We are at the beginning of a new year, so now is a better time than ever to turn a new leaf and start taking active steps to improving your life in general. A new year means you can invest in a brand new journal and better document your progress. It means you can leave the past behind you and start making positive steps towards self-improvement and success. It means that you can start being healthier and happier now! But where to start? There are so many different areas that you can focus on when it comes to improving your overall health and well-being that it can be difficult to choose where to begin. But not to worry. That’s where we can come in to help! Here are just a few different steps that you can take on your journey to taking your health seriously.
Take Health Problems Seriously
If you have noticed a negative change in your overall health, or are experiencing concerning or uncomfortable symptoms, now is the time to stop brushing problems under the carpet and to book an appointment with your doctor. This professional will be able to survey your situation, identify issues with your health, diagnose problems, and ensure that you get the treatment that you need to set you on the road to recovery. This could involve writing up a prescription for you to pick up from the pharmacy, or referring you on for scans or other tests with specialists in hospitals. Make sure to follow their recommendations and attend any follow up appointments that they make for you. This will help to resolve health issues as quickly and effectively as possible.
Book in Dental Appointments
You should visit the dentist once a year, but once every six months is preferable is possible. So, make a quick call to your registered practice and book these one or two appointments in today. This will establish and appointment and let you place it in your calendar, ensuring that you have a check up at some point during the year. You might want to book in a separate hygienist appointment while you are at it. While a dentist will be able to take a look around your mouth and identify any problems that may have developed with your teeth, a hygienist will survey the overall hygiene of your mouth and can conduct a thorough, deep clean to tackle any areas you might have missed repeatedly while brushing.
Book in Other Health Appointments
Now is a great time to book in any other health appointments that you may be required to attend too. Consider seeing an optometrist. They will be able to survey the health of your eye from front to back and monitor your vision. If you are having hearing difficulties, consult an audiologist. There’s no time better than the present to confront issues and resolve them.
Picking Up a Regular Exercise Regime
The average adult should engage with one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or seventy five minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise a week. But surprisingly few of us actually meet these targets. We think that attending one exercise class every now and then will be sufficient. Instead, make sure that you are working your body out properly by picking up a regular exercise regime. The easiest way to do this, generally speaking, is to sign up to a gym membership and attend three to four times a week. This gives you time to exercise, but also gives your body time to recover between sessions if they are evenly spaced out. When you sign up, ask for an induction. This will ensure that you know how to use all of the equipment available to you correctly. If you want to go all out, consider hiring a personal trainer. They’ll be able to come up with a fitness plan that will meet your goals. They can also ensure that you are carrying out all of your exercises correctly.
Eat Healthily
We have just come out of the holiday season and chances are that you’ve indulged a little with food and drinks over the past few months. Who can blame you? Mince pies, yule logs, hot chocolates… they’re all very appealing. But you do need to eat healthily in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. So, it’s time to kick excess to the curb and live life in moderation. Make sure that you are getting all of the nutrition that your body needs to function properly and incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet. You might also want to try out some superfoods, which are packed with vitamins and minerals and make it easier for you to reach your health targets. Try to commit time in your day to cooking healthy meals. No matter how fast food is advertised, it is generally bad for your health, containing saturated fats, excessive levels of salt or sugar, and artificial preservatives.
These are just a few different steps that you might want to consider if you are planning on taking your health seriously in the new – and let’s face it, this is probably a resolution that we should all make. Start incorporating them into your lifestyle as soon as possible. If you do slip up and miss an appointment, skip a day at the gym, or eat a take away, don’t fret. All isn’t lost. Simply pick back up as soon as possible and do your best to stay on the right track!