If your mental and emotional health took a back seat in 2019, there’s no more opportune time than today to reposition your priorities and place your wellness at the top. Your daily disposition and attitude influences so many different facets of your life that ultimately determine how your days go. Diving a bit deeper, your happiness and health also play a significant role in your relationships, your career, and your wellbeing — so taking the time to better yourself and your routines can only benefit you in the long run.

Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our true evaluation of our wellbeing has been put in the spotlight. With stay-at-home orders in place and social distancing regulations forbidding close contact with others, we’ve been forced to get to know ourselves a bit better while doing all we can to ensure our bodies are in fighting shape against the respiratory disease.

Although there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all remedy for establishing a healthier and happier lifestyle in 2020, these ideas can inspire your next steps and set you on the right path.

1. Develop a consistent exercise routine

Did you know that regular exercise plays a huge part in managing your mental health?  Even just 30 minutes of activity a day can brighten your mood, reduce stress levels, and leave your body feeling rejuvenated. With gyms largely closed across the nation, you’ve likely joined the ranks of people who are itching to find a quarantine routine they can stick to.

If the pandemic has proven to be a stubborn obstacle standing in the way of your usual workout routine (or discouraging you from creating a routine altogether), check out these amazing at-home and socially-distant friendly outdoor activities you’re bound to love:

• Hiking
• Trail running
• YouTube pilates classes
• Open water swimming
• Kayaking
• Rollerblading
• Outdoor climbing
• Cycling
• Running and walking

2. Dedicate Part of Your Day to Relaxing

To those of us with busied schedules, we may often find that our lives become so stressful that we hardly have energy left at the end of the day to breathe and relax. To no surprise, working so intensely that you don’t have the energy to de-stress and relax your mind doesn’t do you much good in the short-term or long-term.

If you’re wondering how you can make sure you’ve carved out enough time to destress and decompress, we have one easy tip: schedule it. Set aside a specific time of day or at a set period of time devoted to downtime. Whether it’s 30 minutes of mindfulness, a refreshing bath, a session with a good book, or listening to music with a pair of noise-canceling headphones, you deserve (and need) time for yourself without any pressing obligation lingering in the back of your mind.

3. Mind your diet

If you’re taking supplements for blood flow and circulation or vitamins in the form of daily capsules, consider looking at your diet to replace your pill intake with nutritious foods. A balanced diet can work wonders for your mind and body, and if you’re committed to making significant change, your plate is the best place to start.

Take a look below to get a better understanding of the most common vitamin deficiencies and how to change your diet to mitigate your lacking intake.

• Iron deficiency

Eat more:

• Red meat
  • Beans
  • Shellfish
  • Seeds
  • Dark leafy greens
• Iodine deficiency

Eat more:

• Seaweed
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Dairy
• Vitamin D deficiency

Eat more:

• Fatty fish
  • Egg yolks
  • Soy milk
  • Cod liver oil
  • Cheese
• Vitamin B12 deficiency

Eat more:

• Low-fat milk
  • Shellfish
  • Sardines
  • Fortified nutritional yeast
  • Yogurt
• Calcium deficiency

Eat more:

• Dark leafy greens
  • Papaya
  • Tofu
  • Lentils
  • Yogurt

Wrapping up

If you’re looking to make lifestyle modifications that will enhance your quality of life, bear in mind that these measures are intended to help you live a happier and healthier day to day. Rather than being bogged down by the larger picture and all the vows you’ve made on New Year’s Eve, take things slowly and reassess your goals with your current way of life in mind

What do you do to make sure you remain happy and healthy during trying times? Let us know in the comments below!