Wellness is a hot topic these days, but some people are a little confused with this term and often associate it to mean convoluted fad diets, crazy exercises and lots of grueling work but with a few lifestyle changes, you can improve how you feel.
Wellness is the state of enjoying good health or seeking a healthy lifestyle and actively pursuing it as a long-term goal. In other words, constantly looking for ways to stay healthy in whatever way that makes sense to them – mind, body and, well, wallet!
If you live in a city, you know how tough it can be to stay healthy, especially if you have a busy work schedule. So, how does one stay healthy, while dealing with train delays, hectic work schedules and bustling about busy streets? Check out these five easy, actionable tips and lifestyle changes that have been tried and tested to help you along on your wellness journey!
5 Useful Lifestyle Changes
Add Meditation to Your Daily Routine
Meditation has been scientifically proven to reduce cholesterol, stress, and anxiety (amongst countless other benefits), but I meditate for inner peace. It helps me stay grounded, especially when I do it first thing in the morning!
While it’s ideal for you to meditate in a quiet room, void of any noise and distraction, sometimes a little improvising can go a long way. This approach may not necessarily work for you, but I’ve been guilty of sneaking my daily ritual during my morning commute.
Yup, I go to the less densely populated area on the train, find a cozy spot, close my eyes and begin repeating my mantras silently in my mind. If I’m especially anxious that morning (aka distracted by everything), I put my headphones on and repeat them silently.
Also, I’ve heard some really positive things about the guided meditation app called Head Space, check it out and let us know what you think! Again, I’m not suggesting you do this. Just don’t let your busy schedule dictate if, when and where to meditate! Find the method that works best for you.
Get Moving with Yoga!
Yoga helps you relax, improve mental clarity and find inner peace! Much like meditation, yoga is an iterative process, where your posture, endurance, and flexibility will gradually improve over time.
That is simply beautiful, knowing that I can take my time and enjoy the process as much as the act itself is liberating! Also, it’s comforting to know that you could practice yoga in the privacy of your own home!
Drink More Water
Personally, I love water, and it’s my beverage of choice, but not everyone feels this way, and I can sympathize with those that simply don’t like the tasteless flavor of H20. Drinking more water flushes out toxins, keeps you hydrated, promotes weight loss and increases energy levels.
Here are some tips that could help pick up your water intake a notch! Try adding your citrus fruit (lemon, limes), or herbs (mint, thyme), or even fresh ginger or cucumber slices to your water. Get creative! You can also journal your water intake and make attainable goals for yourself. Mayo Clinic recommends drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, so up your intake and flush those toxins from your system. More water is an important one on the lifestyle changes list.
A Cleaner Diet
A cleaner diet means doing away with pre-packaged, highly processed food products. Usually, these items have an immense amount of sodium, sugar, and chemicals, so decreasing their consumption is best.
I’m an avid label reader, but I follow this main principle: if I can’t pronounce it or easily identify the ingredients, I simply don’t eat it! Stick to fresh, and minimally processed foods whenever possible.
Typically, I travel with fruit and trail mix in my bag when I’m on the go! Having snacks readily available helps me spend less money, and makes it easier to eat healthier. Eating healthier is a must on the lifestyle changes list — packaged goods rarely have the nutrients you need.
Go to Bed Earlier = More Sleep
I know you’ve heard this proverb “the early bird gets the worm,” well this is especially true for those that get a good night’s rest! I know when I’m well rested, I’m more productive, less stressed, more energized and my face glows! But, there are more benefits to those that throw in the towel early.
Apparently, they enjoy a stronger immune system, memory boost and feel happier! Now, sometimes life happens and getting to bed early is challenging, but I find setting the alarm one to two hours before my projected bed time, helps remind me to wrap things up earlier!
Everyone has a different lifestyle, and I know it seems contradictory to offer this advice to travelers who are always on the go or to people who live in a large urban city, but getting enough rest is vital to feeling better.
Do you have any wellness tips to share? Let’s talk in the comments below!
Contributed by Loida Otero
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
