January is Good Care Month
Good care can mean many things, its a personal experience. It can also be overwhelming if you take on too much at once. Good habits take time to create so be patient with yourself.
Let’s have a look at a few items you can do to start feeling like you’re taking good care of yourself. Some of these items seem easy, but the hard part is remembering and forming them into daily habits.
Drink Water
The number one positive thing you can do for your body is to drink water. The amount will vary depending on your activity level, climate, medical issues or are on medication etc… however a good rule of thumb is to aim for 2-3 litres a day.
Some of the many benefits of drinking water include:
- Carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells
- Flushing bacteria from your bladder
- Aiding digestion
- Preventing constipation
- Normalising blood pressure
- Stabilising the heartbeat
- Cushioning joints
- Protecting organs and tissues
- Regulating body temperature
- Maintaining electrolyte (sodium) balance.
Source – Harvard Health
Sleep
Most people know that sleep is important, but in an age where there is high expectations with working hard long hours and it’s common to think in the way of ‘ill sleep when I’m dead’ , do you realise just how important it is? The amount of sleep you need will vary from person to person however we recommend aiming for 7-8 hours sleep a night.
Work schedules, day-to-day stressors, a disruptive bedroom environment, and medical conditions can all prevent us from receiving enough sleep. Some of the many benefits of getting enough sleep include:
- Heart health
- Weight control
- Learning and memory – Sharper brain
- Improving blood sugar levels
- Boosts immune system
- Good moods and overall good mental health
- Increase exercise performance
Stretch
Stretching can improve your overall health and wellness. If it’s not currently part of your daily routine then put aside only a few minutes a day for it. Stretching keeps your muscles flexible, strong, and healthy. This maintains range of motion in your joints. Without it, your muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you use your muscles for activity, they are weak and the chances of injury greatly increase.
Flexible muscles improves your everyday function, it’s not just for athletes or fitness lovers. Everyday tasks such as lifting packages, getting our of bed, reaching to a top shelf or rushing to catch a bus become easier and less tiring when you have a good range of motion in your joints. Flexibility tends to diminish as you get older, but you can regain and maintain it with regular stretching exercises.
