Facing health issues due to poor lifestyle? Here are 5 tips for being proactive. How

1. Indulge in physical activity - It’s age-old health advice to indulge in some of the other kinds of physical activity to ensure overall well-being. Physical activity gives your body the flexibility and power to function seamlessly in today’s digitized world where we spend most of our time in front of the screen, providing a much-needed break for our eyes too. Be it a refreshing morning jog or an intensive workout, there are a number of options to choose from. Sports and dancing are great options to do something fun while ticking a physical workout off the healthy life checklist. Activities like yoga and meditation provide physical as well as mental well-being. Hiking and cycling are some other interesting activities to undertake for fun as well as for well-

2. Know your nutrients and ingredients - Food is such an important part of our life yet we often don’t keep a track of what we eat and in what quantities. It is important to have a balanced diet wherein you are consuming all the different nutrients and vitamins in the required quantities. Making smart swaps for everyday food helps enhance the nutrition values of your meals. Rice can be swapped for quinoa, whole wheat for ragi, sunflower oil for olive oil. It’s also important to know your ingredients, especially edible oil which is used in each and every meal. It’s also important to buy organic products, eat at home more often and avoid too much of anything.

3. Sacred sleep schedules - A poorly rested body can’t function well physically or mentally and that’s why one is often grumpy and irritated after having poor sleep. A good night's sleep is crucial for your body to get the much-needed rest and recovery time. Following a sleep schedule and getting enough hours of sleep helps reduce stress and increases productivity throughout the day. Ideally, an adult should be sleeping for 7-8 hours at a stretch. Too little or too much sleep is not good and requires professional attention. Quick power naps during the day also never hurt. Not only the amount of sleep but the timings are also important. 7-8 hours of sleep at different hours each day will do little to help. Hence following sleep schedules is recommended and today’s smartphones even allow you to set them up on the device.

4. Learn Stress Management Techniques - Stress causes severe damage to our heart and is very often the cause of heart attacks. Stress management is something that one needs to learn for themselves. To-do lists and priority lists are recommended by experts for people with anxiety. Indulging in fun activities, dedicating time for hobbies, or going on trips often helps give you a break from your everyday routine and rejuvenates your mind and body, and reduces stress. Stress can also heighten emotions which can also make one lose control and hence, stress management also helps with maintaining positive relations with people around you.

5. Break free of bad habits - Today’s hectic urban lifestyle comes with its own set of vices such as smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. These habits are known to cause chronic life-taking illnesses such as cancer. Uncontrolled consumption of alcohol and heavy smoking habits lead to many short terms and long term health issues