The Worst Habits For Your Health

Health Habits
Source: Twenty20.com

Everyone has some kind of vice; everyone does something that they shouldn’t do, or that they shouldn’t do as much. Yet we keep on, even if we know what we’re doing is bad for our health, because these things quickly and easily become a habit. Here are some of the worst habits we can have when it comes to keeping healthy, and how to stop them if possible.

Watching TV

Watching TV is a great way to unwind at the end of the day, but too much of it can cause problems including strokes and heart attacks; this is true even if you also regularly exercise. The problem is that sitting for a long time without moving affects the levels of blood sugar and fats within your body.

If you do find that you’re sitting still for long periods of time on a regular basis (whether it’s watching TV or sitting at a desk at work, or for any other reason) then the best advice is to get up every now and then (perhaps once an hour for five minutes or so) and move around. This keeps your circulation flowing more readily. It’s even better if you can do something more active during that time, but you may need to build up to that if you have only just begun.

Not Getting Help

If you keep telling yourself and others that you’re fine even when you’re most definitely not, that can easily become a habit. The words will just come from your mouth before you’ve had time to process the question. Yet if you find that you’re feeling angry, depressed, stressed, or anxious, you’re not fine – you’re unwell and you need to get help. For some, it’s difficult to admit that they have a mental health problem, for others it’s hard to understand that these feelings can be fixed. Yet they can, and they should be.

Make an appointment with your doctor in the first instance. They will be able to talk through your symptoms and refer you on to a specialist if need be.

Snoring

Snoring isn’t a habit as such, but it is something that we do without realizing and it is something that can have an effect on our health (or rather, snoring is sometimes a symptom of a more serious issue). In some cases, snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea when breathing is interrupted throughout the sleep cycle. Not only will this disrupt your sleeping pattern (leaving you at risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other illnesses), but it can make your blood pressure rise dramatically too.

If you are told that you snore – or if you wake yourself up snoring – then don’t brush it off and be embarrassed because it really could be something serious. It’s far better to speak to a doctor about it than to ignore it.

Not Brushing Your Teeth

If brushing your teeth, as well as flossing, seems like a waste of time and you’ve got into the habit of only doing it on special occasions, you could be putting yourself at risk. There is, studies show, a strong relationship between gum disease and heart disease. Although the exact reasons aren’t yet known (studies are ongoing), it is thought that it could be due to the plaque that builds up over time. This is a sticky substance that is packed full of bacteria and it attaches itself to teeth and gums. Regular brushing and flossing will remove it before it can do much damage, but leaving the plaque where it is can cause these bacteria to inflame the body. This inflammation can damage the heart.

If you don’t currently brush your teeth at least twice a day, then you need to get into the habit of doing so. It is better for your overall health, but it will also prevent bad breath and hefty dental bills.

Hiding From The World

There will be days for everyone when it seems far better to hide away from the world than to try to interact with people. Having one of these days every now and then is normal – staying all by yourself to recover and regroup is actually a good idea, and when you do go back out into society you will be all the better for it.

However, it’s when you fail to go back out, or you find that every interaction is something that causes you anxiety, that this becomes a problem. Being with friends and family, even being with strangers to some extent, is good for our health according to studies, and those with a small circle of friends whom they see regularly tend to live longer than those who are more reclusive. Although it can be hard, it’s important to get back out into the world if you can – you’ll have more fun than you think you will.

Drinking Too Much Alcohol

If studies are to be believed (and the advice does change from time to time so be careful), drinking small amounts of alcohol on a regular basis can actually be good for your heart. However, drinking too much is extremely bad for it. Excess alcohol is linked to heart failure, high blood pressure, and high levels of blood fats. Plus there are many calories in alcohol which can lead to massive weight gain. Not only that, but alcohol inhibits our ability to function properly, and this can be dangerous particularly if you drive or operate heavy machinery.

If you feel that you drink too much and you know that you won’t be able to stop, there is professional help available. Visit an alcohol rehab center to completely rid yourself of the habit, as much as possible. It may always be a temptation, but once you’re clean you will find it easier to resist.

Over-Exercising

When you don’t have much time during the week and your only real chance to exercise is on the weekend, it is extremely easy to overdo things. You can go from one extreme to the other and make yourself unwell by going over the top and trying to do too much in a short amount of time. This can cause injury and make you feel unwell, and then you simply stop exercising completely in case you hurt yourself again. This happens a lot.

The best way to exercise is slow and steady. Even if you don’t have a lot of time during the week, exercising for a little while more regularly is better than going overboard all at once.

Related:
Individualizing Health and Taking Responsibility
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Inspiring Ideas for Running an Efficient Household

….As a homeowner, it is vital that you take your responsibilities seriously. You need to do everything in your power to turn your property into a space that you are truly proud to call your own. Efficiency is key and should be placed at the top of your priorities. This will help you to reduce your stress levels, manage your living space, and enjoy your daily life. If you are the furthest thing from the perfect homeowner, now is the time to make a change for the better. Don’t worry, running an efficient household doesn’t have to be a complicated process. You simply need to assess each individual area of your home and take the journey one step at a time. Below are six suggestions that will help you to do this.

Reorganize your kitchen space

If you are going to stay on top of your kitchen space, it is important that you start with a big clear out. Otherwise, you will find yourself rearranging the same old items. Why not set yourself the challenge of clearing out your kitchen in the next few weeks? You could make meals out of your old ingredients and slowly get rid of the utensils that you simply don’t need. Once you have got back to the basics, you should wipe down all of your cupboards and surfaces. You should also defrost your freezer and clean out your fridge. Then, you can get to work filling your space back up. Instead of working at random, you should assign a purpose to each area. Perhaps you could have one cupboard for dried goods, one shelf for all of your herbs and spices, and two fridge drawers for your fruit and veg. You could even go all out and invest in a label maker or a wide range of storage containers. The more organized you can be the better. It will be so much easier for you to work out when your supplies are running low. You will also be able to avoid stocking up on items that you already own.

Rework your bathrooms

Next, you will need to get to work organizing your bathrooms. This is an especially important step to take if you are in charge of a large household. If there is always a fight to use the family bathroom, you should consider setting up a rota. This will prevent any arguments from breaking out. In addition to this, you should find somewhere in your home for backup supplies. Whilst you can nip to the store if you run out of eggs and milk, it will be a lot harder to cope if you suddenly run out of toilet paper or toothpaste. Therefore, you and your family will benefit from having spares stored around your house. You should also make room in your bathroom for a medicine cupboard. This should be a sterile space that holds all of your family’s essential items. Whether it’s generic items such as bandages and gauze or prescribed medications for specific family members, this is one area of your household that needs to be run efficiently. That is why you should carry out a stock check at the end of every month. You should also make use of Canada pharmacies online shopping, as this is a quick and easy way for you to ensure you always have the necessary supplies. Finally, you should install a lock on your medicine cupboard, to reduce the risk of family members getting their hands on inappropriate medical equipment.

Organize your bathroom for less with these dollar store bathroom organization ideas.
Organize your bathroom for less with these dollar store bathroom organization ideas.

Take control of your home entertainment

Another great tip for running an efficient household is to take control of your home entertainment. Your home should be a space where you and your loved ones can relax and have fun. However, this should never be at the expense of your environment. Having fun at home shouldn’t result in a lot of mess, clutter, or chaos. Instead, you should have set spaces for all of your activities. For instance, you could have a play room where your children or grandchildren can let loose. You could also have an adult sitting room that will provide the older members of your family with somewhere to escape to. In this digital age, it is also likely that you rely heavily on technology for your entertainment. If this is the case, you will need to keep a close eye on your gadgets. Whatever you do, don’t allow wires and cables to take over your house. Why not have your television and DVD player fitted into your wall? You could also have a surround sound system installed, so that you don’t have to lay out speakers or carry a radio player around your property. Lastly, you could save on a lot of space by purchasing a folder for all of your disks. This will allow you to get rid of their cases and streamline your collection into one small binder.

Reevaluate your workspace

If you are the proud owner of a home office, this is yet another space that you need to take control of. Although it might be tempting to fill up all of your shelves, drawers, and cupboards, it is a good idea to adopt a minimalist approach. This will help you to find things when you are in a rush. It will also stop you from becoming overwhelmed by the work that you need to get done. If you are already stressed out, the last thing you want is to be surrounded by piles of paper and stacks of unorganized books. In order to maintain an effectively run study space, you will need to categorize all of your possessions. You will need folders for your household information, folders for your work documents, and folders for your upcoming projects. It is also important that you have a comprehensive stationary cupboard, saved copies of your digital data, and access to the latest technology. If you have the time, you could also rearrange your book shelves so that they are easier to navigate. As soon as you have made these changes, you are likely to see an improvement to the amount of work that you get done each day. You may also notice that your stress levels are reduced, and your outlook has improved significantly. Reevaluate your work space

Update your bedrooms

Once you have finished organizing your communal areas, you will need to move onto your bedrooms. If you are eager to speed up the process, you will have to get all of your loved ones involved. Why not set your family the challenge of clearing out each room in time for a yard sale? You could even promise them a share of the profits in return for their hard work. The next step will be to reintroduce their remaining possessions and pieces of furniture. Whatever you do, don’t just return to old habits. Take the time to reevaluate the layout of each room. You could even use this as an opportunity to update your interior design scheme. After all, it will be much easier for you to decorate the rooms if they are stripped back to a blank canvas. Along with your bedrooms, you should also encourage your loved ones to assess their closets. Reorganizing their wardrobes will help them to maintain a tidy bedroom. It will also prevent them from holding onto garments that could have been thrown away years ago or donated to a charitable cause. Rework Your Bedroom

Make the most of your outside space

In addition to taking control of your inside space, you should also take a close look at your outside area. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to ensure all of your possessions aren’t kept indoors. Why fill up your home with unnecessary clutter, when there might be a way for you to move certain items outside? If you are blessed with a large back yard, you should seriously consider investing in a shed. This will be the perfect place for you to keep all of your gardening equipment, your seasonal decorations, and your outside entertainment. Alternatively, if your home comes with its own garage, you should be on the look out for opportunities to improve your storage. Perhaps you could attach large shelving units to your walls. Or, maybe you could install a loft hatch and send up large boxes of items that need to be put away. You could even start parking one or more of your cars at the front of your property. Then, you could dedicate your entire garage to the storage of your possessions. If you decide to do this, just make sure that you really need all of the storage you are creating. You don’t want to be giving up vital living space if you don’t have to. One of the best ways for you to avoid this is by adopting a one in one out policy. You could also challenge yourself to clear out at least one box of items every month.

Related:
3 Ways to Organize Your Home with Wall Units
Ideas For Getting Your Bathroom Organized

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