How To Be Healthy
Part 4

art 4 of 4: Having a Healthy Routine

1. 1
   Stop engaging in risky behavior. Taking unnecessary risks is hard on the body and mind and can have devastating long-term consequences. Serious or established patterns of risk-taking can also be indicative of deeper psychological problems, in which case you should talk to a health care professional who specializes in a relevant field. Start by setting your sights on one of the following achievements:
   • Have Safer Sex
   • Stop Binge Drinking
   • Quit Drinking without Alcoholics Anonymous
   • Quit Smoking
   • Beat Drug Addiction
     • These things are doable. While they are definitely daunting, they're doable. Often if one of these is accomplished, other things seem much easier and will fall into place.
2. 
   2
   Exercise several times a week. We've stressed the "get fit" part already, but now we want to make it a little less ignorable. Your daily/weekly routine needs to include exercise. It will increase your metabolic rate, control your weight and you'll feel fresh the whole week. Triple win!
   • Here's something concrete for you: Aim for 150 minutes of aerobic activity every week (or 75 minutes of vigorous activity) and strength training twice a week.^[14] Even mowing the lawn counts!
3. 
   3
   Get a good night's rest. When you sleep, your body produces cells that fight infection, inflammation, and stress – which means that getting too little sleep or poor-quality sleep not only makes you more prone to getting sick, but also increases the time you need to recover from illness. If you're not sleeping for you, sleep for your health!^[15]
   • On top of that, a study conducted by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrated that men who slept for 4 hours consumed 500 more calories than they did after sleeping for 8 hours.^[16] If you're looking for an easy diet, here it is!
     • Read How to Sleep Better for tips.
4. 
   4
   Learn how to cook. Cooking your own meals is a wonderful experience as you can try out different recipes while saving money at the same time. What's more, you get to control every little thing that goes into your body. That's really the only way to turn your diet around!
   • When you cook, avoid using fatty oils and extra add-ons. Stick to olive oil instead of vegetable oil, butter, or margarine and keep the extra salt and cheese to a minimum. If it doesn't taste good without it, try cooking it differently!
5. 5
   Maintain your personal hygiene. Wash your hands often, especially after visiting the bathroom at home or using the restrooms in a public place. Germs can spread like wildfire and bring us down in the blink of an eye. And as if it wasn't already clear, taking a shower is a good idea, too. You like having friends, right?
   • When it comes to your mouth, floss and brush your teeth and tongue after eating; food particles are often the cause of bad breath and gum disease. Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and to catch any problems before they become serious. See How to Be Hygienic for more details.
6. 
   6
   Bolster your immune system. Maintaining healthy habits and a high level of energy is difficult for anyone who constantly battles fatigue, colds, infections, or any other effects of a weakened immune system. Read How to Develop a Strong Immune System for more information.
   • If you can help it, try to get all your necessary vitamins and minerals from your diet. Supplements should only be used as a secondary measure.^[17] And of course, talk to your doctor before you undergo any significant changes.