By Patrick Olabode
Happy New Year 2018. A new year comes with a barrage of resolutions. Resolutions about healthy living should not be different. New Year, new improved health should be the focus, the goal of every individual as we begin year 2018.
Improved health is achievable through healthy habits and making healthy choices such as eating healthy, refraining from smoking or using any form of tobacco, exercising regularly and ensuring adequate rest and relaxation.
Healthy Eating: Eating healthy and making healthy choices does not necessarily mean strict dietary limitations or depriving oneself of enjoying life but it is a simple way of planning moderation and sticking to a healthy diet. A healthy diet too does not have to be complicated but simple enough to supply all the nutrients needed for the body.
Exercise: Fitness and exercise cannot be overemphasized. Fitness refers to the ability to perform physical activity with availability of energy and strength. It is recommended that a daily routine should be developed and adhered to for consistency to improve health.
Rest and relaxation: A healthy lifestyle can be difficult to achieve or maintain amidst the hustling and bustling of society; more so, with school, work, family and social life. There are no specific guidelines or amount of relaxation an individual need to incorporate into their lifestyle but making time to unwind, reset and enjoy life is important in maintaining good health.
Ensuring adequate body and mind care determines the overall health of an individual. Relaxing and getting enough sleep help the body and brain to refresh. Inadequate rest or sleep results in feeling tense, stressed, fatigued and difficulty in concentration.
The brain functions better or more efficiently after good restful period. Enjoying life is important for relaxation while laughing promotes muscle relaxation and reduces anxiety. Wishing all our readers a happy, healthy 2018. (Patrick Olabode, MSN, RN, CPN (patolabode@yahoo.com)
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.