Our health, in addition to our individual happiness, should be among the most important things in life. All of us – youth in particular – should take full responsibility of health, because the person we groom today will determine who we are in the future. Therefore, if we develop bad health habits from an early stage in our individual growth, it is a possibility that we’ll maintain that habit for the rest of our lives. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important but, it is not always the easiest and most cost-effective way to live. Regardless, it’s still worth a try. Below are just a few tips that may assist in forging a much healthier you.

Step 1 THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER

This might be the most clichéd of all health tips, but there is a good reason that parents, guardians and even teachers at school are always stressing that we drink an adequate amount of water daily.  Many can attest to hearing that they should “drink at least eight glasses a day”. Considering that there are individuals who go and entire day without drinking water, this seems like a lot, but the benefits speak for themselves. Among other things, water boosts the immune system, and improves skin complexion leaving the body with that natural radiant glow. Energy levels in the body also increase with the consumption of water.

Step 2 EXERCISE

Traditionally, hearing the word ‘exercise’ causes people to think about lifting heavy weights and strenuously working up our bodies in the gym, but in truth there is a lot more to it. Exercising to keep healthy or fit doesn’t even have to involve a gym. Simple activities such as walking home (where possible), jogging, riding a bicycle and even skipping rope can all help someone in their quest to get healthy. The most important thing about exercising is consistency. In essence, create an exercising routine and dedicate yourself to that.

Step 3 HAVE A BALANCED DIET

This might be one of the most difficult steps, especially for us Jamaicans, as we often do the opposite of everything that’s good for our bodies. Ever notice that when dinner is served, half the plate is filled with rice and peas, the other half with fried chicken, and just a very small portion of vegetables at the side of the plate? If we seek to treat our bodies well, we need to maintain a balanced diet. Mix the fruits and vegetables, reasonable amount of starch and carbohydrates as well as small portions of sugar.

Step 4 SLEEP

This might be the month of sleep deprivation, especially for those who have CSEC and CAPE exams coming up, and also for us university students who are now battling with final exams. Though we want to pass our exams, it’s not healthy to deprive the body of rest. We might not be able to get the recommended eight hours of sleep nightly, but at least five hours should suffice. Sleep relaxes the brain, and helps us to maintain our mental composure. Moreover, a well-rested body is much more capable of withstanding pressure.

Step 5 MEDITATE

The final step is meditation. This is very important, as it is a major contributor to a healthy lifestyle. If done frequently, it may be beneficial to the body in a great way as it is one of the major contributors to weight loss. You might not know this, but meditation can also improve an individual’s metabolism. Feel free to research different meditation techniques online.