Five Things to do Every Day

By: Carrie Oakley

With such busy schedules, it’s a miracle that professional women find time to also take care of the home and family, but we do it! Taking care of ourselves, however, often comes at the bottom of the “to-do” list; if it even shows on the list at all. Although you may not have the time to work out every day or cook healthy meals, there a few, quick things you should try to do every day for better health and well-being.

The five things listed below may seem simple, but their impact on you overall health is great.

1. Floss every night: Studies have provided some evidence that periodontal disease (an inflammation of the gums, also known as gingivitis) can increase your chances of getting heart disease or having a heart attack. Although this correlation hasn’t been proven yet, the American Academy of Periodontology has said that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease). If you haven’t made it a habit to floss every day, it may be time to add this to your daily bedtime routine; although, it is ideal to floss twice a day.

1. Stretch: Even if you can’t make it to the gym, just doing a few stretches every morning can help keep your muscles and joints supple. Take a few minutes in the morning, before you get into the shower, to do some side bends, arm and leg stretches. Also, during the workday, take some time to stretch your neck muscles by slowly tilting your head from the left to the right and the front to the back. Stretch your eye muscles, too, by looking up, down and to the left and right.

1. Drink plenty of water: It is OK to drink a cup of coffee or tea in the morning to wake up your day. However, you should try to only drink water the rest of the day. Eliminate all sodas and juices from your diet, as they only contain unnecessary calories and excess sugar. Limit your alcohol intake to two to three drinks per week. Keep a re-usable water bottle on your desk at work and drink water throughout your workday.

1. Take short walking breaks from your desk: Do your best to not sit at your desk for longer than an hour. Even if it is just walking across the room to file away some papers, movement throughout your day will keep your muscles and joints supple and your circulation optimal. It will also decrease your chances of slowing your metabolism, back and neck aches, poor posture, herniated disk and deep vein thrombosis.

1. Take deep breaths: To easily reduce stress levels throughout your day, try to remember to occasionally take slow, deep breaths. Slowly breathe in for three to five seconds, hold your breath for three to five seconds and exhale slowly. Repeat this at least five times, three to four times a day.

Carrie Oakley is editor and writer for <ahref=http://www.onlinecolleges.org>Online Universities</a>. She likes to write articles about many topics of interest, including education and career planning.