Most of the time, we go about our days routinely and
with little thought . We wake up, brush our teeth , pour
ourselves some coffee or tea , eat breakfast ( or not )
and head off to work ( or play ) .
Wash, rinse and repeat .
Sure, having a morning routine —or any routine for that
matter—is an essential part of living a healthy life . But ,
did you ever stop to reexamine those everyday habits ?
You may ask : Why fix it if it ain' t broke ?
Good reason : A few conscious changes to your routine
can reap really big health benefits . Here are small
tweaks or add- ons to consider the next time you' re
looking to kick your health up a notch—and they all
require little to no effort !
1. Keep you cell phone out of reach for safer driving.
Multitasking doesn ' t work—especially when you' re
driving. That can be serious and potentially dangerous.
To resist the urge to email , text or make a call, keep
your phone in a place where you won 't be tempted to
reach for it , like in your glove compartment.
If you must make a call, make sure you' re using a
hands-free feature ( like Bluetooth or a headset) and
use voice-activated dialing. Try to avoid complex or
emotional conversations, which can be particularly
draining and require a lot of your attention . Your full
attention is needed to navigate the roads . Better yet ,
pull into a safe area where you can park your car and
talk.
2. Try a new pillow to improve your sleep . The right
pillow can be just as important as the right mattress—
and make you just as comfortable or uncomfortable.
Because there are so many types of pillows out there —
down, foam, buckwheat , micro beads and more —it pays
to find the best one for you. The right pillow should
provide adequate cushioning for your head and neck
and keep your head aligned with your shoulders and
spine ( as if you were standing upright with perfect
posture) . When buying a pillow , consider what type of
sleeper you are —side , stomach or back.
3. Practice regular self -massage. Massage is
undeniable in the benefits it brings to your health and
well- being. Consider it a gift whose benefits go way
beyond the obvious relief of muscle tension and pain :
Studies have also found massage helpful in managing
anxiety, headaches , temporomandibular joint pain,
fibromyalgia , insomnia and soft tissue strains or
injuries. This indulgence doesn ' t need to be
occasionally relegated to a masseuse at an upscale
health club or luxury spa. It ' s easy and handy ( pun
intended) to do it yourself and rub out your pain by
using your thumb , palm or fingertips or a tennis ball or
a foam roller. Or empower yourself further and try one
of the excellent home products from Wahl , like its Hot/
Cold Massager, which incorporates heat and cold and
seven attachments so you can individualize your
treatment to handle every body part that needs
attention. Why two temperatures? Heat increases blood
flow and loosens muscles, while cold reduces muscle
swelling and inflammation.
4. Drink a full glass of water before each meal . Who
can' t use an extra glass or two of water? Water is an
easy way to stay energized and focused. It also helps
keep your skin looking good , helps maintain normal
bowel function and can reduce your risk for kidney
stones. Drinking before each meal is an easy way to
remember to increase your fluid intake . An extra health
perk of that added H 20: it makes you feel a little fuller,
so you' re not tempted to overeat .
5. Use your TV time to be active . Just because you
binge- watch Orange Is the New Black doesn' t mean you
have to be chained to your couch . Make that time
count: stand ( or sit) up; grab some light hand weights
or a resistance band or use your own body weight to
perform some squats and push- ups to get your muscles
in on the action.
