Being healthy has many benefits, including giving you the energy you need to get through even the most challenging days. Health is wealth. However, given our hectic schedules, the majority of us find it difficult to spend hours at the gym, consult with a dietitian, or browse through innumerable health-related articles online.
What to do? Look for hacks! Hacks are shortcuts that make getting to our destination a bit less overwhelming.Hack your way to better health with these five clever tricks that will save you time, money, and a headache while keeping you healthy.
- Breathe into your belly
It's understandable for you to assume that you understand how to breathe. However, the majority of us only take in enough oxygen to maintain our health by taking in shallow breaths. Diaphragmatic breathing, or deep belly breathing, can lower blood pressure, slow the ageing process, increase mental clarity, and enhance sleep quality with just 5 to 10 minutes each day. Lay on your back, close your eyes, focus on the positive, and take several long, deep breaths into your belly. To improve concentration, place a relatively heavy object on your abdomen, such as a kettlebell or an encyclopedia, and pay attention to how it rises and falls with each breath.
- Use yoga to heal headaches
Inversional yoga positions, in which your head is below your heart, can help relieve tension headaches that just won't go away. Downward-facing dog, child's pose, and legs up the wall are some yoga poses that can help with headaches. These positions can increase circulation, relax you, and stretch out tight neck and shoulder muscles, all of which might hasten the onset of your headache.
- Make your bath relaxing with Epson salt
You can increase your level of relaxation by adding some Epsom salts to your bath. Magnesium, which is present in Epsom salts, helps to calm your body naturally and ease aching muscles. They are inexpensive and offer relief from insomnia, anxiety, and other conditions.
- Do the skin pinch test to see if you are dehydrated
One fast approach to determine whether you're losing more fluid than you're consuming is to pinch your skin. According to studies, becoming dehydrated is more likely when it's cold outside since people don't feel as thirsty even though they're still losing fluids. Simply squeeze the skin on one of your finger knuckles for about 3 seconds, then release the pressure. The skin will quickly return to its original position if you are well-hydrated. The skin, however, loses its flexibility when dehydrated and will appear pinched for a brief period of time.
- Stimulate your brain
By the time you are 45, the cerebral cortex of your brain will be losing 50,000 cells per day. However, keeping your mind active can help to maintain cognitive function. So, whether it's completing a Sudoku puzzle, memory game, quiz, or starting something more difficult like learning a new language, make sure to constantly present your brain with new challenges. Again, there are a ton of fantastic online trivia games and apps that can keep your mind occupied even when your body is taking a break.
