If you consider yourself a lazy person, take a look at these 7 healthy living tips that will help you improve your well-being, without it feeling like a chore.
1. Get Enough Sleep
Being lazy certainly pays off when it comes to getting enough shut-eye. Research studies have found that getting enough sleep can reduce stress, boost your memory and help you live longer. While getting less than five hours sleep per night can result in weight gain, accidents and an increased risk of heart disease. Clocking up a regular eight hours sleep is an easy (and lazy) way to boost your healthy living.
2. Order Healthy Foods To Your Door
The health aisles at the supermarket can sometimes seem a little overwhelming, with so much choice it can be difficult to know where to start. If this problem is stopping your healthy eating efforts, then let someone else do the hard work for you. Many health food stores and farms offer seasonal packages and deliver them to your doorstep, making it easy to try different healthy foods from the comfort of your own home.
3. Get A Pet
Animal lovers, this one’s for you – getting a pet is a great way to improve your health. Several research studies have found that pet owners have improved mental and physical health, including lowered stress levels and blood pressure. Getting yourself a pet dog can also give you the encouragement to improve your activity levels by taking your furry friend on regular walks outside.
4. Dance
For many people, the very thought of completing an intense workout at the gym is their worst nightmare. If you have struggled to find a fitness activity that appeals to you, then try turning a night out into a workout instead. Cutting some shapes on the dancefloor is a great way to get fit, tone your body and burn calories. And the best part? Dancing the night away won’t even feel like exercise.
5. Make Ready Meals Yourself
Eating a healthy, balanced diet sounds like a great idea until you get in from a long day’s work and all of your good intentions suddenly go out of the window. But rather than reaching for shop bought ready meals which are usually full of fat, salt and sugar, you could try making your own instead. Next time you are off work, cook large batches of healthy meals and freeze them. That way you will have lots of healthy meal choices for the days when you can’t be bothered to cook.
6. Include Exercise In Your Daily Routine
One of the best health tips (and an easy way to increase your levels of physical activity) is to build exercise into your daily routine. While intense hours spent at the gym will improve your fitness, research has found that regular daily activity could be more beneficial to your health. Rather than setting aside a specific amount of time to exercise, introduce gentle bits of activity throughout your day. You could get off the bus a stop early to increase your activity levels and go for a walk on your lunch. These simple changes will make you more active and have a big impact on your fitness.
7. Exercise Your Brain
If you really can’t bring yourself to do a physical workout, schedule in some time to work out an essential muscle in your body, your brain. Your mental well-being is equally as important as your physical health – and the good news is you can work this muscle from the comfort of your own couch. According to research, frequently completing activities that stimulate your mind can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. So instead of turning on the TV, read a book, complete a Sudoku or do a crossword instead.