August is National Wellness
Month, a month to remind all of us to focus on self-care, manage our stress,
and develop healthy routines. While that might seem easier said than done,
there are steps everyone can take to make progress towards those goals. Here
are 7 of the best wellness tips to get us started on our self-care journeys.
1. Positive Attitude
Cultivate a positive attitude. It is so easy to dwell on
negative events or thoughts, but we always have a choice. Developing habits
that fuel a positive mindset can help us default to the positive in negative
situations. According to the Mayo Clinic, some ways you can help yourself focus
on the positive are identifying areas you want to change, checking in with
yourself throughout the day to reframe your negative thinking, being open to
humor, following a healthy lifestyle, surrounding yourself with positive
people, and practicing positive self-talk. For more on this topic, check
out this article.
2. Move
Whether you take a walk or take a kickboxing class, moving
your body and elevating your heartrate for 30 minutes most days of the week is
good for your body and mind. Recent studies show that aerobic exercise benefits
not only your heart, lungs, and body, but it also can help prevent memory loss
and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s in some patients. More
information about the power of exercise is available here.
3. Eat your Fruits and Vegetables.
Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are good for us,
but the myriad benefits they provide make them a must-have at every meal. From
fiber to antioxidants that help prevent cancer, every fruit and vegetable
possesses some superpower to keep us healthy. Some of the super foods that give
us the most health benefits are avocados, broccoli, garlic, onions, dark leafy
greens, citrus fruits, and, of course, berries, especially Aronia berries. Superberries
Aronia berry products provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that benefit
your whole body. Learn
more about the health benefits of Aronia berries here.
4. Drink some Coffee or Tea.
Coffee contains antioxidants and is linked to reduced risk
of Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other diseases. The optimal
amount of coffee to drink is 3-4 cups, which is really only 18-24 ounces, since
a cup of coffee measures 6 ounces rather than the standard 8. Different types
of tea provide different health benefits, but studies show tea can reduce our
risk of heart disease and cancer, fight inflammation, and boost our immune
systems. Read
more about the benefits of different teas here.
5. Prioritize your Mental Health
Though mental health is complex, there are some simple ways
to get started focusing on improving yourself. Taking an inventory of the
events and responsibilities that cause you stress is an important first step. Practicing
setting boundaries with your time and talent and learning to say no when you
want to say no are difficult but necessary. Talking to trusted friends about
your worries and fears is also helpful. Though it might seem scary at first,
talking to a therapist is a great way to find the help you need. Finally, our
mental health can experience a boost when we improve our physical health, so doing
even ten minutes of aerobic exercise a day can really help.
6. Prioritize Sleep
Adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Young
people need more. If you’ve been running on too little sleep for too long, you
might not believe how well you can feel with adequate sleep. Setting a boundary
for yourself and others around a consistent bedtime could be lifechanging for
you. If you experience environmental distractions, blackout curtains, a white
noise machine, or earplugs could help you sleep better. This
article includes more ideas about how to improve your sleep habits.
7. Hydrate
The value of proper hydration cannot be overstated. Experts
recommend that women drink at least 11 cups (or 88 ounces) and men drink 14
cups (or 112 ounces) each day and more if engaging in activities that make you
sweat. We need adequate water to fuel every system in our bodies from our
digestive tracts to our immune systems. Carrying around a water bottle and
meeting your hydration goals can help you feel better. Read
this article to learn more about the health benefits of proper hydration.
With back-to-school right around the corner, picking one
area of wellness to focus on is an excellent way to set your children and your
whole family up for a successful year. Adding Superberries Aronia berry products
to your diet is an easy way to increase your healthy fruit intake. They contain
nutrients and antioxidants to benefit most of our body systems and they are
delicious. Super berries Aronia berry products will help you kick start your
wellness journey.
