The sooner you start healthy lifestyle habits, the better your overall health results are likely to be. In your 20s, it’s easy to take your faster metabolism and higher energy levels for granted, as well as put fitness on the back burner. But early adulthood is the time to start developing healthy routines, as it can have a significant effect on how well we age.
The following tips can help you take better care of yourself, especially if you’re under the age of 30.
Get Plenty of Sleep
In your teens or 20s, it is all too easy to burn the candle at both ends. But don’t underestimate the importance of rest. Most adults need seven to eight hours of good quality sleep every night. It can make a huge difference in your mood, concentration, and maintaining a healthy weight. It can also lower your risk for health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension.
Learn to Cook
When you prepare your own meals from scratch at home, you will save money and reduce calories. Keep your fridge well-stocked. Try a new recipe every week, using healthy, organic goods, avoiding highly processed foods. Eat a lot of vegetables to help lower your weight, body fat, and risk of metabolic disease.
Find a Form of Exercise You Enjoy
Exercise can elevate your mood, improve your sleep quality, and help you maintain a healthy weight. However, if you don’t like your exercise routine, you are much less likely to do it. Find a way to enjoy your workouts by doing activities such as dancing, bicycling, walking, running, swimming, weight training, yoga, karate, or tai chi.
Drink Lots of Water
The importance of staying hydrated can’t be overstated. It helps maintain a balance of your body fluids, which is important for proper digestion, circulation, absorption, transportation of nutrients, and body temperature maintenance. Drinking water can help you control calories, improve muscle performance, and keep your skin looking better. It also improves kidney and bowel function for better overall health.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking increases your risk of cancer and causes lung disease, such as COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. It restricts blood flow, increasing your risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. It can also cause dry and prematurely aging skin. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, quit as soon as possible.
Spend Less Time Sitting
The more time you spend sitting in a chair, the more likely you are to develop heart disease, diabetes, or obesity. If you work at a computer, do it standing as much as possible (there are desks made specifically for standing). Or in the alternative, sit on a stability ball instead of a chair. Walk around when you have the opportunity, and stand up whenever possible while talking on the phone or performing routine tasks.
Get the Right Health Insurance
Regular checkups and preventative healthcare are an important part of a health and fitness routine. Our experienced agent can help you make sure you have an affordable health plan that allows you to get the care you need when you need it.