Upgrade Your Health And Fitness Routines This Weekend

You’ve been saying you’re going to put in the effort to lead a healthier life, but procrastination has gotten the better of you. Make this weekend when you actually do it. We have plenty of resources to help.

Exercise Smarter

Exercise is something we all know we should do but tend to avoid like a rotting side of beef. It’s going to be easier for some than others, but there are things you can do to put together an exercise routine that you’ll actual follow. Even if you like exercise, there may be ways you can use your time more effectively, too.

For a lot of people, the problem comes down to a lack of resources. You probably don’t have a gym in your home and may not want to grab a gym membership either because it’s too expensive or a hassle. But you can exercise in your home without equipment. Convicts manage to do it, and you have a bigger space.

Technology can be a boon as well. Fitness tracking sites and smart phone apps can help keep you on track and motivated. They can even teach you how to exercise better and find a plan that works well for you.

Part of the problem, however, comes with sitting down all day. While some choose a standing desk, studies are finding that you just really need to move around. If you’re stuck in a chair all day and don’t get enough physical activity, try setting an alarm that gets you out of that seat every 30 minutes. Sure, this sounds a little annoying as it’s so frequent, but if you attach an activity to that standing task it won’t be so bad. Do a few push-ups and refill your water, or anything else you can think of that would make it more interesting. On the other hand, taking a quick walk — be it around the office or outside of it — is a good way to clear your head and have a minute to yourself.

Eat Healthier

Sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and many other substances are things we enjoy but aren’t necessarily so good for us — yet we still eat them. It can be hard to craft a diet that’s healthy but also enjoyable and sustainable. Going on a specialised diet is often unnecessary, however, and small but specific changes can make a big difference. This includes things like eating smaller but more frequent meals, being careful at chain and fast food restaurants by avoiding the bad stuff, paying attention to food colour as an indicator of healthy options, learn to use your microwave to cook food that’s actually not bad for you, stick to calorie-dense fruit and nuts, and knowing your healthy alternative foods.

Part of the problem is just eating out a lot. If that describes you, sometimes the best way to eat better is to simply learn to cook. We’ve suggested plenty of recipes that everyone should know how to cook (many of which are very simple), but you can always find great cooking suggestions and tips on our food tag page.

Improve Your Sleep

Eating well and staying active are some of the best ways to improve your sleep, but if you’re still not getting enough you may have a common sleep problem that can be easily diagnosed and fixed. Sometimes technology can help you sleep better, too. One of our favourite apps, for example, is Pzizz. But if you can’t sleep, maybe you just need to reduce the temperature and cool off your brain.

The problem could be — you guessed it — technology. It’s the kind of night-time stimulant that makes it harder for you to fall asleep. Or maybe you’re just completely burnt out. If that’s the case, move on to the next section and get your brain in order.

Take Care of Your Brain and Reduce Stress

You can keep your body in great shape, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot if you’re practically brain-dead. Chances are you’re just really stressed out, but there are plenty of things that can help you out. Meditation and yoga are two popular ones, but sometimes you just need to solve the problems in your life, at work, and find a balance between both. That balance should get your brain in good shape. And once your brain and body are healthy, everything should seem quite a bit brighter on the whole.


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