Take control of your wellness with lifestyle changes

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Any decision or activity you take that has a modest or even significant impact on your life is considered part of your lifestyle. Your attitude and ideals are reflected in your decisions and behaviours.

Changes to your lifestyle can mean that you can finally take real control of your wellness and move forward in your life in a positive way. Read on to find out what some of these lifestyle changes are and how you can make the necessary – and important – changes.

Go to the Doctor when you need to
​Are you one of those people who avoids seeing a doctor when they notice a strange bump, lump, or rash? Do you wait until you're so sick you can barely move before scheduling a doctor's appointment and then wait months before scheduling regular screenings or tests?

Make a promise to yourself this year that you will go to the doctor when necessary. Don't waste weeks googling your symptoms and getting terrible diagnoses that make you feel even worse, and don't keep showing up to work sneezing all over the place when you should have gotten a medical certificate and stayed home. When you're sick, see a doctor, get better, and get on with your life. 

In fact, make a promise to yourself that you will make all the important appointments you need to, whether it's for your health, your finances, or you need to speak to Carbon Law Partners for any legal help. Getting things done and not worrying about them means less stress and more progress. 

Eat more fruit and vegetables 
We know it's not the most exciting goal to have, but eating more fruits and vegetables could change your life. Fruits and vegetables contain a variety of nutrients that are important for our health, as well as fiber to keep your digestive system happy. However, most people do not consume nearly enough fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, which is why they are not as healthy as they could be, and their wellness always needs some help.

Most adults should eat five to six servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day, but if you're not getting that much, start with one extra serving per day and work your way up. Snack on a piece of fruit or a vegetable, or find a way to incorporate vegetables into your breakfast, for example. It will become a lot easier that way rather than trying to add it all to your dinner and finding it's too much. 

Take ten minutes
Although ten minutes is a small portion of your day (only 0.7 percent of your 24 hours, in fact), scheduling ten minutes of 'you time' each day can have numerous health benefits.

We all have mental health issues, just as we all have physical health issues. Taking a few minutes each day to relax your mind can improve your resilience and reduce stress, which is good for your entire body. You could try mindfulness or meditation techniques, do something creative like drawing or playing music, or simply sit quietly with a cup of tea; there is no one right way to care for your mental health.

Prioritise sleep
Sleep can sometimes be overlooked in a world of constant communication, long work days, and hectic schedules. Sleep, however, should be a priority; not only will feeling rested help you complete everything you have to do, whether it relates to your work, your family, or your life in general, but getting enough sleep is associated with numerous health benefits such as less stress, a lower risk of heart disease, and a better functioning immune system. Everyone is different, but adults should aim for eight hours of sleep per night on average.