7 Simple Strategies to Improve Your Health in Your 50s.

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Unfulfillment at work, poor eating habits, lack of sleep, chronic stress—each of these problems and more will typically lead to low quality of life. And too many men are living with these issues every day.  With some changes you can improve your health.

The main reason is not that we don’t want to live the most physically, mentally, and emotionally rewarding lives possible. We all want that. The problem for many of us is that we assume it will be too hard to maintain healthy habits for the long term, especially if we can’t imagine adding anything else to our plate.

But that’s not reality. Each of us can take realistic steps each day that will help us improve our overall health and well-being. And over time, these steps will become habits that we don’t really have to think about. If you’re ready to boost your quality of life, check out these practical tips from Mens Health Cures:

 

Practicing these 7 Simple Strategies may help Improve Your Health in Your 50s.

1. Evaluate your career.

Let’s face it, work takes up a lot of your time. In fact, a lot of men spend more time at work than they do at home. Having a work life balance is important to improve your health, especially if your work life causes you a lot of stress.

Being fulfilled and passionate in your line of work can go a long way in fostering your overall health and well-being. So, take some time to assess your current career path. Even if you’re not incredibly passionate about your job, it’s critical that you don’t detest it.

If your current career trajectory is leaving you with no satisfaction and increased stress levels, then a change might be in order. This also applies if you’re simply not challenged in your current job. If you’re seriously thinking about a change, consider going back to school.

There are many online programs that allow you to earn a degree while also working full-time and living your personal life. For example, you can maintain your current job while you get a bachelor of science in education.

This would help prepare you to make a positive impact on young people and could lead to one of the most rewarding careers imaginable. Just make sure the online school you choose offers affordable tuition and is accredited.

 

2. Think about your posture.

man in gray dress shirt sitting on brown wooden chair using macbook pro

If your job involves you sitting at a desk for a prolonged period of time each day, start thinking about your posture. Office jobs can easily and quickly lead to back problems, which in turn can lead to a variety of disabilities.

Next time you sit down at your desk, simply straighten your back, pull in your stomach, and place your feet flat on the floor (and uncross those legs!).

This will immediately help improve your health and help you feel relaxed.  Making it a habit to work on your posture will help you avoid severe back pain.

Also, your workstation ergonomics matter. Office jobs are known to cause back and neck problems as well as eye strain, carpal tunnel, and many other issues.

Ensure that your computer monitor is in the right position, that your chair is giving you lower back support, and that you are taking enough breaks during your workday.

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3. Shift your diet Can Improve Your Health

It probably comes as no surprise to you that diet is critical to anyone’s health and well-being. But if you want to improve your eating habits, don’t try for a total transformation all at once.

Think of small but significant substitutions you can make in your daily meals and snacks, which can aid in improving your health. For instance, opt for whole-grain bread, crackers, and rice. Choose leaner cuts of beef and pork, and try to stick to skinless chicken instead of skin-on.

If you drink a considerable amount of sugary beverages, replace one of those drinks with a glass of water every day, and gradually progress to where you’re drinking a limited number of sugary drinks each week.

As far as snacks are concerned, almonds, cashews, and veggies with hummus are healthy and delicious alternatives to potato chips, candy, and other processed foods. Making these little changes not only will improve your health in the short term but will also help you build an arsenal of long-lasting habits.

 

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4. Set a regular bedtime Routine

man sleeping

Adults typically need at least seven hours of sleep per night. Most men don’t get between 5-6 hours of sleep per night. But if you don’t get adequate sleep, there’s no way that you can reach your peak in productivity, efficiency, and concentration. And it will have a negative impact on your physical, mental, and emotional health.

To function like you need them to, your mind and body must have rest. Establish a regular bedtime routine, and stick to it each night, so that you have your circadian rhythm working in your favor.

And figure out relaxing activities to help you unwind from the day, whether it’s reading a book, doing stretches, or removing electronic devices from your bedroom before sleep.

 

6. Stretch your muscles.

It’s no secret that injury comes more easily with age. And it takes longer to recover as well. One way to help prevent injuries is to do regular stretches. This will help you to move more freely and stay limber in your daily life.  Regular movement is an easy to to improve your health.

At the very least, you should be stretching before and after each exercise. But taking small stretch breaks throughout the workday can also go a long way in promoting your health and wellness.

 

5. Add activity to your routine.

Exercise is right up there with diet and sleep in terms of promoting health and wellness in your life. Similar to changing your eating habits, you don’t want to go from the couch to entering an iron man competition. Figure out a physical activity you enjoy, and commit to doing it at least four times a week.  This is an easy way to improve your health.

It could be running, brisk walking, lifting weights, swimming, cycling, HIIT, or any other type of activity that gets your blood pumping.

Also, take simple opportunities throughout the day to give your body some movement. This might include taking the stairs instead of the elevator or choosing a parking spot that’s a little farther from your office.

 

7. Find fun ways to De-stress

woman praying and sitting on sand seashore during day

Along with getting good rest at night, it’s essential to find fun, de-stressing activities that you can do during the day.  Finding ways to de-stress will improve your health.

These may not be daily activities, but you should at least have something you can look forward to each week.

Exercise is one example of an activity that can significantly reduce your stress, but look for other things you can do. This can include starting a hobby, getting a massage, or taking occasional camping trips to connect with nature.

What works for you may not work for the person next to you, so just consider your personality and your needs, and find a relaxing activity to include in your routine.

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In Conclusion

You don’t have to settle for subpar health and well-being. If you’re ready to make a real difference in your quality of life, improve your health and get the most out of your career, family life, and all other aspects of life, then adopting the habits above will go a long way in getting you there.

Rather than stress out about transforming your daily life all at once, start with a simple change here and there, and incrementally build habits that will benefit your all-around health over the long term.

 

If you found this article helpful, you can read much more health-based content on menshealthcures.com!

 

Author Bio

Leslie Campos hopes to provide relief and tips for other busy parents through her site Wellparents.com. Parents can find a variety of information from stress-busters to exercise ideas to healthy eating tips.

 

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