It’s no mystery that your physical and mental health affect your productivity. If you’re feeling tired, chances are your tasks will seem that much more difficult to complete. Finding a good balance between work, home and schoolwork is a struggle that many students face. Between studying, working, taking care of family obligations and trying to keep up with friends, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day.
Here are 9 tips that will help you lead a healthier and more productive life:
1. Eat healthy
A healthier life starts with how you treat your body. If you fill your body with unnecessary foods, it’s not going to perform as well as it could if you ate regular nutritious meals. Balanced diets filled with healthy snacks, plenty of water and natural fats and sugars will give you the energy you need to stay focused and motivated.
2. Be active
Even if you can’t bring yourself to hit 60 minutes of exercise a day, try to incorporate some sort of body activity into your daily routine. Whether it’s taking the stairs, going for a stroll after dinner or hitting the gym, any sort of physical exertion helps you live a healthier life.
3. Organize your tasks
You don’t necessarily have to buy an annual planner and color code your appointments by priority (though you can if you want to), but a level of organization can provide stability in your life. At the end of the day, try writing down all of the tasks you still need to complete. This will give you a starting place for the next day, and help you find some structure and be prepared.
4. Take some time to relax
Finding time to relax your body and mind is just as necessary as staying active. Just like your muscles need time to recover after exertion, your mind does too. Meditation, yoga, reading, drawing and listening to music are great ways to wind down and let your mind and body recover before gearing up for your next big task.
5. Manage your relationships
This tip might surpass everything else, because it concerns your emotional health. Be proactive when it comes to relationships. If something your friend or family member did is really bothering you, confronting your emotions is usually much healthier than repressing them. Nearly every school — including Ultimate Medical Academy — has counseling services set up to give students someone to talk to. Never hesitate to ask for help if you feel like you can’t manage a problem on your own.
6. Support your creative side
No matter what your passions and skill sets are, every person expresses creativity in some way. Whether it’s painting, drawing, writing or 3D modeling, find a way to feed your creative passions. This will help balance out your life, so you don’t just feel like you’re working and fulfilling obligations.
7. Develop positive habits
The only way to live a healthier life is through consistency. Identify negative habits and try to replace them with healthy ones. For example, instead of drinking an energy drink before class, try a new fruit every day. Several little switches like that will add up to a much healthier lifestyle.
8. Less time planning, more time doing
While it’s important to plan certain tasks, the longer you wait before doing something, the more time you have to build anxiety and doubt. Putting words and plans to action will get you results. And even if you fail the first time around, every failure is a learning experience. Next time you’ll be even more comfortable when it comes time to try again.
9. Treat yourself
Good spending habits are important to develop, but actively seeking out activities that inspire you can go a long way when it comes to a healthier life. Chase your passions and create positive energy that you can move into all aspects of your life.
At times life can seem overwhelming, and maintaining a positive attitude can be difficult. But even with small changes you can improve your physical and mental well-being.