Want to prioritize your health but don’t know where to start? These are 5 tested and approved steps you can take to better your health and well-being daily. 
Starting your health journey can feel a bit overwhelming and confusing, especially when so much conflicting information exists. If you’re anything like me, at the beginning of your journey you’ve probably done a lot of research on where you should start. As someone who’s been in your shoes before and has tried it all, I am giving you the best steps to take to prioritize your health and set yourself on the right path toward your health goals with confidence.
Taking the first step towards wanting to make your health a priority is huge! You will learn about the best steps to prioritize your health and well-being that can easily be incorporated into your daily life.
Therefore, after learning these steps, you will feel more confident and prepared for your health journey!
This post is all about how to prioritize your health in 5 easy steps that everyone interested in bettering their health should know about.
Best ways to prioritize your health
Why is it important to prioritize your health?
Your health is essential, and taking steps to be healthier should be a part of your overall lifestyle! Although this may seem like a no-brainer to some, we all should be taking steps to better our health, especially considering the unfortunate truth that around 60 percent of Americans are living with at least one lifestyle disease. Did you know that prioritizing your health can prevent or reverse some of these diseases through proper lifestyle changes? One of my favorite quotes is “The first wealth is health,” by American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. I truly live and swear by this quote. We should prioritize our health to prevent disease, improve our quality of life, and feel the best we can in our bodies physically, mentally, and spiritually. I don’t know about you, but I want to live a life of optimal health and well-being. Now, let’s get into the steps to prioritize your health. Here are five easy actions you can start today to create healthy habits.
1. Drink enough water and stay hydrated
You’ve probably heard this a million times, but drinking water is vital for our health, and most of us could be drinking more than we do! Water is the best way to stay hydrated throughout the day, whether by just drinking it or eating fruits and vegetables that contain a high percentage of water. We all know we should be drinking more water. Some common issues are remembering to drink water or simply not liking the taste. Follow these steps to ensure you are staying hydrated and keeping your body healthy.
Drink water right when you wake up in the morning
No, the water in your coffee doesn’t count. Before you go to bed, fill up a bottle of water and keep it on your bedside table to drink when you wake up. I’m not saying you need to drink a whole bottle of water upon waking, but even a few sips or a glass is a great way to start your day. You can also try warm lemon water in the morning. I like to do that as it helps aid in digestion.
Add flavor to your water
If you don’t like the taste of water, you can infuse it with fruit such as fresh berries, oranges, or lemon, as I mentioned above. Even mint and cucumber are also great options. That’s the best way to add flavor to your water instead of artificially flavored syrups that are not good for your health.
Keep a water bottle with you during the day
Keep a filtered, refillable water bottle with you throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be filtered, but when you are out and about and want to refill your water at any drinking fountain, you can be sure you’re getting the best-tasting water. I like the clearly filtered water bottle. I can fill it with water from just about anywhere. It tastes great and refreshing, and I know I’m getting good-quality water. Check it out here. Keeping a water bottle with you makes you more likely to stay hydrated. You can also set alarms for yourself to remind you to drink water throughout the day. Following these tips will help you stay hydrated, and your body will thank you!
2. Practice gratitude and mindfulness
When we start our health journey, more times than not, we are probably not thinking much of our mental health, which is just as important to focus on. Practicing gratitude for a few minutes daily will significantly improve your mental wellness. It truly makes a difference in your overall mood, and you feel better in your body. Journaling is a great and easy way to start this new habit. I will start most of my days off by just writing down a few things I’m grateful for, and I feel the difference in my mood when I don’t do this. Give this a try if you’re looking to improve your overall mental health! Sometimes, it truly is the simplest things that can make the most significant difference. Another significant component of focusing on your health, which ties in with gratitude, is slowing down and paying attention to your body through mindfulness. Mindfulness allows you to focus on being aware of what you’re feeling and sensing in the present moment. We gain clarity by slowing down and listening to our body’s needs. Practicing being more mindful throughout your day will be a game-changer for your health.
3. Eat more nourishing meals
What we eat directly impacts our health and how we feel daily. We all know how important our diet is for our health and well-being. You can tell how you feel more energized and satiated after eating a nourishing meal with whole foods and quality protein vs. eating food from a fast food restaurant with low-quality ingredients and poor nutritional value. Sticking to a healthy diet can be the most challenging part of starting your healthy lifestyle. As I mentioned earlier in this post, there is so much conflicting information about living a healthy lifestyle, especially regarding what you should eat. There are so many fad diets out there, but when it comes to our diet and what we should eat for our health and to achieve our goals, it is much simpler than we think. The most significant change I saw in my health was when I stopped counting calories obsessively and started listening to my body for what nutrients it needed. And that was more whole foods and high-quality protein instead of just eating based on calorie intake. If I could go back to the beginning of my health journey, that is one of the things I would do differently.
Incorporate more whole foods into your diet
The most straightforward way to start eating healthier is to incorporate more whole foods into your meals. Whole foods include fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains such as brown rice, and quality protein from fish, steak, chicken, etc. You want to limit your intake of ultra-processed foods and snacks. As you add more of these whole foods into your diet, your taste buds and cravings will change, and you won’t eat as much processed food anymore. If you have difficulty eating fruits and vegetables or don’t like many, try to incorporate the ones you like into your meals. You can start with small changes such as eating some fruit with your breakfast, including a vegetable with your lunch or dinner, and a whole grain. These small changes will make a significant difference in your health.
4. Get daily movement
Moving your body has countless benefits, from improved heart and brain health, mood and energy, strong bones and muscles, and much more! Being physically active is an essential aspect of our health. The easiest way to ensure you are active daily is to find a physical activity you love that makes you feel great and that you could easily incorporate into your daily routine. It can be as simple as taking a short walk around your neighborhood. I can consistently do that, which improves my overall health, energy, and mood. Think about how you can stay physically active each day; even if it’s just ten minutes a day, you will notice a difference in how you feel.
5. Get quality sleep
Last but certainly not least is getting good quality sleep! We should aim for seven to nine hours of rest each night. Sleep can be challenging for some due to insomnia or other sleep disorders. I am not an expert, but I have found a few things that have greatly improved my sleep quality, which you can try if you haven’t already.
Sleep with a weighted blanket
A weighted blanket can help improve your sleep quality. It provides you with comfort and security, calms your nervous system, and can help ease anxiety, depression, and more. Once I get under my weighted blanket, I feel more at ease and relaxed. I fall asleep much quicker when using it and rest deeply most nights. I got my weighted blanket from Amazon here. You can determine which blanket weight and size is best for you based on your weight and bed size. There is a guide in the description to help you.
Sleep in a cool room
Sleeping in a cool room (not freezing) allows you to sleep more comfortably. It may help your insomnia by lowering your body temperature and blood pressure, allowing you to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.
This post was all about how to prioritize your health in easy steps to ensure you feel as prepared as possible for your health journey.
