[[Category:Health]]
== Steps ==
=== Staying Mentally Healthy ===
#Keep your mind limber. In addition to the fact that staying mentally active is emotionally rewarding, studies have shown that there is a correlation between mentally challenging activities and a decreased risk of Alzheimer's. Never stop learning, even if you feel like you’re “past your prime.”<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1147142-3,00.html New York Times on Alzheimer’s prevention]</ref>[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#*There are some simple ways you can exercise your mind. For example, you can try taking a different route to work, or brush your teeth with the hand you don't normally use.<ref>http://chinese-cookbook.com/healthy-living-tips/</ref>
#*Read more, and challenge yourself with your reading selection. Alternate between reading those pulp mystery novels you love, and classics like selections by Hemingway, Twain, and London.
#*Solve puzzles and play games of strategy. These sort of games engage you mentally. You could also learn to play an instrument. All of these activities have been linked to [[Improve Your Memory|improved memory]].
#Strengthen your relationships. Prioritize developing meaningful relationships above simply being social. Surround yourself with people that enrich your life and make you happy. Practice self-disclosure, which means sharing things that are unique to you (your thoughts, fears, favorite movies and music, pet peeves, etc.) with those you trust. This has been shown to be of ''immense'' importance to not only forging deeper interpersonal connections, but also feeling validated emotionally. Rutgers article on self-disclosure in personal relationships.[[Image:Be-Romantic-Step-9.jpg|center]]
#*Learn how to [[Have a Healthy Relationship|have a healthy relationship]]. Be open about what you are feeling, try to understand what others are feeling, and be willing to compromise. If you think you’re in a [[Recognize a Manipulative or Controlling Relationship|manipulative or controlling relationship]], get out of it. It’s better to stand strong on your own than be held back by a so-called companion.
#*Make the time to stay connected to your close friends. This does not just mean posting a Youtube video to their Facebook page every once in a while. If you live far away from your close friends, take the time to call them once every week. If you live near your best friends, make time each week to stop in and catch up (even if you both have busy work weeks/families etc.) Many studies show that people with a wide range of social contacts get sick less than those who don't. Friends make you laugh, and laughing is also an important part of health.
#*Enrich your sex life. In addition to the psychological benefits of a healthy sex life such as reduced depression, a healthy sex life has been shown to have a wide variety of health advantages including increased immunity, decreased pain, and better fitness.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/2003/10/08/cz_af_1008health.html Forbes on the necessity of sex]</ref> Better still, it’s something you can do with or without a partner. If you do have a partner or partners, be sure to [[Have Safer Sex|practice safe sex]].
#Pursue your passions. Set some time aside to practice an instrument, do an art project, take photos, build models, weld, bake gourmet cakes, or whatever else enriches your free time. If you want to learn something new, take an evening or weekend class. If you can’t think of anything interesting off the top of your head, take the time to [[Find a Hobby|find a hobby]].[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#*If you’re convinced that there isn’t enough time in the day to pursue any activities, try to cut back on a time-wasting activity like channel-surfing or hitting refresh on Facebook. You may be surprised by how much time you actually spend in front of a screen when you could be doing other things.
#*Join a group or club. Meeting up with people who share a common interest will both get you out of the house and boost your sense of belonging. Join a book club, a sports team, or a walking group. Pick up a community newspaper to find listings of clubs located in your area.
#Learn how to [[Understand Your Emotions|understand your emotions]]. It is important to be aware of what you are feeling. When you are in touch with your emotions, you will be able to both recognize when you are acting out because of your emotions and empathize more thoroughly with others. Knowing yourself is a key part of having good mental health--it’s important to know when something is making you unhappy so that you can either fix it or cut it out of your life. Likewise, it is also good to recognize the things that make you happy. Surrounding yourself with good energy will promote a happier, healthier you. [[Image:Keep Healthy Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#*Go to a meditation group and learn how to focus your mind on the positive. Speak with a therapist who will help you sort through your emotions. Enroll in an emotional awareness course that teaches you to recognize, accept, and understand your emotions.
#*Learn how to [[Cope With Emotional Pain|cope with emotional pain]] and, if necessary, [[Deal with Emotional Abuse|deal with emotional abuse]]. Speak with a therapist or someone you trust. Bottling up your feelings will only make your mental state more cluttered.
#Boost your karma points. Doing good will make you feel good. When you put positive energy out into the universe, that positive energy will come back to you. Improving the lives of others will in turn, improve your own mental state because you will know that you have done good by someone else.[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 5 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#*If you have some spare time, allocate that time to helping others. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or animal shelter. Work in the community garden or simply help a friend in some way.
#Be aware of stressful factors in your life. Stress is unavoidable--whether you are running late for work, or have to get a shot at the doctor’s office, it is normal to feel stressed out. However, you [[Reduce Stress | can reduce your stress]] and learn how to manage your reaction to stressful things. Be aware of the things that stress you out and try to avoid those triggers.[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 6 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#*For example, if sitting in traffic makes you stressed, avoid driving during peak rush hour. If that means getting up early and getting to work early, then find a coffee shop near your office and relax before work.
#*Get involved in stress-free activities. If you have noticed that you have a hard time relaxing at night, take up yoga or meditation classes. After work or class, head to your local yoga studio and learn how to focus your breath so that you feel all your tensions unwind.
#*Take a few moments each day to release any stresses you have and focus on the here and now. Instead of worrying about something that happened in the past, or planning for the future, take a moment to notice what is going on around you. Literally stop and smell the roses--feel the warm breeze on your face, notice the cloud formations above you, focus solely on the things going on around you.
=== Staying Physically Healthy ===
#[[Eat Healthy | Maintain healthy eating habits.]] Avoid fad diets-they are often incredibly unhealthy. To get all the nutrition the human body needs, you must eat a balanced diet including dairy, grains, protein, fruits and veggies, as well as fat (yes, even fat!).<ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/NU00190 Mayo Clinic on the food pyramid]</ref> By doing so, you'll have a healthy heart, healthy brain, and a fully functional immune system. Eating highly varied foods will also help insure you get all the vitamins, minerals, oils, and enzymes your body craves.[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 7 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#* To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume.<ref name="fam">[http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/food-nutrition/weight-loss/what-it-takes-to-lose-weight.html FamilyDoctor.org on losing weight]</ref> That’s all there is to it. With the exception of sweets, eliminating one area of the food pyramid from your diet won’t replace the need to simply consume fewer calories.
#* Avoid skipping meals, which is hard on the body. Some people even recommend eating up to six mini meals a day instead of three large ones, which can sustain energy and steady blood-sugar levels<ref>[http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/askdietician/ask4_02.aspx ClevelandClinic.org on heart and vascular health]</ref>; however, many people end up turning their “mini meals” into junk food sessions and end up consuming not just more calories, but emptier ones.<ref name="grazing">[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290401/Snack-attack-Grazing-used-king-experts-say-slows-metabolism-cause-tooth-decay-diabetes.html Daily Mail on grazing]</ref> Be honest with yourself before making this choice.
#* If you want to work on portion control, eat low energy-density foods (i.e. more substance, fewer calories). Fruits and vegetables, for example, are packed with not only vitamins and minerals, but also water and fiber, making them take longer to digest and keeping you full longer.<ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00195 Mayo Clinic on energy density]</ref>
#Drink more water. Water helps flush metabolic wastes to keep your metabolism in top shape.<ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283 Mayo Clinic on Water]</ref> Water can also help you feel fuller, so drink at least a half-gallon (2 liters) of water every day (or more if you are active or live in a hot climate).[[Image:Avoid-Getting-the-Flu-in-Winter-Step-13.jpg|center]]
#*Try to drink water that has been purified. Tap water often contains things like chlorine and fluoride that reduce the health benefits of drinking water.<ref>http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water</ref>
#[[Sleep Better|Sleep well every night]]. Adults should get 7 to 9 hours daily, whereas school-aged children should get 10 to 11.<ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/AN01487 Mayo Clinic on sleep requirements]</ref> One of the absolute most important ways of improving the quality of your sleep is to do it in complete darkness, as even small amounts of light interfere with the chemicals that tell your body to rest.<ref>[http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/melatonin-and-sleep Sleep Foundation on melatonin and sleep]</ref> If you can’t eliminate the light in your room, wear an eye mask. Another one of the best ways to improve your sleep is to exercise.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15892929 Pub Med on the effects of exercise on sleep]</ref>[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 9 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#*Sleeping is also a good way to prevent overeating. A study by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrated that men who only slept for 4 hours consumed, on average, 500 more calories than they did after sleeping for 8.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/health/27real.html NY Times on sleep and weight]</ref>
#Stick to an exercise regimen. If you don’t want to pay for a gym membership, try [[Workout at Home Using Hand Weights|strength-training at home]]. The muscle you develop will help [[Increase Your Metabolism|increase your metabolism]]: the bodies of muscular people burn more calories even while they’re at rest.<ref name="mayo">[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metabolism/WT00006 Mayo Clinic on the metabolism]</ref> To help you stick to your regimen, keep a workout journal. Plan out when and where you will work out each week and stick to it. Each time you work out, write down what you did and for how long.[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 10 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#*To keep your heart in shape, do cardio. One particularly effective way to improve your cardiovascular health is to do [[Perform Interval Training|interval training]], which means alternating between low- and high-intensity activity. This has been shown to be a quick and extremely effective way to improve heart health and endurance.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/fashion/03Fitness.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all New York Times on interval training]</ref> (Anyone over the age of 60 or who has heart disease, high blood pressure, or arthritis should consult a doctor before attempting interval training.)
#Limit your vices. [[Quit Smoking|Quit smoking]], [[Beat Drug Addiction|beat drug addiction]], and, if necessary, [[Quit Drinking without Alcoholics Anonymous|stop drinking]]. Avoid other risky behaviors like speeding, fighting, unsafe sex, and excessive thrill-seeking.[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 11 Version 2.jpg|center]]
#[[Be Hygienic|Be hygienic]]. Wash your hands ''thoroughly'' after coming into contact with a sick person, using the bathroom, or anything else that could make you sick. (If you’re not sure what “thoroughly” entails, sing ''Happy Birthday to You'' in your head as you scrub--when you are done singing the song, you should finish washing your hands.) In addition to flossing regularly, brush your teeth ''and'' tongue at least twice daily to limit plaque and harmful bacteria. Take showers regularly. Schedule doctor’s and dentist’s appointments to make sure everything in your body is working properly and you are as healthy as you can be.[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 12.jpg|center]]
#Make little lifestyle changes. Don’t tire yourself out by making large gestures toward health without addressing the small stuff too. Instead of running yourself ragged at the gym three days a week, park farther away from the store, walk the dog more often, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or weed your garden; instead of attacking your veggies and snacking distractedly in front of the computer or TV, set time aside to slowly enjoy each meal and prevent mindless overeating.<ref name="grazing">[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290401/Snack-attack-Grazing-used-king-experts-say-slows-metabolism-cause-tooth-decay-diabetes.html Daily Mail on grazing]</ref> Get your new habits to stick by tackling them at the grass-roots level.[[Image:Keep Healthy Step 13.jpg|center]]
#*Remember to do everything in moderation – including moderation. Turning each aspect of your life into something you need to check off a list can not only make you feel trapped, but also make you more likely to fall (or possibly even throw yourself) off the wagon. Allowing yourself the occasional indulgence to blow off steam will make you much more satisfied with your new lifestyle choices. Give yourself healthy rewards when you complete a week of your new workout regimen or healthy eating plan.
== Tips ==
*Make an attempt to walk to work or school if it is not too far away. You can do this every day or just twice a week.
*Read books about healthy living; do anything that keeps you motivated!
* Try to minimize your intake of unhealthy fast foods.These have lots of salt, and other unhealthy ingredients.
* Brush your teeth after you eat.This will prevent tooth decay.
*Floss at least once a day. Flossing keeps you healthy by protecting your gums from gum disease.*Focus on how you ''feel'', not how you ''look''.
* Also believing in yourself can make you both mentally and physically healthy.
* Walk or bike around the neighborhood or take your dog for a walk. If you can't do either of these, do some exercises inside the house like jumping jacks, cartwheels or handstands.
* Brush your teeth in the morning and night time, this will give you healthy teeth and gums.
* Exercise at least 30 minutes, because it can be good for your hair and nails.
* Avoid brushing your teeth after consuming foods that are acidic. Foods containing citric acid weaken tooth enamel, and brushing your teeth 20-30 minutes after consuming these types of foods will damage your teeth while they are vulnerable.
== Related wikiHows ==
*[[Eat Healthy]]
*[[Get in Shape Before School Starts Back]]
*[[Avoid the Freshman 15]]
*[[Stay Healthy when Working from Home]]
== Sources and Citations ==
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