Integrate Self-Care for a Healthier You

There’s a lot that fitness can do for your overall health. However, did you know that self-care is important for wellness too? Balancing a consistent fitness routine with regular self-care is the simplest way to achieve your health and wellness goals, and get on track to looking and feeling your best. Finding the time to commit to so many healthy new habits can be a challenge, especially if you already have a packed schedule. That’s why you need some simple self-care and fitness tips, such as the ones below, to reach those goals so much easier.

Treat Your Gut with Care to Enhance Your Health

Sticking to a regular fitness routine can give you a stronger core, but what really matters to your mental health is what’s inside your stomach. Your gut health can have huge impacts on your body’s internal processes, including the chemical balances in your brain. When the microbes are happy and balanced, they work to produce the serotonin and dopamine, which are essential for a positive mood. So, if you want a healthy way to take better care of your gut, try adding more live cultured foods to your diet. You can get your probiotic boost from delicious fermented foods like kimchi or sauerkraut. Kefir and yogurt also keep your gut healthy and can easily be added to your daily smoothie to provide a big boost to the mood-enhancing microbes in your belly. As an added bonus, these foods also contain calcium and other nutrients that can make weight loss easier and keep your body looking toned.

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Boost Your Fitness and Wellness with Yoga

If you have not dedicated a portion of your fitness routine to a regular yoga practice, you could be missing out on some serious mental and physical health gains. Yoga has been shown to dramatically reduce stress levels, leave you in a better mood, and even lower levels of chronic pain. Aside from helping you feel your best, attending a weekly yoga class can also help you look your best as well. All that planking can burn some serious calories and engage all the muscles in your core. Some of the best poses for core strength can also tame chronic pain, which can make all of your workouts more enjoyable. As with any fitness or health habit, consistency is key, and yoga classes can help you stick to your goals.

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Reduce Stress to Maintain a Healthy Mood and Weight

You know that excess stress can sabotage your mental health, but did you know that extra stress can also make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight? For many people, increased stress levels lead to cravings for unhealthy snacks and foods. All those processed comfort foods can make staying in shape much harder, and they can also have a negative impact on your mood and energy levels. It’s important to find little ways to relieve stress from your daily life. Your exercise routine definitely helps, but you may also want to explore relaxation techniques such as meditation or journaling. You can even combine your yoga practice with a little meditation to take your stress relief to the next level. The gentle movements of a yoga practice provide your body with the healing benefits of exercise, whereas meditation allows your nervous system to unwind. Blend these two healthy habits and you are sure to find more health and happiness.

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Combining self-care with your health and fitness goals doesn’t have to feel like a mystery. There are plenty of simple practices that can blend your wellness habits together and take the work out of maintaining your physical and mental health. So, start using these tips today to see what really taking care of yourself can do for your overall well-being!

Author: Sheila Olson of fitsheila.com

Photo Credit: Pixabay