Are you feeling winded and out of breath during daily activities? If you’re concerned about your heart health, medical experts confirm that you can improve heart health by making simple lifestyle choices.
Let’s look at the top things you can do to ease into a healthier you.
Reduce Stress
It’s on everyone’s list… ”reduce stress.” But putting this on your To-Do list alongside a pile of tasks may not get you the full results you are seeking. Take this big idea of reducing and managing stress down to practical items.
How can you reduce stress at home?
Medical experts emphasize the importance of learning new techniques to manage stress. This may be learning to do progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, or mindfulness practices. Check out breathwork vs. meditation and the benefits and see how this helps in reducing stress and anxiety. While we are used to learning how to do physical exercise, this is more like learning how to do internal relaxation.
Check out the many videos and online offerings for mindfulness, meditation, and Tai Chi. You may discover that exploring different methods helps you find the best ones for you. This is like finding a favorite place to call home — it’s a stress-reducing practice that resonates with your personality and lifestyle.
Give yourself a chance to get familiar with the new techniques. In a short time, you’ll find this can set the stage for feeling less stressed out.
How can you reduce stress at work?
If you’re in a small business or start-up, you know how stressful background checks can be. Either you’re spending hours doing it yourself, or you’re spending a lot of money to work with an outside contractor. Instead of sweating over court documents, work with an affordable and quick provider for employee background check services.
Pick a background service that doesn’t require a complicated contract, expensive sign-up fees, or a preset number of checks. With this off your plate, you can get on to having a focused day, running your business—with less stress.
Boost Exercise
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends healthy adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week.
How can you boost exercise without noticing it?
We often think of exercise as the stuff you do in a formal setting, like a gym or swimming pool. But, a new study by the American Heart Association shows that doing household chores could boost your heart health.
Curious how it works? Try it out for yourself.
Pay more attention to your physical practice of household chores. Sweeping. Yard work. Cleaning. Mopping. Gardening. Vacuuming. These activities help you stay actively moving, lifting, and bending. Put a little more attention into your household chores and you’ll reap the benefits.
You’ll give your heart a chance to pump strongly, and you’ll keep your home clean at the same time.
How can you boost exercise every week?
According to Mayo Clinic experts, exercise helps people deal with all the risk factors for heart disease. Exercise helps you achieve and keep a healthy weight. It also is very useful for controlling diabetes, reducing cholesterol, and managing blood pressure.
If you’re wondering about how much you need to get a benefit, it’s quite doable. It turns out that 30-60 minutes of physical exercise on most days is the current recommendation. It doesn’t have to be all at the same time. And, it doesn’t need to be all of the same activity.
Medical experts encourage people to select activities they enjoy. It makes sense. If you pick things you love doing, you are more likely to start and keep going.
While you’re getting started, permit yourself to mix it up a bit. Dancing, walking, jogging, swimming, and playing sports are great ways to stay active. Talk with your doctor and get the go-ahead to make exercise part of your weekly schedule.
How can you boost exercise at work?
While we often think of exercise as something to do outside of work, it also is easy to fit in extra activity during work. Take a closer look at your daily habits and routines. Medical experts suggest these simple tips. Park your car further away from the door and add a quick walk to the office. Use your bicycle to commute to work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Use breaks to go outside for a walk or jog. Take a stretch break every hour.
If you find that you’re having some challenges with reducing stress and boosting exercise, talk with your co-workers and friends. Using the buddy system will likely help you embrace healthy habits, increase social connection, and have more fun.