50 Wellness Tips to Transform Your Life to a Healthier Lifestyle

29. Smile! Smiling is more than a way to flash your pearly whites at people; and it actually improves your mood and helps you have a… Trista - May 23, 2022

29. Smile!

Smiling is more than a way to flash your pearly whites at people; and it actually improves your mood and helps you have a more positive outlook on life. Fake smiling and fake laughing do not count because faking will make you feel bitter and annoyed at the other person. Look for ways throughout the day to smile genuinely, like you cannot help but smile because you feel so good. Maybe you saw something funny online and want to share it with a coworker, so you approach that person with a smile before telling the joke or showing the meme. Watch a funny movie with a loved one (or by yourself). Start smiling and feel your best!

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28. Go to Bed at the Same Time Each Night.

An essential part of a healthy sleep routine is going to bed at the same time each night and then waking up at the same time each morning. Try going to bed at the same time each night for a week and see if your sleep health has improved. You may find that you have more energy and are more productive throughout the day — you are actually getting what you need to get done! — because you are sleeping so much better. If you are having trouble falling asleep on time, make sure you get enough exercise and limit caffeine.

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27. Track Your Steps.

People who use a fitness tracker that measures how many steps they take throughout the day are more likely to get better exercise than those who do not. One reason could simply be that people who do not use a fitness tracker overestimate how much they are really moving. In contrast, those who have a FitBit, Apple Watch, or similar device have a number to measure how much they are moving. If you want to get in 10,000 steps per day and are unsure of how many you get regularly, invest in a fitness tracker and get yourself moving.

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26. Schedule Your Routine Tests.

Have you not had your eyes examined in a while? Even if you do not need corrective lenses, regular eye exams can detect problems such as glaucoma and cataracts before they become problems. What about mammograms, colonoscopies, Pap smears, skin cancer screenings, and prostate checks? No one enjoys having to go through testing, but remember that preventive medicine can help detect risk factors or the early stages of the disease before severely impacting your life. Call your doctor and schedule routine tests that you have not done in a while. Keep reading for more wellness tips for a healthier lifestyle as you age.

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25. Get Enough Sleep.

Far too many adults are chronically sleep-deprived. The result is reduced productivity, loss of focus, inattention, and worse health. After a while, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to chronic health problems and even shorten your life expectancy. While drinking more coffee may seem like a short-term solution, there is no alternative to getting high-quality sleep every night. Most adults need 7-9 hours each night. Make sure that you give yourself at least an hour to wind down at the end of the day so that you are able to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep through the night.

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24. Start Overcoming Your Fears.

Many people have very reasonable fears that are holding them back from living their best life now. The best way to deal with your fears is to begin taking steps to overcome them. If you are afraid of public speaking, start speaking up more when you are with a group of people. The career opportunities that can open up to you if you are willing to lead a meeting in the board room could be tremendous! Maybe you are afraid of heights. If so, start taking baby steps towards being higher and higher (within reason; do not put yourself in danger) to start feeling better high up.

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23. Laugh.

Laughing induces the production of endorphins, the feel-good hormones that make you feel happy. This explains part of why you feel so much better after a round of laughing! Taking the time to laugh every day can do wonders for your mood. And while taking time to laugh may feel artificial and fake, think about the time you take to do things that are not necessarily helping your overall health and wellness. Invite a friend, turn on a funny movie, and then enjoy some deep belly laughs. You will both feel better! Keep reading for more wellness tips for a healthier lifestyle as you age.

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22. Take the Stairs.

Getting a fitness tracker is not enough if you are not going to be doing more to build exercise into your daily routine. Taking the stairs is a great way to get started. Instead of waiting for an elevator and standing inside with people you do not know, who are spreading germs in an enclosed space, take the stairs. You will get your heart pumping and your muscles going for an extra burst of energy in the middle of the day. You will also burn more calories (and shed some of the stress hormones that can quickly build up) throughout the day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

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21. Use Nontoxic Personal-Care Products.

Your deodorant is crawling with chemicals that have no right to be on your skin and seeping into your body. Same with your makeup, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and everything you are using unless you are making sure that it is made with only natural ingredients. And remember that there is no FDA standard to define what a natural ingredient is, so you will have to check for yourself to see how many of the elements you can pronounce (if you can’t pronounce it, it probably was made in a laboratory).

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20. Use Nontoxic Cleaners.

You know that you should never mix bleach and ammonia because the result will be a toxic gas that could quickly kill you and everyone around. But how many of the cleaning products you use are harmful because they contain harsh chemicals, even if they won’t kill you right away? An excellent way to improve your health is only to use nontoxic cleaners. If you want to save money, you can easily make some at home by yourself! Otherwise, you can look at the growing options of nontoxic cleaners hitting the market.

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19. Stop Smoking.

If you are a smoker, you are poisoning your body and cutting your life expectancy significantly. The smoke you are regularly exhaling is inhaled by the people closest to you — your significant other, your kids, your parents, and your siblings. The dangers of secondhand smoke are as severe as those of regular smoking. Set a date to stop smoking, and stick to that date. Join a support group, talk with your doctor, try Nicotine patches, and do whatever you need to do to bust the habit. Your wallet, health, and loved ones will thank you. Keep reading for more wellness tips for a healthier lifestyle as you age.

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18. Ditch the Work Chair.

If you work behind a computer, your work chair may be causing back problems that are impeding your overall health and wellness. Unless your chair is ergonomically balanced and comfortable to sit in for long periods of time, it may contribute to pinched nerves, poor posture, and other problems associated with chronic health problems. One solution is to swap out your work chair for a yoga ball. A yoga ball offers more options to move around and keep your spine positioned well while working at your desk. You could also switch to a standing desk so that you are not sitting down.

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17. Do Something Poorly Rather Than Not At All.

You may be too tired to brush your teeth for two minutes. However, that does not mean you should not clean them. Perhaps you do not have the time or energy to go on an hour-long walk, but just walking around the block is better than not getting any exercise. You may not be in the mood for a salad, but having an apple with dinner is better than no fresh fruits or vegetables. Instead of aiming for perfection and punishing yourself when you fall short, aim for better than not at all. Keep reading for more wellness tips for a healthier lifestyle as you age.

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16. Learn Your Family’s Medical History.

Your family’s medical history is an invaluable resource in helping you, and your doctor determines your long-term health goals. If you are a female and the women in your family have a history of breast cancer, you and your doctor will know that you need mammogram screenings more regularly than other women may need them. If high blood pressure or diabetes runs in your family, you can share that information with your doctor and learn what preventive measures you can take now to stave off those problems later. Spend a day connecting with relatives so you can find your medical history.

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15. Stand Up Every Half-Hour.

If you work at a desk, then you are probably used to a very sedentary lifestyle in which getting up and moving is not necessarily baked into your day. As a result, you may start feeling lethargic, and your circulation is probably not as good as it should be. Start changing this by standing up every half-hour. Stretch your legs, arms, and torso to get your blood pumping again and help wake you up. Get up and walk to the water cooler to refill your water bottle. Furthermore, use half of your lunch break to take a short, brisk walk.

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14. Take Probiotics.

You may eat yogurt regularly, but did you know that many of the probiotics in yogurt cannot survive the acidic environment in your stomach? As a result, they do not get to your intestines, which really need them! Taking probiotics is an excellent way to boost the health of your gut, which in turn improves the health of your entire body. Start taking a probiotic first thing in the morning with a glass of water. A good probiotic will have a casing that can survive stomach acid so that the good bacteria pass into the intestines, where they can make themselves nice and comfy.

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13. Take Inventory of Your Refrigerator.

How long has that mayonnaise been in there? Does it smell like vinegar and have spots of mold growing on it? How many expired items lurk in the back of your fridge and your pantry? How many sugary products do you have lying around, waiting for the opportune moment to consume them all in one sitting? Take an inventory of your refrigerator and pantry to determine what foods you have on hand and what changes you may need to start making to your grocery shopping habits. You probably need to start buying less sugar and more fresh produce. Keep reading for more wellness tips for a healthier lifestyle as you age.

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12. Get Vitamin D Naturally.

Far too many people are deficient in vitamin D, and the reason why is not that they are neglecting to take their supplements. Vitamin D supplements can be beneficial in the winter months, especially for people who live in frigid regions that do not get enough sunlight. But for the most part, vitamin D needs to come from the sunlight. Moreover, there are additional benefits to sunlight beyond the sunlight vitamin, including feeling better and regulating your internal clock more effectively. Take a walk in the sun (within reason), and see how much better you feel afterward.

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11. Manage Your Stress.

All too often, stress creeps up — or jumps in our face — and gets the best of us, quickly derailing our improved health and wellness efforts. Managing your stress by intentionally taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do to develop long-term health. Get regular exercise so that your cortisol, which is a primary stress hormone, can stay in check. Do things that you enjoy, like taking hot bubble baths at night, to help replace the stress with positivity. Spend time with friends instead of sitting by yourself and ruminating about the hard things going on.

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10. Buy Some Good Walking Shoes.

Not wearing good shoes that support your feet and back can lead to chronic health problems. Wearing non-supportive shoes occasionally is not too much of a problem. That is unless you already have issues and have been told by a doctor that you should only wear supportive shoes. However, having a pair of supportive shoes on hand can do wonders for your health. You will no longer be able to make the excuse of not having shoes when you know that you need to get out, enjoy the fresh air, and get some exercise. Also aim to get supportive dress shoes to wear to work and on special occasions.

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9. Develop an Attitude of Gratitude.

Gratitude is for more than Thanksgiving. People who are grateful for what they have are happier and content with less, whereas people who cannot see the benefit of what they already have often keep grasping for more. Things will not ever make you happy, but gratitude will. Cultivate an attitude of thankfulness for what you have. Thank the people in your daily life who make it easier, like the cashier who checks you out when buying groceries and the bus driver who helps you get to work in the morning. Not only will you feel better, but so will the people who experience your genuine gratitude.

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8. Read Food Labels.

Food labels contain a wealth of information to help you make better decisions about what you are putting into your body. Instead of grabbing the items at the grocery store that you are habitually used to purchasing, take a moment to look at the food label. How much salt does this item have? Furthermore, how much sugar, saturated fat, and cholesterol does it have? How many ingredients does it have? The healthiest options have very few ingredients; an apple has only one element: the apple! Being a savvy reader of food labels will help you determine which foods are healthiest.

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7. Use a Slow Cooker.

Slow cookers can be absolute miracles for preparing healthy, tasty dishes on busy weeknights. You can add the necessary ingredients in the morning, turn the slow cooker on, and have a nourishing stew, soup, or another dish that is sure to please anyone by the time you get home. Recipes for slow cookers abound online. If money is tight, you can usually grab a used slow cooker at a thrift store for less than $15. Pressure cookers have also become popular again recently, and they can save lots of time and energy in preparing dinner. Keep reading for more wellness tips for a healthier lifestyle as you age.

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6. Eat Real Food.

So much of what is packaged as health food is overly processed and full of chemical preservatives, so much so that far too many people have no idea of what “food” is supposed to be! Real food has limited ingredients and is close to the ground. Choose plain yogurt with probiotics still intact over-processed yogurt loaded with sugar. Eat an apple and some almonds or peanut butter instead of a protein bar. And for a fun outing, go to a local farm so that you can pick some of your own produce and then use it to make jelly or fruit leather without any chemicals added.

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5. Try Intermittent Fasting.

Intermittent fasting is more than a health-food fad; it has real benefits for people. However, it is not for everyone, so there is no shame if IF is not working out for you. IF involves intentionally not eating for a set number of hours during the day, such as 16 hours (maybe from 5 pm until 9 am), and then getting all of your nutrition during the other hours. The idea is to give your digestive system a break so that it can work more optimally while also taking advantage of the benefits of your body being in a fasting state. IF can be a great way to lose weight.

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4. Wash Your Hands Regularly.

Washing your hands is one of the best habits you can develop to prevent the spread of illness. During the covid-19 pandemic, people got really good at washing their hands! But now that covid is on its way down does not mean that hand-washing is any less critical. Wash your hands before eating, before cooking, after using the restroom, and any time they are visibly soiled. Rub them for 20 seconds (the amount of time needed to sing “Happy Birthday” twice) with soap, and rinse them well. Use lotion if necessary to prevent dried skin.

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3. Park Farther Away.

You may be tempted to go for the front-row parking spot, even if doing so means driving around the parking lot for 10 minutes and waiting for someone to pull out of the area you want. Why not save that 10 minutes and a lot of the stress associated with parking lots by parking towards the back? The extra walk will be counted towards your daily exercise (if you use a fitness tracker, those steps will be included in your daily quote). Furthermore, after you are finished shopping, finding your car will be easier because fewer people park in the back.

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2. Organize Your Life.

How many junk drawers do you have cluttered with things that you forgot that you even have? When was the last time you went through your closet to take inventory of the clothes, shoes, and accessories you have and what you don’t need? Start getting organized by cleaning one thing out at a time. It may be your junk drawer, closet, or car trunk. Take the items that you do not need to a thrift store so that the money from them can go towards a good cause. Keep reading for a final health and wellness tip that can make your lifestyle healthier.

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1. Change Your Air Filters.

If you have not changed your air filters in a while, then the air quality in your home and car could be suffering. Moreover, you are breathing that lousy air! Changing your air filters is a quick and easy way to make sure that the air you and your loved ones are breathing regularly is as clean as possible. House plants, open windows when the weather is nice, and an air purifier can also improve the quality of the air in your home. And if you are a smoker, stop smoking now! Everyone’s air will be much cleaner because of your efforts.

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