Take 5: Good Health Tips

Too many of us spend our days taking care of things for others, making a business run well, making a household run well, seeing that children are fed, pets are groomed, and so many other things that interfere with taking few minutes to make sure our own health and well being are taken after.  The following are a few ideas for taking 60 seconds for yourself to ensure good health in the long run. After all, a healthier, happier you is better able to do a lot of things:

–Drink some water — take 60 seconds and pour yourself a glass of water and re-hydrate.  If you don’t like the taste of plain water, try sparkling water with a slice of lime or an herbal tea.  If you are away from a kitchen or at a desk for long periods of time, take 60 seconds to fill up a refillable water container so that it’s always available. Proper hydration contributes to healthy skin, digestion, and often stems artificial hunger.

–Flex those wrists — spending a lot of time at a computer with your hands in the same position all day can contribute to weak muscles, stiff wrists, and in more advanced cases carpal tunnel syndrome.  Stop your typing for 60 seconds and flex your wrists in a full range of motion. I like to clench my hands in a soft fist and turn then in full circles at the wrist, first in one direction, then reversing.  I also like flexing the fingers for full range of motion.

–Give your eyes a break — if you spend a lot of time reading or staring at a computer screen kept at the same distance, you may notice your eyes becoming fatigued after a while.  Most eye doctors recommend looking up and focusing on an object say 10 feet or 20 feet away so that your eyes can refocus.

–Keep the core muscles strong — weak core muscles (the girdle around your lower abdomen and back) from sitting all day is the leading cause of back pain which is the leading reason people miss work (more than a cold).  When standing or sitting, exhale, pull your stomach muscles in (picture your belly button moving up and in) and hold for 60 seconds. Keeping your core strong should be a top fitness priority given the many benefits it has for strength, mobility, and avoiding injury.

shared at Works for Me Wednesday