Throughout February, we shared valuable tips and insights to maintain healthy hearts and live healthier lives.
If you missed any of our topics, you can read about them below!
EATING SMART
Eat Smart:
Healthy eating and cooking start with smart food choices. It's about making conscious decisions about what we put into our bodies. Whether it's at the grocery store, in restaurants, at work, or any eating occasion, being mindful of our food choices can make a significant impact on our heart health.
Move More:
Alongside eating smart, let's continue to prioritize movement in our daily lives. Finding activities that we enjoy can make it easier to incorporate exercise into our routines. Remember, every step counts towards a healthier heart!
Be Well:
True health extends beyond just what we eat and how much we move. It encompasses getting enough restful sleep, practicing mindfulness, managing stress effectively, keeping both mind and body fit, and fostering social connections.
MAKING HABITS STICK
Habit Stacking
Although getting and staying healthy can feel like a big challenge, it doesn't have to be. Working small, positive steps into your daily life can help you build a healthier life routine.
But just putting them on your mental to-do list might not be enough.
Tying those positive steps to other things you already do regularly — a practice called "habit stacking," or "habit chaining " — can help turn them into ironclad habits. For instance, you could take a daily habit, like brushing your teeth, and add in a little movement, like doing five squats.
Here are a few other ideas.
You don't have to do the new habit at the same time as the current habit. You can add new habits before, during or after the original habit.
5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Well-Being at Work
Working is filled with many responsibilities. But the good news is that there are ways to prioritize your mental and physical well-being during the workday. Even small changes matter and can lead to big improvements. Here are some top tips that you can start today.
1. Stay Hydrated:
When work gets hectic, you may forget about healthy habits like drinking enough water. Use a refillable water bottle to track your intake.
Why? Drinking enough water has many benefits, including improving brain function.
2. Find Time for Lunch:
Schedule time for lunch every day. Read that again and then make it happen. If possible, eat away from your workspace so you can focus on your meal and enjoy your downtime.
Why? Good nutrition improves physical health and may help decrease stress and anxiety. A lunch break also helps you avoid getting too hungry and then overeating, or snacking mindlessly later.
3. Make Minutes Matter:
Allow breaks throughout the day. Even 5-10 minutes between meetings will give you time to decompress, use the bathroom, stretch your legs or get some fresh air before diving back into work.
Why? Short breaks help you handle stress and recharge your body and mind.
4. Limit Distractions:
Find other ways to create fewer interruptions from coworkers or family members. Consider placing a “busy” sign at your work area when you need to concentrate.
Why? Limiting distractions makes you more productive at work and more present at home.
5. Practice Gratitude:
- Celebrate small wins throughout the day.
- Keep a journal at your workspace where you.
- Write down all of your successes.
- Encourage coworkers to do the same and share something from your lists at the start of your next meeting to highlight progress.
Why? Positive thinking increases your optimism and can improve mental health.