The holidays are upon us, and there’s no better way to get a fresh, healthy boost than to focus on your health. Many of us get so focused on work or daily tasks that we lose track of what we put into our bodies. We forget the importance of taking care of what sustains us and allow us doing the things we love. How you treat your body now determine not only your quality of life, but your life span as well. You could benefit your body and your lifestyle by taking small steps to improve your health. You will feel like a new woman in less than a month if you follow even half of these 10 improvements for your health.

1. Eat Breakfast

We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast benefits your body in many ways. It gets your metabolism going, which are the breakdown of complex substances like carbohydrates and the production of energy. It also gives your brain what it needs to perform at its best. Eating a hardy breakfast could help you shed some pounds, considering breakfast foods tend to be healthier and lighter than other meals, and it will help you not overeat throughout the day. Don’t use excuses; eat breakfast!

2. Drink More Water

Why is water so important? Your body depends on water. It flushes toxins out of your body. A lack of water could lead to dehydration, and if you’re a big caffeine consumer, then you especially need water to flush that caffeine through your body. An average person needs eight to nine cups a day. However, every person is different, and depending on weight, age, amount of exercise and even altitude level, every person needs a different amount of water daily. A good way to always be consuming water is to always have a bottle in your bag and refill it several times a day.

3. Exercise Regularly

Making exercise part of your weekly routine is a struggle for many people. The key is to make fitness a priority; let it become a habit or even a hobby. Working out doesn’t have to be a drag; do something you enjoy. If you like to run, bike or swim, then train for a race. Inexpensive gym memberships are not hard to find these days, and paying for one might give you more motivation to go. If you are able to, the best way to challenge yourself and make you accountable is to hire a trainer. Personal trainers develop workouts specific to your needs, depending on what kind of results you want. Pilates and Yoga are also great ways to condition your body. These types of conditioning are relaxing and work core muscles you didn’t even know existed. Ginger Hedrick, Pilates instructor and owner of Pilates of West County in St. Louis, MO., encourages Pilates for all ages. “The great thing about Pilates is that it’s extremely efficient because it’s all-encompassing.” Her advice for working out is to “Be consistent and make it count.”

4. Load Up On Fruits and Veggies

It is no secret that fruits and vegetables are the best, natural foods to eat. The problem is that people don’t get enough of them. Adding lettuce and tomato to your Subway sandwich doesn’t mean you’ve had your daily dose. The recommended number of daily servings according to health.gov is two servings of fruits and at least three servings of vegetables. An easy way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet is to make them your snack foods. Some good and healthy snack ideas are: pepper slices, an apple with peanut butter, carrots, lunchmeat, granola etc. Also, when you have the option, choose a fruit or vegetable for your side when eating out. If you don’t like the taste of vegetables, the best way to get that nutrition is with a natural supplement. Making fruits and vegetables a priority in your diet will also improve your digestion, not making you feel bloated and heavy like unnatural, processed foods do.

5. Try to Stay Away From Processed Foods – Choose Whole Grains

The more natural foods you eat, the better you will feel. This is because processed foods eliminate the nutrients natural foods have, so they’re not sustaining which makes you hungrier faster. Simply put, processed foods are anything frozen and/or boxed. These days it’s nearly impossible to fully stay away from all processed foods; however, making the effort to look at food labels could really benefit your health. Look for foods that are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and low in sodium, calories and fat content. Also, look at the serving size. Don’t be fooled; a bag of chips usually contains multiple servings, so when you snack, know how many servings you are consuming. And if you often eat fast food, then you’re most likely not getting the essential nutrients your body needs. Be a good girl and feed your body well!

Speaking of processed foods – that is exactly what white or non-whole grain breads are. As they are processed, the nutrients are stripped away. Choosing whole grain every chance you can is one of the best things you can do for your body. Whole grain foods not only help you stay full longer, but also helps digestion as well as decrease the risk of many cancers. Plus, whole grain tastes better.

6. Don’t Eat Two Hours Before Bed

It’s true; nighttime eating is not a good thing. For starters, your body needs a good two hours to fully digest food before you lie down. Eating close to bedtime will only encourage not eating breakfast, and usually people are snacking on unhealthy foods late at night. Unhealthy eating before bedtime will make you feel bloated when you wake up, and if it becomes a habit, it could lead to weight gain. After a long night out it’s hard to fight that 2 a.m. craving, but instead of ordering a pizza, snack on an apple. Hot tea and yogurt are also good fillers before bedtime. Don’t go to bed starving, but be aware of what you eat and the amount you eat late at night.

7. Take a Multivitamin

There are many benefits in taking a multivitamin, if you are consistent. Multivitamins improve your physical and mental functioning. They can also reduce stress, increase your energy level and in the long run, reduce the risk for certain diseases. The search for a good multivitamin doesn’t have to be complicated. Do your research and choose one that has all the vitamins and nutrients you need. The best way to go is with an all-natural vitamin. Ask your friends what they use, and next time you’re at the doctor, ask him or her which one is best for you.

8. Kiss Smoking Goodbye

If you are not a smoker, good for you; never start. But if you are a smoker, eliminating that bad habit would be the best thing you can do for your health. Whether you smoke a pack a day, or are just a social smoker, you put yourself at risk for lung cancer, heart disease and a slew of other diseases. Hundreds of thousands of people die every year in the United States due to tobacco consumption. Also, women who smoke put themselves at risk for certain pregnancy problems. Not to mention, secondhand smoke can cause others to develop the same problems as smokers. So, do yourself and others a favor and quit!

9.  Sleep Sleep Sleep!

Yes, it’s the things many of us are foreign to. Getting plenty, not just the bare minimum to function, sleep is so important. An adult needs at minimum eight hours of sleep for the body and brain to function optimally. Don’t you want to perform your best in whatever you do?  I find that when I don’t get enough sleep, my mood and lack of energy affects the people around me. If you have trouble sleeping, seek change. Invest in a new mattress or pillow, listen to soothing music or read before you go to bed. Eating, drinking caffeine and exercising before bed will not help because it produces energy, which keeps you up. So, schedule time for sleep. It’s worth it.

10.  Make Time For The Things You Love

Being healthy isn’t just about eating right and staying fit. Your mindset, attitude, confidence and general outlook on life is what makes you who you are. Therefore, it is very important to prioritize the things you love. Don’t punish yourself by spending all your time at work and putting your favorite hobbies at the bottom of the list. Make time and budget for them. If you love sports, then buy season tickets. If you like to vacation, then go spend a week on the beach every year. Most importantly, surround yourself with family and friends. Studies show that people are generally happier when they spend quality time with family and friends. Don’t make holidays the only time you get to see your family. If you surround yourself with people that care about you, then you will feel loved and secure, and everybody needs that. Indulge in things you love and let them make you happy.

Being healthy sets you up for success. A healthy lifestyle gives you energy to perform best at whatever you do, and gives you a positive outlook on life. Give yourself confidence by taking ownership of your body. You will not regret taking steps to developing a healthier lifestyle. Not only will your body benefit from the steps you choose to take, but also your personal well-being and others will notice it.  Whether you take one step at a time or dive into all 10, you will feel energized, confident and most likely be a happier woman. So, take the initiative to improve your health and live a better life.

Leslie Herring is a student at the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying journalism writing as well as health and exercise science. In addition to campus involvement and extracurricular activities, she is working towards a career in magazines.

Photo credit © Yuri Arcurs | Dreamstime.com

Tags: diet, food, health, life, Self-awareness, Women