It’s easy to get caught up in the to and fro of every day life. Most of us have busy schedules and we find ourselves being pulled between work, social commitments, caring for children, grandchildren or pets and so much more. It’s not all too surprising that we find it hard to find time to focus on ourselves. But it is extremely important that you do focus on yourself on a regular basis. Neglecting your health and wellbeing can make all the difference when it comes to your quality of life and how you feel. You need to make sure you’re in good physical and emotional shape in order for you to get through each day positively and practically. Here are some steps you can take to achieve this.
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Eat Well
Let’s start with eating well. The food that we put into our body is the fuel that we use to get around and do what we need to do – so we need to ensure that this food is good. When we think of eating healthily, all too many people automatically think about eating less. But this shouldn’t necessarily be the case. You should follow the guide to how many calories you should roughly be eating below.
- Children aged 2 to 8 – 1000 to 1400 calories
- Girls aged 9 to 13 – 1400 to 1600 calories
- Boys aged 9 to 13 – 1600 to 2000 calories
- Active women aged 14 to 30 – 2400 calories
- Sedentary women aged 14 to 30 – 1800 to 2000 calories
- Active men aged 14 to 30 – 2800 to 3200 calories
- Sedentary men aged 14 to 30 – 2000 to 2600 calories
- Active adults over 30 – 2000 to 3000 calories
- Sedentary adults over 30 – 1600 to 2400 calories
Next, think about what you’re eating. Enjoy healthy, wholesome and hearty meals that are balanced. Find foods you enjoy, like an easy chicken and leek pie, that will be filling and also contains plenty of protein and vegetables. Consider incorporating some superfoods into your diet too!
Exercise
Next, let’s consider exercise. It’s recommended that the average adult gets one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week. You can alternatively choose seventy five minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise a week. It’s important to find a form of exercise that you actually enjoy, as then you will be invested in it and keep up with your fitness plan. There are all sorts of exercise out there. The gym isn’t the only option. You could consider swimming, cycling, a dance class, team sports, fitness classes, yoga, pilates and so much more.
Monitor Your Mental Health
Your mental and emotional wellbeing are important too. It’s important to check in on yourself from a wellbeing perspective every once in a while to ensure that you’re happy and can seek any help or support you need if necessary. There are plenty of charities, support lines and help groups out there who can assist you with this. If you’re concerned or experiencing symptoms of mental health conditions, reach out to your doctor, who will be able to help you further.
Each of these steps will help you to improve your overall quality of life and get the best from each day. Give them a try!
