Are you looking for ways to maintain your wellness without disrupting your daily routine? Here are seven simple health strategies to help you create a healthier lifestyle.

How do you incorporate healthy lifestyle practices when you have a busy schedule? For millions of Americans, finding ways to boost their physical and mental health can be stressful, time-consuming, or expensive. The key is to look for resources that will help you maintain your wellness without it disrupting your routines too much. 

Surprising Health Strategies to Create Healthier Habits

Whether you want to overhaul your sleeping habits, change your diet, or just focus on feeling calmer both at work and at home, there are lots of good places to start. Here at The Trapp Haus, we encourage you to think about a few health goals you’d like to set and consider taking these steps when you’re ready to make some changes.

Consider changing your career

If your job often leaves you feeling stressed or unfulfilled, it may be time for a change. Whether you want to look for a better position with a similar company or switch fields altogether, there are several options that are made easier with technology. For instance, you can enroll in a degree program in nursing education, nursing leadership, and management, nursing informatics, or health leadership and administration and pursue a master’s degree online from the comfort of your own home, on your own time. This is a great way to build your skill set and take on a career that allows you to help your community.

Get active by walking more every day

Whether your job is the source of most of your stress or you just want to fit more activity into your day, walking is a great healthy habit that can prevent issues such as heart disease while boosting your energy levels. Because it’s low-impact, walking is an easy workout that can be done just about anywhere, so fitting it into your daily schedule is often as simple as taking the stairs, parking further from the door, picking up your food rather than having it delivered, or walking down to your coworker’s office rather than messaging them. 

You can also start going for daily morning or evening walks, which, as Healthline points out, will do double health duty by giving you a beneficial dose of sunshine. If you don’t live in a pedestrian-friendly area, look for a neighborhood with a high walk score to get on your daily stroll. 

Make some changes to your diet

Getting more active with a walking routine is a great way to focus on your physical health, but it’s important not to forget how much your diet impacts your overall well-being. The things you eat and drink can affect your energy levels, your ability to get good rest, your mood, and even your ability to fight off disease. 

Think about what you typically eat in an average week and look for ways to make small, healthy changes. You might replace refined sugars–such as white rice and pasta–for whole grains, or trade soda for carbonated, flavored water. Starting small will help you maintain these healthy changes over time.

Unplug from tech

Of course, your mental health is just as important as your physical wellness. Most of us spend a lot of time online these days, whether it’s on the work computer or a smartphone. If you find yourself reaching for your phone to scroll through social media as soon as you have a free moment, consider looking for something else to fill your time. 

Pick up a relaxing activity such as crocheting, or keep puzzle books at your desk that will boost your cognitive skills. Head to the library and check out a few books, setting reading goals for yourself for the next few months. Unplugging completely may not be feasible, but you can certainly reduce the amount of time you spend online, and you might be surprised at the results.

Get a better quality of sleep

Unplugging now and then can improve your sleep quality, but there are other things you can do to get better rest. Is your bedroom too warm at night? Does your mattress feel lumpy and bumpy? Do you fall asleep with the television on? All of these things can contribute to your ability to get a solid night’s sleep, but they’re easy fixes. Everyday Health advises putting away all devices, including the TV, at least an hour before bedtime. Cool down your bedroom and use soft cotton bedding that’s not too hot. Invest in a new mattress if necessary, or add a foam topper for comfort.

Reconsider your health insurance

Good health insurance is a critical piece of the wellness puzzle for any person or family. It’s important to research different plans and compare coverage levels so that you can make an informed choice when selecting one that best fits your needs. 

Having good health insurance gives you peace of mind and added freedom to live life without worries about the huge cost associated with medical care; it protects your wallet while promoting a healthy lifestyle. If you’re not able to access health insurance through your job (e.g., you’re self-employed), you can explore insurance options through the Affordable Care Act or Freelancers Union.

Stay hydrated

A lack of good rest isn’t the only negative habit many Americans face every day; staying hydrated is often a challenge as we tackle a busy workday and forget to take care of ourselves, and this can lead to cognitive trouble and fatigue. You can make sure you’re drinking enough water by keeping a large, refillable water bottle with you on the go. It’s especially helpful to look for one that has measurements on the outside so you can keep track of how much you’re drinking. 

Practicing healthy habits can help you feel better and have more control over your well-being, and they don’t have to be difficult to work into your lifestyle. By taking small steps, such as walking more each day and finding the right health insurance, you can improve your mental and physical health in no time.

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About the author

Jennifer McGregor co-created Public Health Library to write about health and wellness topics. She is a pre-med student who aims to make it easier for people to find high-quality health info in one place.