Many factors affect the quality of life of an individual. You will spend most of your life balancing the various responsibilities, activities and people that play a role in your daily life, trying to find the right rhythms to help you get through each day.
When you think of the word “health,” there’s probably a certain set of habits that come to mind. Maybe that includes running, eating healthy, drinking more water, and having a consistent sleep schedule. Holistic health is a concept that refers to more than just physical health. It also includes other areas of wellness such as mental, emotional, spiritual and social health.
If your goal is to live a healthier lifestyle, then you need to consider all of these aspects of your health, not just the physical. Here are 5 tips to support holistic health that you can start today.
1. Fruit smoothies for breakfast
When you have a busy day ahead of you, it can be easy to get a little moody about your breakfast choices. For example, it’s much easier to fill a bowl of somewhat healthy cereal than it is to whip up a heart-healthy egg white omelet. A fruit smoothie, however, is a good mid-range option that doesn’t take long to prepare, is highly nutritious, and tastes delicious.
There are many ingredients you can include, such as frozen berries, bananas, Greek yogurt, oats, milk, orange juice, and even spinach. If you have the ingredients on hand or in the freezer, you can prepare a smoothie in minutes and take it on the go. This is a great way to start the day with lots of nutrients.
2. Plant a garden
Getting in touch with your green thumb is a great mental health exercise. Numerous studies have been conducted on the mental health benefits of gardening, and the findings are fascinating. Planting a garden can reduce stress levels, promote relaxation and provide a sense of achievement.
One of the common causes of mental health problems is doing the same thing every day and feeling like nothing gets done. Watching a garden start from seed and grow into lush colors can be a physical demonstration of your horticultural efforts. In addition, you can throw some vegetables in the garden to support a better diet.
3. Join a Sports League/Club
Sports have a way of bringing people together, both as fans and as players. They are also a convenient way to get some exercise. Joining a local sports league or club will help you meet new people, get in a workout, and tap into your competitive nature. While some may not like the idea of running or going to the gym, playing sports adds a competitive factor, making exercise more fun. Playing sports has many health benefits that extend beyond the physical, making it the perfect strategy to support holistic health.
The types of sports you can play range from gentle workouts to incredibly intense games, including ping pong, racquetball, pickleball, tennis, basketball, softball, ultimate frisbee, volleyball or soccer. This advice can benefit your mental, physical and social health.
4. Consider couples therapy
If you are in a committed relationship, then couples counseling is a tool you should take advantage of. Learning how to communicate effectively, overcome arguments, and love more actively can benefit any couple, whether they are dating or have been married for 30 years.
Part of holistic health involves developing the most important relationship in your life. Also, don’t assume that therapy is only for struggling couples. The practices you learn in counseling may come in handy years later when you face serious challenges in your relationship.
5. Start the journal
Writing down your experiences, thoughts and feelings is a great way to support mental health. It is also a useful practice if you are a spiritual and/or religious person. You can write down things you learn about your faith or just memories you made that day.
Simply expressing these thoughts can help you identify and manage your emotions. When you hit a big obstacle in life, it can be helpful to look back through your journal and see how far you’ve come and what you’re capable of achieving.
You reap what you sow
Health is like an investment strategy. Understand where you can get the most return, but you won’t get anything if you’re not willing to step up. For holistic health, this often means investing time and energy into some of these habits. Then, once you get into a rhythm, these practices will begin to improve various areas of wellness in your life, including mental health, physical fitness, emotional awareness, social acuity, and spiritual development.
The more effort you sow, the more benefits you can reap. Feel free to try a few of these ideas one at a time to see if you notice any improvements within a few weeks. Then try another if you have established a pattern with the previous strategy. In a short time, you will make several significant changes to support holistic health.
