Back to Basics: Easy Tips to Boost Your Health
Description:
We all want to get healthier, save money and achieve a well-balanced lifestyle. Working in the homeless services field can be extremely demanding and it is easy to feel like your own wellbeing is the last priority. Here are some easy tips for making small, positive changes day to day.
Content:
For many of us, every January is a clean slate…a chance to revamp unhealthy habits, shed pounds, cut costs and set other goals. We start each New Year with the best of intentions.
Then reality sets in. As service providers, students, parents, partners and friends, it can be hard to find the time to devote to our admirable goals. By the time March rolls around, many of us find our New Year’s resolutions a distant memory as we accept defeat and fall back into old routines.
Sometimes our lofty goals set us up for failure. Instead of signing up with a personal trainer, starting a fad diet, cutting out all extra spending, or other extravagant resolutions, make a few small basic changes to get back on track for mind, body, soul…and wallet. You’re more likely to stick to small, achievable goals, and you will feel better in the long term because you can stick to the plan. These easy steps can make a big difference and keep you striving for your goals all year round.
- Make small commitments towards physical health. Try just one minute per day doing pushups for stronger arms, back, abs. It gets the blood flowing!
- Drink more water. Eight glasses of water per day helps to flush your body of toxins, raise your metabolism, reduce heart attack risk, lose weight, improve skin and keep your brain healthy, alert and awake.
- Reach for more fruits and vegetables. Five servings a day will reduce your risk of some types of cancer, promote weight loss, and maintain healthy eyes, teeth, skin and hair.
- Brew your own coffee. Bring your own travel mug of coffee to work every day and you could save up to $500 a year! Switch from cream to low-fat milk for easy savings in fat and calories.
- Toss loose change into an empty two-liter soda bottle. This simple, easy piggy bank is a good trick for putting a little money aside without making any major life changes. A filled soda bottle can easily hold $300 in coins and could be the extra money you need to really enjoy your vacation.
- Host more potluck dinners. By entertaining at home and inviting others to contribute, you can catch up with friends and family more often without breaking the bank.
- Take a break. Use those 15-minute breaks at work to stretch, browse the internet, or go for a walk. Try reading a book chapter before bed or sipping a cup of tea with honey to relax. You’ll be surprised at how much these simple pleasures will help you to manage stress and fatigue.
- Get enough sleep. Adults need seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Sleep deprivation can affect your ability to fight off colds and other illnesses, alter your daily mood, increase hunger and drowsiness, and lower productivity at work. Hit the sack early when you can and count those sheep!
- Don’t beat yourself up.We all have weekends when we splurge on dinners with friends, or bulk up on chips and candy when we are stressed. The important thing is to get right back on track. Don’t let a slip-up be your downfall.
- Keep a note in your wallet.Write down your small achievable goals and keep the list in a place that you will see daily. This way, you’ll remind yourself to stay on track throughout the year.
Type of Resource:
HRC Resource
Publication Date:
2009
Location:
Newton Centre, MA
Phone:
617-467-6014