8 Small Changes for a Healthier Life

Taking good care of yourself should always be a priority, and physical wellness checks offer a great chance to assess how you’re doing. Are you listening to your body? What steps could you take to feel better on a daily basis? Do you need to schedule any health appointments? By asking yourself these types of questions, you can make sure you’re on the right track when it comes to your health. 

What Is Physical Wellness?

Physical wellness refers to a general state of good health when it comes to your body. Similar to spiritual wellness or mental wellness, it requires consistent effort to maintain physical wellness throughout our lives.

Your physical wellness includes a wide variety of aspects in terms of your personal health, including:

• Nutrition and eating habits
• Exercise and physical activity
• Illness prevention 
• Disease management
• Sleep
• Sexual health
• Stress 
• Alcohol and tobacco use

It can be challenging to make healthy choices in each of these areas day after day. But when you commit to your own physical wellness, you can minimize unhealthy actions and enjoy overall good health that can help you to feel better and get the most out of life.

Ways to Improve Physical Wellness

If you’re ready to take stock of your own physical wellness, the first step is evaluating your own actions. Think about your current lifestyle and look for areas where you can make some improvements in the way that you care for yourself. Ultimately, you want to try to make choices that make your body feel good and will help you achieve better health outcomes in the long run.

If you’re looking for some ideas on how to get started, use this Physical Wellness Month in April as an opportunity to make some positive changes to your lifestyle, such as:

1. Eat a healthy diet: Consume plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and avoid processed foods. Keep healthy snacks on hand and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Try to eat slowly and mindfully and practice body positivity.
2. Be more active: Avoid sedentary behavior, which is associated with a number of potential health concerns. Incorporate stretches or yoga, muscle strengthening activities, and cardiovascular exercise into your routine.
3. Prevent illness and injury: Wash your hands regularly and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Take appropriate safety measures, like wearing seatbelts and helmets, and wear sunscreen.
4. Manage your health: Schedule regular checkups with your doctor and discuss preventive medicine options. Use medications as directed, follow treatment plans, and get recommended vaccinations.
5. Get enough sleep: Develop a bedtime routine that helps you wind down at night. Avoid using your phone in bed. Limit the length of naps if you need them.
6. Practice safe sex: Use protection during sex, such as condoms or dental dams. Find a contraceptive method that works for you. Get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when necessary.
7. Limit stress: Practice relaxation techniques such a meditation. Learn to say “no” to added responsibilities when you need to. Ask for help from friends, family, or a therapist when you feel overwhelmed.
8. Use substances in moderation: Limit alcohol consumption and avoid mixing alcohol with medications. Do not smoke cigarettes.

Benefits of Self-Care

The ways we tend to our physical wellness can be considered “self-care.” Although that term is often associated with specific indulgences like bubble baths and massages, self-care encompasses anything you do that helps you to remain physically and mentally well.

When you make healthy choices, it can pay off in countless ways. Things like eating healthy, exercising, and not smoking can all contribute to lower risk for serious health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Fewer health problems will allow you to lead a more active lifestyle and potentially even increase your lifespan.

In addition, doing things that are good for your physical wellness can improve your mental wellness at the same time. For example, exercise can help to reduce anxiety and depression and boost your mood and self-esteem. Getting enough sleep can improve learning and memory and help to regulate emotional and mental health. 

These types of benefits can have a profound impact on your life. Healthy choices have been proven to make us feel better on a day-to-day basis while also improving long-term health outcomes and decreasing overall health risks.

The team at Bella Terra Primary Care can help you reach your physical wellness goals. We offer compassionate, expert care for every patient and provide personalized recommendations when it comes to preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and treatment. Give us a call to learn more or to schedule your next physical exam.