Your twenties are a time for exploring the world and discovering who you are, but between travelling, socialising and establishing a career, there isn’t much time left over for self-care and as a result, personal health can often fall by the wayside.
You may be able to get away with sub-standard eating habits and staying up all night in your twenties, but the same can’t be said for the following years. Habits formed in the first decade of adulthood are often set for life, so the choices you make now can make a big difference to your wellbeing later on.
Here are three lifestyle habits to start in your twenties for the good of your long-term health.
Get Active and Stay Active
Incorporating exercise into your regular routine will not only increase your present health, but will also serve to protect you against conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease down the track.
Finding ways to include physical activity in your day-to-day and making time for regular exercise will help create healthy, active habits that will stay with you for life. It’s often much harder for people to make space in their life for regular workouts when in their thirties or forties as family and work commitments can get in the way, so it’s important to establish those habits early.
Start by making small changes to your routine – walk or bike instead of taking the car, or take the stairs instead of the lift. Your twenties are also a great time to get out and try different physical activities to find the ones that you enjoy and are most likely to stick with. If the gym or running aren’t your thing, think outside the box – try hiking, rock climbing or even pole dancing!
Establish a Healthy Relationship with Food
Hectic work schedules, a busy social life and general laziness can lead to a dependence on unhealthy snacking and fast foods. The use of fad diets to counterbalance poor nutrition often leads to fluctuating weight and a poor relationship with food going into middle age.
Establishing a positive and healthy relationship with food in your twenties is a great way to safeguard your wellbeing for the future by reducing your risk of disease and you’ll also look and feel your best, no matter what your age.
Always start your day with a wholesome breakfast and try to incorporate as many fruits, vegetables and leafy greens into your diet as possible. Cut down on junk food and takeaway and learn to cook meals at home (this will also help cut down on unnecessary sodium and sugar).
Another very smart move is to ditch the soft drinks and juice; they’re bad news for your teeth and your waistline. Save your money and your health by opting for water instead.
Give Up Smoking and Excessive Drinking
There’s no doubt about it—the sooner you give up smoking, the better. Within weeks of your last cigarette, your body starts to repair the damage done by smoking and your risk of heart attack is reduced. Quitting earlier in life also reduces your chances of dying from a smoking-related disease.
Socialising and partying in your twenties can lead to patterns of heavy drinking, which can take its toll on your health both physically and mentally. Being mindful and applying moderation when indulging in alcohol now will help you practice restraint later in life (and hopefully avoid some terrible hangovers!).
While long term health may not be a high priority to most twenty-somethings, a little effort now can really pay off. Adopting healthy behaviours early on in life can help ward off disease and improve wellbeing for decades to come; long after your partying days are over.
Keep your health in check
While you may think you’re in alright health, you may not be seeing the full picture. A safer way to accurately assess your health is to rely on the professionals to tell you how you’re tracking by undertaking regular health checks.
By paying a regular visit to the dentist, having an annual skin check, getting a flu shot at the beginning of each winter season and undergoing routine eye checks, you’ll not only be reassured that everything is A-OK, but you’ll also be better equipped to pick up any potential issues before they progress into something more serious.
These type of preventative health services are usually covered by most singles health cover extras policies, so they shouldn’t break the bank either. After all, what’s worth more than your health?
Article Submitted By Community Writer
