6 of the Top Ways to Prioritize Your Health

April 19, 2024

Health and happiness are two things that we all cherish. Yet, often we find ourselves struggling in one or both of these areas. If you’re ready to feel better than ever, both physically and mentally, start by prioritizing your health! Implementing positive lifestyle changes can lead to improvement in both overall health and well-being, putting you on track to feel better than ever. Here are 6 of the top ways to prioritize your health:

1. Clean Up Your Diet

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” While technically not true, what we consume does play a major role in our health and how we feel! You can prioritize your health by cleaning up your diet, replacing problematic foods with healthier options. Whether that means trying a specific diet or simply making better choices, eating healthier has endless benefits for both physical and mental health. Plan out your meals to help you stay on track and away from unhealthy foods.

2. Make Exercise Fun

It’s no secret that exercise offers a number of benefits. Yet, for many people, it can be difficult to find the motivation to consistently work out. By making exercise fun, you can make it something you look forward to rather than something you dread! Doing this makes you more likely to stick to your workout routine so you can see tangible results. Consider taking the dog on a daily walk in the park or get some friends together and compete in a pick-up basketball game.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Start by making a list of what exactly you want to change. This could be a certain goal weight or a minimum number of times you want to work out each week. Determine exactly how you plan to achieve these goals. By setting realistic goals we can more easily keep track of the progress we’re making. We can see proof of what we’re doing is working, making us more likely to keep it up.

4. Follow a Routine

Consistency is key in all aspects of life. Develop a routine that you’re likely to follow to prioritize your health. Consider making a must-do list each day to ensure you stick to this routine. When implementing healthy lifestyle changes, it's easiest to stick with it when it becomes part of our usual day.

5. Make Sleep a Priority

Sleep affects all areas of health. Sleep gives the mind and body a chance to recover so that you're better suited to attack the next day. Feeling recharged and refreshed makes you more likely to stick to your health routine and see the results you’re after. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night. A lack of regular quality sleep is known to raise the risk of several diseases and disorders.

6. Regular Health Check-Ups

Stay on top of your health by continuing to see your doctor(s) regularly. Routine health check-ups help to detect health issues early on when they’re easier to treat. If you have a certain condition, continue to follow your doctor’s orders to manage these issues. Adhere to any prescribed medications and share any symptoms or troubles you may be experiencing with your doctor.

Be sure to follow these lifestyle changes in an effort to prioritize your health. You aren’t alone on your journey to better health! Learn more about our NCPlus Community, a network of patients and healthcare professionals dedicated to helping you achieve improved health!