The 5 Fastest Ways to Improve Your Health Right Now

Just about every person on the planet today would love to improve their health if possible. It’s rare to find anyone who feels absolutely perfect in every way, 100 percent of the time. Even the healthiest individuals have things about themselves that they’d like to improve. The problem with getting healthier, though, is that it’s a very non-specific goal. Without some actionable advice, how can you even tell what you need to change in order to improve your health and feel better?

One of the best ways to improve your health is always by listening to your doctor. No one knows your wellness situation better than your doctor, and no one is better positioned to offer personalized advice. If you don’t currently have a personal physician or are simply trying to manage your health goals on your own, though, this article will provide some advice that can help. These actionable tips can apply to almost anyone, and they represent the fastest ways for you to improve your health right now.

Quit Smoking

If you’re a smoker, you probably don’t need to visit a health website to learn that quitting is the fastest way to improve your health. Even if you’ve already heard this a million times before, though, it can’t hurt to hear it once more – almost everyone who spends their life smoking ends up dying prematurely because of it.

You might be aware that vaping exists as an alternative for adult smokers who can’t or don’t want to quit using nicotine. Because vaping has been around for well over a decade at this point, it’s even possible that you’ve tried it once or twice in the past but didn’t stick with it because you didn’t find it as satisfying as smoking. What you should know, though, is that today’s vaping products deliver nicotine more efficiently than ever and are now just as satisfying as cigarettes – something that definitely wasn’t true several years ago.

So, if you tried vaping before and couldn’t switch successfully, it’s time to give it a second shot. Visit a local or online vape shop and check out their selection. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what a modern vaping product can do.

Increase Your Activity Level

If you asked a bunch of random people what they’d most like to improve about themselves, it’s likely that the vast majority of them would say they’d like to lose weight. Although a number of prescription medications have recently hit the market that promise to make it easier for people with serious health issues to reach that goal, the fact is that losing weight really isn’t as hard as it seems if you have no underlying health problems. All that you really need to do is find some easy ways to become more active. If you’re overweight, you’ll find that you can lose the first few pounds very quickly if you just look for a few ways to increase your activity level. Once you’ve experienced that initial success, you’ll find it easier to commit to a more serious workout program. Here are a few easy ideas to help yourself get started.

• Instead of using the elevator when going to your office or apartment, take the stairs.
• When you do the shopping or run other errands, park at the far side of the lot.
• Take your dog for a walk or toss a ball around with your kids when you get home from work.
• Go to a local park with your family during the weekend instead of watching TV.
  
  

Eat More Whole Foods

One of the problems with today’s high-pressure work environments is that you probably feel exhausted almost every day when you come home from work. Because you’re tired, you don’t feel like cooking. Instead of making your own dinner, you grab a heat-and-eat meal at the supermarket or bring home a take-out dinner from a local restaurant. The problem, though, is that studies have established a strong correlation between ultra-processed foods and cancer along with poor health in general.

Clean eating doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds. Instead of relying on take-out food, try cooking your meals in larger batches and freezing the leftovers to reheat on days when you don’t feel like cooking. To make things easier, many supermarkets are now carrying pre-washed and pre-cut vegetables that you can simply remove from the package and throw into a pan. Consider supplementing your efforts with a meal delivery service that uses whole foods and clean ingredients.

Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption

Are you the type of person who loves to grab a six-pack on your way home from work on Fridays – and maybe other days as well – before settling in for a long evening in front of the TV? There’s nothing wrong with alcohol consumption in moderation, but you’re really not doing yourself any favors if you overconsume because long-term heavy alcohol use can lead to a variety of health problems such as high blood pressure, cancer, dementia and alcohol dependence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moderate drinking is defined as one drink per day if you’re female and two drinks per day if you’re male, on the days when you do drink. If you’re female and have eight drinks per week – or you’re male and have 15 drinks per week – you are considered a heavy drinker and should make an effort to reduce your consumption.

Lower Your Stress Level

Chronic stress is one of the most serious long-term health issues that you can experience, and it’s linked to a variety of problems such as heart disease, sleep problems, mental issues, depression, chronic pain and more. Unfortunately, stress can also be a difficult issue to combat because the source may be something that’s out of your control. If you’re having financial issues right now or are going through a difficult period at work, it’s not easy to simply wave those things away. Instead, you’ll need to find a way to maintain a clear head and a healthy approach until life returns to normalcy.

Increasing your activity level – something we’ve already discussed in this guide – is a great way to help your body handle a high-stress period. You should also consider trying meditation. Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, you can find a variety of free meditation apps on your phone’s app store. The app will walk you through a brief meditation session, and soon, you’ll be able to do it on your own. Setting aside a few minutes each day for a moment of mindfulness and rest can do wonders for lowering your stress level.