3 Simple Things to Boost Your Health
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA
1. Meditate
You may feel that you need to be in a lotus pose or in a spa like environment to gain the benefits of mediation, but truth is you can be anywhere.
You can meditate while waiting in line at the post office, in a doctor’s office, during your daily walk, in the shower or while cooking dinner.
Meditation can help you reduce stress, and it’s great for your mind, body and spirit.
The Mayo Clinic highlights the benefits of meditation. Meditation relaxes the body and reduces stress. Meditation may help with these conditions:
- Allergies
- Anxiety disorders
- Asthma
- Binge eating
- Cancer
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Pain
- Sleep problems
- Substance abuse
Always check with your doctor or health care professional before beginning meditation for any of these conditions. You can find more info on mediation from the Mayo Clinic here.
Yoga is one form of meditation and it is a great way to help clear the mind. Through various yoga poses and breathing, yoga can help alleviate stress and reclaim a clear mind.
Stay tuned…I’ll be bringing you more on yoga with interviews, pictures and more.
2. Connect with Friends Face-to-Face
It’s no secret that spending time with your friends is simply good for your health, and brings happiness.
While staying connected with friends who live faraway is a great thing, it’s important to also have friendships where there’s an interaction. Face-to-face communication with your friends can help you unwind, relax, and simply make you happy.
Go ahead, email or text your friends and schedule some fun face-to-face time!
3. Smile
I remember sitting in my high school math class eying a poster that was prominently displayed on the bulletin board right next to linear equations. It said:
“If you see a friend without a smile; give him one of yours”
Somehow I never forgot that quote. [Hmm…I wonder if I still remember linear equations]!
Smiling brings happiness and it’s good for the mind, body and spirit. Smiling can make you feel good, others feel good and can help reduce stress.
At Livestrong.com it highlights the importance of a good smile. Smiling just doesn’t improve your appearance; it’s good for your health.
Smiling can lift your spirits. A study conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation showed the act of smiling to dramatically improve one’s mood. Dr. Nigel Carter, foundation CEO, stated “We have long been drawing attention to the fact that smiling increases happiness both in yourself and those around you, so it is good to receive the backing of this scientific research. A healthy smile can improve your confidence, help you make friends and help you to succeed in your career.”
Meditation, friends and smiling are three easy things to do that can help you live a better, happy, and healthy life.
I’d love to hear how you maintain your healthy lifestyle.
Do you make meditation part of your daily routine? Do you practice yoga or other forms of meditation? Do you connect with your friends face-to-face? Do you smile often and at others? Please let me know. Thanks!
