A Hectic World
In today’s fast-paced world many of us face a variety of stressors, including work, family, lifestyle, and environmental stressors. Especially with small children in the picture it can seem like there just aren’t enough hours in the day! Many modern families have two working parents, which means that people are burning the candle at both ends in order to fit it all in.
As a result, our health suffers. We don’t get enough sleep, we tend to eat poorly when time is crunched, and our stress levels are through the roof.
It can seem like a big challenge to take care of yourself and stay healthy in such a hectic world, but it doesn’t have to be that way. By taking some simple, actionable steps each day, you can start to prioritise your own health while setting an example for others.
Below we’ve outlined 5 simple ways you can take care of yourself in a hectic world.
1. Get some fresh air
Sometimes the most simple things are the easiest to forget, so here’s a simple reminder: getting outside for a breath of fresh air can make a world of difference to how you feel.
The Japanese practice of “Forest bathing” brings this concept to light, and there is growing evidence that getting outside for some fresh air is good for both the body and the mind. In fact, a 2017 review paper found that spending time outside in nature can increase energy, reduce anxiety, boost the immune system, and reduce stress.
No forest nearby? No problem! Simply getting outside for a walk has been shown to have similar effects, even if it’s in the city.
2. Get some exercise
There are many benefits of exercise, including weight maintenance and heart health, but did you know that regular exercise is also effective at reducing stress and depression and also improves the mental focus.
Exercise – and physical activity in general – produces endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers. Regular exercise also improves the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults, aged 18-64, get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity throughout the week. This could look like for example going for a 30-minute walk five days per week.
3. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present, aware of what’s going on around us, and not being overly reactive or overwhelmed. Meditation is one way to practice mindfulness, but there are also several small ways you can incorporate it into your everyday life to reduce stress.
For example, mindfulness could be deciding to turn off alerts on your phone so you’re not constantly checking emails or getting social media notifications. It could be choosing a technology-free hour each day so you can be fully present with your family and/or friends. Or it could be as simple as closing your eyes for a minute of deep breathing.
4. Take an antioxidant
Supporting your body from the inside out is every bit as important as fresh air, exercise, and mindfulness, and one of the best ways to do this is by taking a daily antioxidant supplement.
Every day our bodies produce billions of free radicals as a result of normal metabolism, exercise, and also exposure to environmental toxins such as pollution. When there are too many free radicals in the body they cause cellular damage, which is referred to as oxidative stress. This can lead to illness and can also speed up the effects of aging.
This is why it’s important to ensure continuous antioxidant protection from our diet and supplements in order to support our body’s defense system. Natural Astaxanthin & Bilberry Extract by Wellness by Oriflame is a powerful antioxidant supplement designed to combat the negative effects of free radicals. It’s been shown to protect immune cells from oxidative stress, which also reduces inflammation in the body. This supplement also contains vitamins C and E to further protect cells from oxidative stress.
Did you know that Natural Astaxanthin is nature’s most powerful antioxidant?
5. Take a multivitamin and mineral
Another way to stay healthy in a hectic world is by taking a daily multivitamin supplement.
Ideally, we’d all eat a perfectly healthy and balanced diet each day, but we all know that life can get crazy sometimes and it doesn’t always happen. A high-quality multivitamin supplement such as the Multivitamin & Mineral (woman/man) by Wellness by Oriflame can help to fill the gaps and help provide optimal nutrition.
Additionally, taking a multivitamin will provide vitamins and minerals that may be beneficial to the liver and kidneys as they work to remove toxins from the body.
Stay healthy
All in all, getting some fresh air, maintaining an active lifestyle and practicing mindfulness will help to reduce your stress and keep your body and mind healthy in a hectic world. You can also support your body from the inside out with a balanced diet and the right supplements.
