A healthy lifestyle isn’t just about eating lots of vegetables and intense workout sessions, it’s about looking after your mind and your body. We’re all very unique so it doesn’t seem right to assume that one thing will work for us all. Some people prefer gentle exercises and stretches, whereas others prefer going to the gym. But being healthier doesn’t just start with exercising more and improving your diet, it’s about becoming more attune with your body and your needs. Here are some proven ways to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Adding essential oils 

Many essential oils can greatly improve your wellbeing. Scents like lavender, peppermint, and chamomile can improve stress, reduce anxiety, and they can even relieve headaches. You can use essential oils by adding a few drops  to your bath water or diffuser or you can choose to put it directly on your skin. You only need a very little amount each time so be careful not to overdo it. It’s a very affordable and natural method of reducing anxiety, stress, and pain, so it’s worth trying it out to see if it makes a difference. Even a small difference is a step in the right direction. 

Spending 2 hours outside a week

Getting outside and breathing in fresh air has been widely recognised as one of the best ways to improve both mental health and physical health. Research suggests that getting outside for just 2 hours a week is the key to good health. We’re not meant to be confined to our houses, not really, we all desire to be out exploring and seeking the benefits of nature. 120 minutes is the bare minimum that we should be aiming for in order to reap the benefits. When possible, we should get outside as often as we can for a healthier lifestyle.

Become a volunteer

Perhaps you’d rather not go to the gym or take up a new sport and that’s completely understandable. Volunteering might be a much more appealing option to you and the best part is that you can decide the frequency. If you can only spare an hour or two a week then that’s more than enough. Volunteering can greatly improve anxiety as you’ll often get the chance to talk to others and learn new things that you wouldn’t have considered before. It’s a way of getting more active, as some volunteering includes physical work, as well as keeping your mind occupied. 

Soaking in a bath

As mentioned above, taking a bath can be incredibly relaxing for your mind and body, but you don’t necessarily need essential oils to help with that. If you don’t have much time to spare, even a 10 minute bath can lead to a boost in energy and a decrease in stress. This is because submerging in water helps to increase blood flow and can help relieve some tension and pain in the body. Not everyone has a bath, though. If that’s not the case then you could take some essential oils into the shower with you and rub some on your skin to help you to relax. Once or twice a week it wouldn’t hurt to spend a longer time in the shower and use that time to relax and remove some of those bad thoughts. Swimming is another good option as it’s a really good way of using all of your muscles without doing an intense workout and it benefits your mental health. 

Written by,

Coralle Skye