Being healthier doesn’t have to mean overhauling your entire lifestyle. Sometimes all it takes is a few simple changes. From eating more carrots to watching puppy videos (that’s right, puppy videos), these quick-and-easy tweaks to your daily health regimen can make a huge difference in the way you feel.
1. Grab your toes and pull
This boosts circulation after your feet have been cramped in shoes all day. Without proper circulation, the muscles and nerves in our toes don’t work properly. And that can cause pain in your knees, hips, and back.
2. Wash the linens
Dust mites, a major allergy trigger, love to hang out in your bed. Zap ’em by laundering sheets and pillowcases every week in hot water. Also smart: Use mattress and duvet covers designed to keep mites out.
3. Do 25 jumping jacks
Move your body, no matter how briefly, to stop the stress response in its tracks and change the channel on your mood.
4. Silence your phone at night
Don’t let your loved ones interrupt a deep sleep. Alert friends and family to when you would be sleeping so you could minimize noisy calls and texts. Turning the phone off works, too!
5. Drop your underwear
Going commando once in a while (say, overnight) couldn’t hurt, especially if you’re prone to UTIs. Wearing no undergarments—or just cotton ones—allows the external genitals to dry and reduces bacteria growth that could otherwise make its way into your urethra and cause a bladder infection.
6. Keep a medical info handy
Put a card in your wallet that lists any allergies you have and medications you’re taking, in case you end up in the ER and are unable to speak for yourself. It could save your life.
7. Nuke the dish sponge
This is the germiest thing in your house. About 15 percent of sponges contain bacteria that can make you ill. So toss them in the dishwasher once a week or microwave them damp on high for 30 seconds.
8. Munch on carrots
The humble carrot never got much attention, but it’s now a nutritionist favorite, thanks to its high vitamin A content—just one half cup has almost double the amount you need for healthy eyes. They’re hot with chefs, too, making it easier to get your good-vision fix.
9. Say yes to puppy videos
Pets are a proven stress-buster, but you knew that.
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