5 Habits to Maintain Physical Wellness

“Wellness is the complete integration of body, mind, and spirit - the realization that everything we do, think, feel, and believe has an effect on our state of well-being.”

~ Greg Anderson

The true secret to success is to be physically healthy. Physical well-being is extremely important to one's productivity and happiness as well as health.

The average American lifestyle tends to lead to being stressed-out, frustrated, and puts health and wellness last on the list of things to do. Maintaining a healthy and rounded lifestyle is easier than it seems. It can be broken down into the following five important areas of physical wellness:

1. Get Enough Sleep

Most people know the importance of getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night. However, aside from sleeping for eight hours, it is extremely important to maintain a regular sleep cycle. One's body regulates itself according to one's sleep patterns.

Therefore even if one slept at 3 am and woke up at noon they might get a full eight hours of sleep but their body will not be prepared to go to bed at 10 pm the next night. This means they will struggle to wake up for work or school at 6 am.

Establishing a regular sleep routine and sleep cycle. A good sleep routine will counter-act extreme fatigue, sluggishness, memory issues, emotional instability and boost the immune system.

2. Eat Well

“He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors.”

Chinese Proverb

Healthy eating does not mean feeling hungry but rather eating things to nourish your body. Your body requires consistency about when and what you eat.

Regularly eating a balanced diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and whole grains provides the necessary nutrients to support your body’s vital functions and mental functioning. Furthermore, learning how much to eat and maintaining a regular eating schedule positively impacts one's metabolism.

Skipping meals or overeating can lead to metabolic consequences and weight gain. It is also important to drink water regularly.

3. Physical Activity

Exercise may give many flashes of drill sergeant personal trainers or dreaded gym class in school, but it does not have to be a painful endeavor. In fact, exercise promises long-term benefits.

The key to sticking to an exercise routine is to explore one's options and find which activities you truly enjoy. There are hundreds of different exercise classes and methodologies that offer the incredible benefits only physical activity can offer.

4. Hygiene

Hygiene is a key factor in maintaining health and preventing disease. It is important to ensure daily practices like showering, washing hands, brushing teeth and flossing. Personal hygiene can also boost your mood and proves extremely important for those struggling with mental health disorder like depression.

Hygiene also includes seeking out preventative medical care like regularly getting physical exams, going to the dentist and getting your eyes checked regularly, etc. Remember these visits can ensure the prevention of disease or early intervention when there are health concerns.

5. Relaxation

Relaxation is often assumed to be only a mental exercise with mental benefits. However, this is untrue and tension can build up in muscles too. Muscle tension often leads to headaches, back pain and the release of stress hormones. These hormones often cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms including adrenal fatigue.

While ambition is admirable, it is important to schedule time to relax. The occasional massage, staying home with a good book or playing your favorite sport is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Always remember:

“In minds crammed with thoughts, organs clogged with toxins, and bodies stiffened with neglect, there is just no space for anything else.”

~Alison Rose Levy