18 Simple Ways to Improve Your Health & Wellbeing Right Now

Here's a challenge: Improve Your Health and Wellbeing (right now!) and in the next 30 days by following these simple tips!

There are so many simple yet effective ways to improve your health and wellbeing. Here are some tips for those looking to feel healthier asap!

1. Devote 10 minutes to stretching each day

From a young age I learnt the importance of stretching. It was something that my primary school teachers always used to advise and encourage, and something I grew to love through practice.

Stretching is a great habit to get into because it helps to relieve pain in your muscles and joints and helps increase your flexibility.

Moreover, stretching reduces stress and gives you a surge of energy, I love that feeling of being noticeably more awake and alive after stretching.

2. Solve a puzzle/riddle

Another great way to improve your health and wellbeing is by doing a puzzle or riddle. Get your mind involved in an activity that is both exciting and challenging and you'll be helping your brain stay strong and healthy.

You'll feel at the top of your game, and if done regularly, you'll increase your intelligence remarkably and develop solid reasoning skills.

3. Eat a handful of a fruit of your choice

Improve your health by becoming more deliberate with eating your five a day. Everyday, as part of your breakfast or a snack, grab a handful of one of your favourite fruits.

Learn the habit of picking healthy fruit to incorporate with your meals. Before long you'll notice an increase in the amount of fruit and vegetables you're eating and getting your five a day will become quite normal.

Tip: keep your fruit in a place where you'll be more likely to notice it during the day to reduce the thought process involved in grabbing and enjoying that piece of fruit!

4. Wake Up a Tiny Bit Earlier So You Don't Have to Rush

Do you feel really rushed in the mornings? Do you have time to eat breakfast? One way to feel more relaxed in the mornings and reduce stress is by setting your alarm a little earlier so you have more time to get ready.

See if you can go to bed a little earlier to help achieve a balance. An extra 15-25 minutes in the morning can make such a difference, especially since mornings tend to set the pace for the rest of the day.

5. Meal Plan

Meal planning is a way to start eating better instantly, because it means you give more thought to your food choices.

Try and devote some time to planning your meals for the coming week and if possible, prepare some meals and divide them into containers.

Many people have found meal planning and prepping to be useful as well as fun. Planning your meals out will also help you save money, be more conscious about what you're putting into your body, and make you less likely to unexpectedly buy food outside.

6. Pay attention to your posture

You can also improve your health and wellbeing right now by paying attention to your posture. How are you sitting right now? Are you slouching?

Whereas poor posture can increase aches and pains as well as make breathing difficult, good posture can help you breathe better and reduces the weight on your diaphragm.

Sitting straighter and having good posture can help you digest your food better, strengthen your core, and even just make you look better!

7. Think about 3 things you are grateful for

Cultivating an attitude gratitude is a fantastic way to boost your wellbeing. And thankfully, it's something easy that we all can do. Each day, try to thing about 3 things you are grateful for.

It could be anything from getting support from a friend/family member or the opportunity of eating a tasty and refreshing meal. As you identify things you're grateful for, you'll develop a more positive outlook to live which will help you produce better results and help you sleep better at night.

8. Replace each negative thought with a positive one

Feed your mind positive thoughts, rather than negative ones. We all struggle with negative feelings about ourselves on a day-to-day basis, and a good way to take control of your well-being is to swap bad thoughts about yourself with good ones.

For every fear that enters your mind, think of a convincing reason why that fear is irrational as well how you can conquer it.

9. Walk for at least 20 minutes a day

How much do you walk? Improve your health and stamina by walking for longer periods of time and more regularly.

Try to spot ways that you could add more walking into your daily routine so that you adopt an active lifestyle rather than a sedentary one.

Walking in the fresh air will help you get fitter, improve your mental health, and help you get away from the stresses of the day and into a more peaceful environment where you can meditate.

10. Wash your hands often

Washing your hands regularly is an underemphasized way to improve your health and wellbeing.

There are so many germs and illnesses that go around, and washing your hands frequently is a great way to protect yourself from those pathogens that creep into your body when you rub your eye, or eat a quick snack (sorry, grade 12 bio making an appearance).

If it is something you feel like you're not doing enough, implementing this little tip will make a difference and you'll notice that you're not getting sick as often as usual.

11. Drink a green smoothie

Enjoying a green smoothie is a delicious way to get your fruits and vegetables in your diet. Especially vegetables which can sometimes be more difficult to eat in solid form.

Many (myself included) have found that mixing sweet fruity tastes with greens like kale is a wonderful experience.

12. Reduce your sugar intake

According to Authority Nutrition, there are many reasons to avoid sugar as if your life depended on it.

Reducing your sugar intake will certainly help to improve your wellbeing right now.

It will help lower your likelihood of becoming deficient of many important nutrients that are found in more nutritious food choices, as well as prevent you from developing addiction.

When you cut down your sugar intake you will also be doing yourself a favour by lowering your risk of sugar-related diseases such as heart disease (sugar raises bad cholesterol), obesity and diabetes.

13. Get a large water bottle and fill it up

Ok, so you've probably heard a lot about how you should drink a lot of water everyday. How are you doing with your hydration?

Drinking water regularly is a brilliant idea because it helps your skin look great, maintains the balance of bodily fluids, and can even help you control your calories.

But if you're not currently in the habit of consuming water like a camel, then you may find it difficult to drink enough of it each day.

Dah-dah: one great way to increase your water intake is by getting yourself a large hydration bottle. Have a bottle of water with you everywhere, in your bag, in the car, and on your desk at work.

Help yourself develop good hydration habits by having a water bottle that has an extra wide mouth opening (yes, it really helps you drink up).

14. Hug.

That's right - give someone a hug. Share the love. Hugging releases oxytocin, which helps you feel less stressed and more relaxed. Hugging also helps fight depression and makes you generally feel happier. Don't take my words for it though - go try it yourself, aha!

15. Include more fibre in your diet

Eating a high fibre diet can help improve your health and digestion. A high fibre diet is great for maintaining a healthy weight, protecting against heart disease and preventing constipation.

Foods like whole grains, apples, chia seeds, beans and legumes are some good food choices that are high in fibre.

Along with increasing your fibre intake, it's recommended that you increase your water intake, to help everything flow nicely in your body. It is best to introduce an increase in fibre gradually so your body is able to adjust well and to avoid stomach problems.

16. Go swimming

Joining a swimming class or swimming more regularly is a good way to improve your health and wellbeing right now.

Swimming can help you strengthen your muscles and your core.

One reason for that is because water has greater resistance than air, thus you have to work harder to move through it, and this strengthens your muscles.

At the same time, swimming is a low-impact exercise because it places less strain on the body and has a lower risk of injury than most land-based exercises.

One thing I also love about swimming is that unlike other exercises where you get hot and sweaty, you're surrounded by water that constantly cools you down.

17. Drink more tea

Tea is hydrating and contains antioxidants that can help protect against various forms of cancer. It also helps strengthens your cardiovascular health and improves your bone density.

Tea contains calcium and magnesium, which help with the development of strong bones and healthy teeth. There are so many health and wellbeing benefits that come from drinking tea!

18. Dance more.

Dancing counts as exercise! But many would say it's much more fun! Dancing is beneficial to your health and wellbeing because it can boost your energy, help you get toned, as well as help you stay young. Put on your favourite beats and free-style or join a local dance class of your choice.