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I used to prefer staying in my comfort zone, especially when it came to food and physical activity. At first, I was extremely hesitant about the idea of eating healthier meals, following a regular sleep schedule, and engaging in any kind of exercise. However, I eventually realized that these practices actually helped me feel better and function more efficiently.
Choosing to live healthy means making choices that will benefit our overall physical health and well-being. This includes eating healthy, exercising, getting enough hours of sleep, drinking plenty of water, monitoring your weight, and a lot more. This way you don't fall sick and can stay fit. Several healthy habits also improve your mental health. Exercising daily has proven to reduce anxiety, stress, depression, and a negative mood as it improves cognitive functioning. These exercises don't have to be rigorous, they can be as simple as brisk walking. Other aerobic exercises (any form of exercise that increases your heart rate and the amount of oxygen your body produces) like running, cycling, swimming, and dancing can also boost your mood and reduce the risk of mental illnesses. Along with exercising, having a nutritious diet helps you stay more attentive and have fewer mood swings. Research has even shown that eating a clean diet high in whole, unprocessed foods helps reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. On the other hand, a poor diet can worsen symptoms of mental illnesses, cause weariness, affect decision-making, and slow down reaction time. Another thing that affects your decision-making skills is a lack of sleep. Inadequate sleep can affect your ability to make decisions, solve issues, regulate your emotions and behaviour, and adjust to change. Getting at least 6 hours of sleep at night boosts your mood, helps you think more clearly, and do better at school or work.
So living a healthy life is the perfect solution to bettering both your physical and mental health. Initially, it is hard to start these habits of a healthier lifestyle, but if you break it down and focus on improving one aspect at a time, it can become easier to maintain one.