Focusing on fitness seems to be on everyone’s to-do list these days. But jumping on the exercise bandwagon without working on all aspects of your health can backfire. Get it right with the 5 basic fitness goals everyone should have.
1. Eat right
You might have heard the saying, “you are what you eat”. If this is true what are you? Our bodies need the right nutrition to function and maintain itself. By feeding it junk and an excess of everything like sugar, sodium, and fat, we will inevitably feel the effects sooner or later. If we eat right however, there are multiple health benefits such as better heart health, stronger bones, and more. This is why everyone should have this fitness goal. Make sure you’re eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and cutting back on those chips and sweets. Here’s a general guide on eating clean.
2. Exercise regularly
This is what most people think when someone says fitness. However, it is only a part of the equation to good health. Make sure you exercise regularly to reap all the benefits. It would be good to change up your routine every now and then to ensure you work out all parts of your body, avoid boredom, and consistently challenge yourself. If you’re new to exercising, check out these tips to ensure you don’t just start, but also stick to it.
3. Hydrate
Our bodies need water for so many things. According to an article from the Harvard School of Public Health, drinking water prevents infections and keeps organs functioning properly, among others. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood. With this, it is imperative that we drink enough water to sustain our daily activities. While we were told to drink 8 glasses of water when we were young, there isn’t really one-size rule for everyone. So one way of checking if you’re drinking enough is to check the color of your urine. If it’s too yellow, you might need to drink more.
If it’s difficult for you to drink water throughout the day, give these tips a try:
- have a glass or bottle of water by your side
- set alarms to drink water throughout the day
- add fruit slices like lemon or cucumber to your drink to add taste
- drink tea
- eat water-rich food
- try these apps to keep you hydrated
4. Sleep well
Sleeping repairs our bodies and restores our energy for the next day. Getting enough shut-eye contributes not only to our physical health but to our mental and emotional well-being as well. According to this article from health.com, there are studies that show that it can improve memory and spur creativity as well.
Although people say sleep is “for the weak”, not getting enough can damage not only our bodies, but also our moods, productivity, and our relationships in the long run. This makes getting enough sleep one of the basic fitness goals we all should have.
5. Make time for self-care
If sleep repairs and relaxes our physical bodies, self-care restores our minds and soul. It allows us to focus on something that doesn’t have to result in money or something tangible. Instead, it is something we do simply because we enjoy it. It is the act itself that makes us happy. While it can be extremely simple, such as reading a good book or drinking tea, the outcome is that we are re-energized, refreshed, and all the more happier for giving ourselves the luxury of me-time.
Related:
Self-Care Red Flags: 10 Signs You Need To Relax
11 Ways To Create A Relaxing Evening Routine For Quality Rest
If you have these 5 basic fitness goals and try to keep and make them lifelong habits, your fitness journey is sure to be a good and holistic one.
