This is a guest post by Jordanne at Thelifeofaglasgowgirl
Self-care is an important part of keeping ourselves balanced, rested and healthy. We use it to recharge our batteries and maintain our wellbeing.
I'm sure a lot of us have used it to care for our mental and emotional health. And that's often what's targeted when it comes to content surrounding self-care.
But what's not talked about enough when it comes to self-care is our physical health.
Physical Health self-Care is Super Important!
Just like our mental health is super important, our physical health also deserves the same treatment. We owe it to ourselves to look after the body we are in and treat it with respect.
As someone with chronic illnesses I know how hard it can be to prioritise our physical health, especially when we aren't always capable.
But over the years I've learned that focusing on my physical health as much as my mental health is crucial.
Here are 5 simple Ways to Care for Your Physical Health
Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is an important part of looking after not only our mental health, but also our physical health. When we have a good sleep routine this helps our bodies function to the best of their ability.
The recommended amount of sleep for most adults is between seven and nine hours. Being sleep deprived can raise the risks of health problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems, how your immune system works and more.
So, it's important that you get yourself into a good sleep routine to make sure your body and mind is getting the rest it deserves. This will help your body recharge, make you more alert, increase brain function and feel refreshed.
Increase your N.E.A.T
N.E.A.T stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis and this references the energy that is expended doing everyday tasks such as going to work, cleaning the house, gardening and more. In basic terms it means all the activities you do that aren't considered exercise.
If you are like me and have very limited capability when it comes to exercising, increasing your N.E.A.T is a great way to keep your body moving. You are still getting your body up and doing things, but it doesn't feel as strenuous as exercise.
By increasing your non-exercising activities, you are still partaking in activities that get your body moving and blood pumping around your body.
Here are some ways you can increase your N.E.A.T:
Opt to take the stairs instead of a lift
Park further away from the shops and walk
Use a standing desk
Wash your car by hand
Physically do the shopping
Take short walks around the house
Do the stairs twice (Go up, then down, and up again)
Take a longer route to where you are going
Upping your daily steps
These are just some examples on how to increase your N.E.A.T, but please remember to only do what you are capable of doing.
30 minute walk a day
Tying in with my last point of increasing your N.EA.T, going for a 30 minute walk a day is a great way to look after your physical health.
Going for a 30 minute walk each day, or a few times a week will help improve your overall physical health. Not only is it helping you increase your steps and get your heart pumping, it also gets you out in nature and getting fresh air.
This is a great way to target both your physical and mental health at once. Walking helps in strengthening bones, boosting muscle power and increasing your cardiovascular fitness. Although 30 minutes a day is the recommendation, any sort of walk in your routine is beneficial.
It's all about finding what works for you and your lifestyle.
Eat a balanced diet
I'm sure a lot of us know that eating a well-balanced diet is good for us. It helps get the nutrients we need into our bodies, gives us energy and keeps our immune system strong among many other things.
The food we put into our bodies has an effect on our overall physical health, that's why creating healthy eating habits is so important. It's all about creating a diet that works for us on an individual level and not simply restricting certain foods too much.
As much as a healthy balanced diet consists of foods like fruit and veg, it's also important to eat a variety of foods and not adopt the mindset of a certain food is "bad" food.
Here are some ways you can create a well-balanced diet without restricting yourself.
Ways to keep your diet balanced:
Eat fruit and veg
Make sure you're getting enough calcium
Work protein into your weekly food
Find alternative recipes to the foods you enjoy that have less saturated fats
Cut down on foods high in salt
Monitor your sugar intake
Cook with less cooking oil/opt for unsaturated oils
Make sure you've got wholegrain foods in your meals
And remember, enjoy your food!
There's no use in restricting yourself so much to the point you don't enjoy what you are eating. As long as you are getting the nutrients into your body and being balanced with your diet, you're all good.
Stay hydrated
Keeping your body hydrated is a huge part of looking after yourself. Getting enough water each day helps in making sure your joints are lubricated, delivering nutrients to your blood cells and keeps your organs functioning properly.
Dehydration can cause a lot of problems within our bodies and have effects such as dizziness, poor concentration, lack of energy and more.
The long-term effects can be even worse for us as dehydration can be linked to forming kidney stones, urinary tract infections, low blood volume shock and more!
So, it's important that you keep your body hydrated throughout the day, especially as you get older. When you drink enough water each day it will help keep your body fluid levels topped up and help all body functions work as they should.
Final Thoughts
Looking after your physical health really is super important. If nothing else, it keeps us functioning at an optimal rate and allows us to lead a better quality of life.
So, get your body moving more, eat well and stay hydrated and get enough sleep. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.
A huge thank you to Sarah for having me! I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this guest post for her and sharing some ways you can look after your Physical Health.
Jordanne | Thelifeofaglasgowgirl xo
