine, or natural disasters but also the dangers presented to us by other individuals. As we all know, the probability of getting mugged in a dark alley is much higher than if you are in the comfort of your own house.
From a mental standpoint, having a house provides the owner with a sense of security and direction. One of the biggest reasons people are so happy when they buy a property is that they feel they are starting a new life, one filled with optimism and hope. A house is also a symbol of social status, giving the owner a greater sense of self-esteem and pride.
So buy one if you have money. And if you don’t, look into lending companies providing the best mortgage rates in the market. A reputable vendor will guide you on everything you need to know.
The Wonders of Sleep
Perhaps the Brothers Grimm were on to something when they decided to name one of their most famous children’s stories “Sleeping Beauty.”
But sleeping is not just about being pretty and looking young. While we sleep, many other things are happening, both in our bodies and our minds. Among others, our bodies are allowed to rest, our brains have the time to process all the information acquired during the day, and our immune system is functioning at its top capacity. It is healing whatever might be wrong with us while at the same time fighting to prevent infection and viruses from coming inside.
It comes as no surprise then that people who don’t get enough sleep suffer from various issues, including anxiety, bad moods, grumpiness, and physical and mental exhaustion.
So how long should we do it, how long should we sleep? A cookie-cutter answer is eight hours or as long as you can. The real answer is it depends. What you should keep in mind is not the length of time but the quality of sleep you can get. Five hours of quality sleep will do much more than 10 in negative conditions. Bad sleeping conditions imply sleeping on a couch or uncomfortable surface, using the wrong pillow, or your room being either too bright or too noisy.
Dieting and Nutrition
It seems as though there is a new diet every month, possibly every week. From banana diets to eating plans with no carbohydrates and liquid-based diets, the list goes on and on. Many of us have tried one or several of them with mixed results.
While they sometimes work, more often than not, they don’t. The reasons are plenty. First, you are putting your body through something it is not used to. A sudden, drastic change in nutrition can do more damage than good.
Second, a fad diet is not something maintainable. You cannot stop eating rice or pasta for the rest of your life. Sure, you might be able to lose weight much faster. However, in most cases, you will find yourself in rebound mode, your body craving for what it wants.
Finally, fad diets don’t fulfill all the essential nutritional requirements of your body. The body needs fat as a source of protection and fuel. It also needs carbohydrates for the brain, the heart muscles, the kidneys, and the central nervous system. Hence, from a nutritional standpoint, the best, most effective way to stay healthy and in shape is through a balanced diet that includes everything in moderation.
One of the most popular new year resolutions many people have is to lose weight and get in shape. Three interesting yet relatively unknown ways to do this are purchasing a home, sleeping more, and letting go of dieting.
Why not try them? You have nothing to lose and much to gain, including a happier, healthier life.
