Evidence shows that many of the leading causes of death in the United States — such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, injuries, etc. — can be prevented by improving personal health habits. As distance learners, staying healthy is especially important since we don't receive the physical activity and interaction of a traditional campus.
Fortunately for us, staying fit is actually quite simple and affordable. Just continue reading to learn the habits successful distance learners practice to stay healthy.
1
Avoid waiting until you have annoying symptoms before visiting the doctor. Scheduling check-ups with your family physician, dentist, and chiropractor is an important step in preventing illness and injury.
2
A busy schedule may leave you eating in a rush and making poor food choices. Now is a good time to get into the habit of taking vitamins and minerals to supplement your nutritional needs.
3
Uh oh, is a cold coming on? You know that feeling…the scratchy throat, plugged up nose and just all around feeling of being out of it. Act now and don't wait for it to get worse. Try sucking on a zinc lozenge or some other stop-that-illness-in-its-tracks remedy like
Airborne. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you wake up feeling great and ready to tackle another day.
4
Nothing wards off germs more than good hand washing with soap and water. Hand washing is the single, most effective way to stop the spread of germs and infections. Antibacterial gels can help in a pinch, but nothing beats scrubbing up and washing those germs down the drain.
To properly wash your hands:
- Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Lather well.
- Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds.
- Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
- Rinse well.
- Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
- Use a towel to turn off the faucet.
5
To further reduce the spread of germs and infection in your home make it a practice to routinely wipe off common surfaces. This includes telephones, light switches, keyboards, and door handles. It only takes a matter of minutes and keeping disinfectant wipes around can be a helpful reminder. This is also a simple job to delegate to your children.
6
Consuming healthy foods is important to fight disease, provide energy, and for the body's systems to function properly. The food choices you make now can have lasting affects on your health. Don't let your busy schedule prevent your from eating foods that benefit you in many ways.
7
The brain is made up of over 80 percent water and is essential to concentration and memory function. Get into the habit of filling a large water bottle and keep it with you wherever you go. Keeping one at your desk is a great reminder. Also take into consideration the way your routine varies from the weekdays to weekend. You may be in a great habit of drinking plenty of water at work, but then forget when you are at home on the weekend. Avoid feeling sluggish over the weekend by staying properly hydrated.
8
The human body was created to move and change positions. Prolonged sitting in a chair will make you more fatigued, decrease your circulation, and leave you distracted by being uncomfortable. Simple stretching techniques you can do from your desk area can ease built-up tension in your body and reduce your chances of developing headaches.
9
Even with a pressing deadline it's still important to step away from your desk. Heading outside for a brisk walk can increase your circulation and mobility, as well as bring the necessary nutrients and oxygen to your body's systems.
10
An occasional late night or even all-nighter won't leave you too run down, but continuously cutting your sleep cycle short can wear you out. People suffering from sleep deprivation experience drowsiness, an inability to concentrate, memory impairment, and poor physical performance. All of these are necessary to perform well at work, school, and completing family/household responsibilities. While forgoing sleep on occasion may help you tackle a deadline, doing this long-term will impede success.
11
If you are feeling tired from a lack of sleep, don't underestimate the effectiveness of powernaps. Taking a short 20-30 minute catnap may be just the break your mind needs to improve function.
12
All work and no play leads to stress which has adverse affects on the immune system and your ability to function. Finding ways to relax — participating in hobbies and allowing for some down time in your schedule — will actually make you more productive. Simple ways to relax include listening to music, meditating, doing yoga, and reading for pleasure.
13
Humans are social creatures and there is a lot of value in our relationships. The people in our lives are essential to helping us feel motivated, encouraged, and solve problems. All of this leads to less stress and greater relaxation.
14
Another key component to being relaxed and reducing stress is to stay organized. When you are busy juggling work, school and family life, getting into the habit of writing everything down and maintaining a scheduling system will keep you accountable and drastically reduce stress. For more helpful tips about managing it all, visit our Back to School "Survival Guide" article How to Juggle Work and School.
