While there is no quick fix for everything that ails you, there are simple strategies you can apply to your life that will boost your overall health — from head to toe and from body to soul. Simple doesn’t mean easy, of course — it just means these tips aren’t complicated. So, if you have to desire to improve your everyday health, this is the perfect place to start.
 
Carry a Water Bottle
 
Are you drinking enough water? Probably not. Investing in a nice, portable water bottle will encourage you to sip throughout the day — take it to work with you, take it in the car, and take it shopping. The benefits of proper hydration include a better immune system, better skin, improved digestion, weight control, and an energy boost. Plus, the more water you consume, the less you’ll drink unhealthy beverages like soda and super-sweet juice drinks.
 
Change Your Home’s Air Filters
 
What you breathe inside your own home has a huge influence on your body’s overall health. However, you’d be shocked at just how many people neglect one of the main acts of home air quality control: replacing old filters. According to a survey, about a quarter of Americans fail to change their filters regularly, and 11 percent don’t do it at all. New air filters help prevent dust, pet hair and dander, mold, and other pollutants from ending up in your lungs. Change your filters every three months for better health and to help your heating/cooling system live longer.
 
Stretch Out
 
Not surprisingly, exercise is great, and you should be doing at least 30 minutes of it every single day. However, you shouldn’t neglect exercise’s important cousin — stretching. You should focus on stretching at least three times a week for at least 10 to 15 minutes (every day wouldn’t hurt). Stretching improves blood flow and nutrient supply to your muscles, keeps you flexible and injury-free, and relaxes the mind as well.
 


 
Prep Yourself for Restful Sleep
 
Your body — from head to toe — and your mind need sleep to function. The better quality of sleep you get, the better everything works — it’s really that simple. So, it would behoove you to do whatever you can to ensure your night’s sleep is as restful as it can possibly be. With that in mind, try to incorporate relaxation into your nightly routine.
 

• Taking a warm bath
• Reading
• Not eating/drinking anything within two hours of bedtime
• Not looking at a screen within two hours of bedtime
• Meditation

 
Get Serious About Sun Protection
 
Nothing is more full-body, head-to-toe, and all-encompassing than your skin. We often think about how the skin on our face looks, but we don’t always consider that skin is an organ worth protecting at every turn — in the same way you think about not harming your lungs, heart, or liver, for example. It’s not just about cancer (although that’s a big part of why you should focus on sun protection); the better you care for your skin, the healthier it will remain as you age.
 
For everyday sun protection, consider wearing sunscreen (even when it’s cloudy). Many daily lotions have sunscreen in them, so buy smart. Wear hats and long-sleeve shirts during peak sun hours, and try to limit your overall exposure between the hours of 11 am and 4 pm — that’s when the sun does the most damage.
 
You don’t have to turn your life upside down to get healthy. Every little change you make toward better head-to-toe care will improve your life. Try some of these everyday health strategies to get you going. One positive change begets other positive changes.
 
Photo by Autri Taheri on Unsplash