Cover Improve your health with these simple habits. Photo: Unsplash

Use the opportunity during this lockdown to take your health seriously

We’ve all been there. Perhaps it’s triggered by a few too many hangovers throughout the month, or a minor health scare from a family member—there comes a time when all of us pause and wonder if this is the moment when we should start making our health a priority. 

See also: The #SelfCare Edit: 8 Beauty Picks To Try During Lockdown

Better health doesn’t come overnight, and we all know it’s easier said than done when it comes to changing old habits. Whether you’re looking to slowly incorporate one or two new habits to begin your health journey, or if you’re on a transformation journey to completely reboot your life, we list out six science-backed habits that’ll help improve your mental and physical health. 

Read books daily

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Time needed: 15 to 30 minutes daily 

When was the last time you were fully immersed in a book? Reading has shown to help strengthen your brain, prevent cognitive decline and reduce stress, according to research. 

In a study on the short and long-term effects of novel reading, significant increases in connectivity were found in the story comprehension and perspective-taking regions of the brain. 

Short on time? Reading for just 15 to 30 minutes a day could help your brain form cognitive maps as it learns, which in turn keeps your brain sharp, according to neuroscientist Dr. Kristen Willeumier on the mindbodygreen podcast.

See also: Lockdown Reads: The Best New Books In June & July 2021

Exercise for general well-being

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Time needed: Three 30 minute exercise sessions weekly

Physical activity not only helps us burn off extra calories, but also helps reduce our risk of major illnesses and improve our mental health. 

Aerobic exercises such as running, walking and dancing have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression by raising self-esteem and cognitive function. All you need is 30 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week to feel the many benefits of exercise—from improving your sleep, increasing endurance, lower stress, reduce blood pressure and many more, according to a study on exercise for mental health.

See also: How To Create Your Own Workout Space At Home

Meditate ten minutes a day

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Time needed: A minimum of 10 minutes a day

Meditation, the art of training your mind to stay focused on the present may sound easy. After all, it’s as simple as closing your eyes and sitting still—how hard could that be, right? Those who have tried it, however, will tell you it’s a lot harder than it seems. 

Despite its challenges, meditation is a science-backed practice that’ll help improve both your physical and mental health. In one eight-week study, mindfulness meditation helped reduce participants’ stress-induced inflammation response, while another study found that the practice helps decrease anxiety levels. Meditation is also found to lengthen attention span, fight memory loss, improve sleep, and even reduce pain levels. 

Related: How To Meditate Daily & Observe Mindfulness, As Told By Psychotherapist Lena Franklin

Stretch regularly

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Time needed: 10 minutes per session, three to five sessions a week

Stretching improves your flexibility, which helps you maintain a range of motion in the joints, according to Harvard. When muscles become tight due to long days of sitting at your desk, stretching or other flexibility exercises such as yoga and tai chi will help keep your muscles and joints happy. For the best results, spend around a minute on each stretching exercise and hold each stretch for 15 seconds, four times per stretch. 

Related: Fitness Gurus Siu Lim, Hansen Lee & Sandra Woo On Staying Active And Healthy At Home

Drink enough water

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Amount needed: Four to six cups a day 

We’ve all heard that we should drink around eight glasses of water a day, but why exactly is staying hydrated so important to our overall health? 

In a 2011 study on water, hydration and health, researchers found that one’s hydration status for sweat production is crucial to the body’s process of temperature control. The effects of dehydration also affect one’s physical performance and cognitive performance such as disrupting mood, impairing short-term memory, concentration and more. 

Maintain good emotional health

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Being healthy is more than just the physical. Maintaining good mental health is every bit as important as keeping our body strong and healthy. According to studies, emotional distress can make us more susceptible to physical illness, infections and cardiovascular diseases. Having poor emotional health may also lead you to adopt unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking and consuming high-fat foods, which may impair your physical health in the long run.

To maintain good emotional health, having a regular self-care practice, practising emotional regulation, exercising, getting enough sleep and having a strong support system are just a few ways of strengthening your emotional health. 

Related: Mental Health In A Pandemic: 4 Things You Should Remember

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