With so many friends, coworkers, relatives, content creators, media outlets, gurus, etc., having opinions about how you should live your life, it’s super easy to feel overwhelmed. Who do you actually listen to when you get conflicting information? When do you trust your own instincts when you’re told to live very differently? How do you get anything done when there’s an endless list of life hacks you think you need to apply?
While we can’t answer the big questions about your purpose in life, we can, however, talk about the fundamentals that you need to get right to live a higher quality, longer, happier life.
In a nutshell, you need to prioritize a few main things: getting quality sleep, regular exercise, eating a nutritious diet, staying hydrated, and having positive relationships. That’s the core.
In short, good sleep is fundamental for your physical and mental health, as well as your emotional well-being. How much sleep you need depends on your age, but typically, adults need between 7 and 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. Teens, kids, toddlers, and babies, obviously, need much more sleep, as their bodies and minds are still developing.
Regularly getting a good night's sleep comes with a wide range of positive benefits, aside from feeling energetic and focused the next day. For one, you get sick less often.
On top of that, your stress drops, and your mood improves alongside your heart health and metabolism. What’s more, good sleep helps you stay at a healthy weight, and it lowers your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, elevated blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
Better sleep also improves your memory and attention. So, you end up doing your daily activities, including your job, better. You also reduce the risk of motor vehicle-related accidents when you’re well-rested.
However, good sleep isn’t something that magically happens to you without lifting a finger. Sleep, like your social relationships, exercise regimen, and diet, requires direct management. Your day and evening routines have a direct impact on how well you’ll sleep that night.
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The CDC recommends that you stick to a specific routine. The more consistent you are, the better. Do your best to go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
In the meantime, avoid eating large meals or drinking alcohol before going to sleep. What’s more, avoid using electronic devices or looking at screens at least half an hour before your bedtime (much harder than it sounds!).
