Are you looking to make health a priority? If so, make sure you’re taking a holistic approach to your own wellbeing. Many people make the mistake of focusing on health by one or maybe two measures at most. However, true health isn’t measured in inches or pounds. Full-body wellness is something you experience throughout your whole body and mind.
YouMeFit.com is dedicated to helping people reach their health and wellness goals. Here’s a (literal) head-to-toe look at some health strategies you can use to thrive.
Head
Your body can be in the absolute best shape, but if you’re not working on your mental health as well, you’ll still wind up in poor health. Stress and anxiety don’t just make you feel unwell — they can cause serious damage to your system. Consider picking up a daily mindfulness practice. Start small with just a few minutes at a time, but try to work up to ten minutes a day. This small window of time spent focusing on your breath, the sensations in your body, or what’s happening around you can have huge impacts on every aspect of your health.
If you’ve spent a lot of time stressed out, that worry can start to bleed into your environment. This is particularly true if your career feels stalled or if you’re no longer happy in your work. Consider this a signal that it’s time to find new employment or even a new career. Ask yourself what you want to do, and see if your interests and skills line up with available opportunities. If you’re coming up short, consider earning a degree to make yourself more marketable. Online degree programs make it easy to handle coursework on your own schedule so that you don’t come up short on family and work commitments. With your expanded knowledge and diploma in hand, you can take your career to new heights.
Heart
Cardiac health is one of the most important aspects of health you can focus on, yet many Americans neglect it entirely. Starting (and sticking with) a cardio routine may be one of the absolute best things you do for your own wellbeing. Try to get at least thirty minutes of exercise a day, five days a week, in order to help keep your heart healthy and strong.
Joining a fitness group or making a pact with friends can be a great way to stay motivated with social support. You can also find community by getting started with a fitness tracker or smartphone app.
Back
In today’s sedentary society, more and more people are developing posture issues and, as a result, back pain. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to keep your spine in good health and reduce discomfort. For example, start a daily strength, flexibility, and mobility routine to improve posture and stability. It takes consistency, but with time, you’ll see huge results.
You should also consider seeking professional help. A chiropractor can help you figure out the best tools for correcting your back problems, as well as provide you with fast relief in order to get you up and moving again. While a massage therapist can alleviate pain while reducing stress and tension. Remember: You don’t have to go it alone.
Feet
Foot pain is an extremely common experience, and it usually comes down to one of a few likely culprits. The easiest change to try first is getting the right shoes. Your feet need to fit comfortably into your shoe lengthwise and widthwise – if your feet are cramping up a lot, there’s a good chance you need a wider shoe.
You also need to make sure the shoes you wear to suit their purpose. For example, if you work on your feet all day, you need to make sure you have shoes that have proper arch support in order to prevent pressure injuries. If you run, it’s always worth getting properly fitted at a running shop in order to get shoes that can support your goals and protect your feet.
Ultimately, complete health can’t be achieved through one or two avenues alone. However, going slow and building one habit at a time will set you up for success. Make gradual changes you can commit to, and always keep the big picture of health in mind to discover your full health potential.