5 Things Healthy People Do Every Day

Healthy people stay that way by doing the same health-promoting things every day. That means if you’re looking for good health, adopting the habits of healthy people is a great place to start.   

At Triad Internal Medicine in Asheboro, North Carolina, our board-certified providers support your wellness with our comprehensive primary care and internal medicine services. If you have specific health goals, your provider can offer personalized recommendations and information to help you meet them. 

In the meantime, keep reading to learn about five things healthy people do every day that you can take on to achieve better health this year.  

1. Prioritize sleep

Getting enough sleep is the foundation of good health, so it’s no surprise that healthy people prioritize getting seven to nine hours of sleep every day. What’s more? They follow a regular sleep schedule, which means going to bed and getting up around the same time every day.  

If you’re struggling to get enough sleep or if you wake up feeling tired even after going to bed on time, be sure to talk to your Triad Internal Medicine provider. Some underlying health issues, like sleep apnea or mental health conditions, can make getting rest difficult. 

2. Move their body

There’s no doubt regular exercise is important, but the healthiest people don’t just focus on moving their body for only 30 minutes a day. Instead, healthy people build low-intensity physical activity into their daily routines. 

This can look different depending on your lifestyle, current health, and where you live. For example, it might mean walking or biking to the store instead of driving for some people while for others, it could mean working in the garden or taking care of livestock. 

3. Keep food focused on plants

Research has found that people who enjoy good health longer into life have diets centered on plants. This means every day they reach for whole, unprocessed, plant-based foods, such vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes, and whole fats most of the time. 

Another way of thinking about this means on a daily basis, healthy people aren’t eating less healthy or unhealthy foods, such as:

• Packaged/processed foods
• Foods with refined sugar
• Sugary beverages (including alcohol)
• Excess sodium
• Red meats
• Processed meats (e.g., sliced lunch meat)
• Fried foods
• Refined oils
• Fast food
• Foods made with white/refined flour 

Recent studies have found making this change toward eating mostly plants and avoiding processed foods adds as many as 10 years to your life expectancy, so it’s a habit worth adopting. 

4. Reach for water

Drinking water and staying hydrated is another daily habit of healthy people. Water is essential for wellness, helping with many essential body functions from cell renewal to flushing toxins out of your system. 

On the flip side, not drinking enough water is linked to many health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, skin problems, chronic fatigue, constipation and other GI symptoms, headaches, and more.   

If you don’t like plain water, try adding slices of fruit or veggies to your water bottle. For people who struggle to give up other drinks, try alternating a glass of water with every other type of beverage, such as coffee or soda, to boost your water intake. 

5. Find connection and joy

Studies show that people who live the longest feel connected to other people and enjoy a sense of purpose or meaning in their life. This means strengthening relationships with others and seeking an activity or hobby that brings you happiness or a sense of fulfillment. 

Consider the people you care about most and look for ways to connect meaningfully each day, even if it’s a simple text to say good morning to a friend across the country. If you have a hobby, be sure to prioritize it, and if you don’t, consider trying new things and finding joy in the journey. 

Talk to a provider for ways to be proactive with your health

Talking to your Triad Internal Medicine provider is a great way to learn more about things you can do every day to improve your health. We prioritize preventive medicine and offer proactive strategies to enhance your wellness. 

Having a regular physical or wellness exam is a good place to start, giving you an overview of your health and detecting any issues so you can make changes to prevent the progression of illness or chronic disease. 

It’s also a time to get vaccinations or screenings that can help keep you in the pink of health. And when you meet with your provider, you can ask health questions and get guidance on meeting your specific goals. 

To learn more about healthy habits you can adopt for optimal wellness, schedule an appointment online or over the phone at Triad Internal Medicine in Asheboro, North Carolina.