What are the top most important things you do for your health?

[Pen89ox]

I know this is more of a discussion than an advice board, and to be fair I’m interested it from a discussion perspective too but being fully truthful, I am looking for ideas. So what are your top 1/2/3 things you do for your physical/mental health? Do you eat certain foods? Take certain supplements? Do a certain exercise? See a certain type of specialist e.g. Osteopath? Acupuncture?

I’m totally blown away by Google suggestions. For the past 18 months since returning to work full time after mat leave I’ve felt like a shadow of my former self in many ways (was fine on mat leave - it seemed to coincide with returning to work/covid vaccines/getting covid). To keep it brief as possible, psoriasis that hadn’t bothered me for 7 years prior has come back with a vengeance, any virus that hits the house floors me whilst my partner doesn’t do so much as one sneeze, I have muscle and joint aches, skin very dull, anxiety pretty bad. I’m just in general run down. Had two blood tests in last 18 months and both fine. Energy levels fine (considering busy life), it’s just a lot of minor stuff but seems to worsen as winter draws in. I don’t drink or smoke (anymore) and take a multivitamin, eat minimal processed foods etc.

So now I’m looking at what I can do to help myself and totally looking for recommendations, if anyone has any before I spend money on random stuff that might not work.

Things that I currently do:
Avoid eating red meat, processed meat, and sugary drinks.
Limit alcohol to a couple of units a week.
Limit cake, biscuits and sugary snacks to a couple of days a month.
Maintain my weight at between 8st and 8.5st.
Stand on a low intensity vibration plate daily.
Take vitamin D, vitamin K2, calcium, Omega 3 and magnesium daily.

Things I need to do more of or should be doing:
Iifting weights
Resistance exercises
Walking
Jumping, squatting, skipping, dancing
Sleeping
Drinking water
Deep breathing

Completely giving up alcohol is the thing that made the most difference for me. I’ve lost weight, have more energy, my skin is glowing, no more hangovers (which I used to get after even a glass).

Sleep. Lots and lots of sleep! I refuse to sit up and watch crap on TV “just because!” I’d rather be in bed getting sleep

^^This is what I should be doing! Instead I'm still up at midnight and half-watching TV! Not watching crap though, quite the opposite. I'm watching Michael Palin's Around the World in 80 Days.

I have a mild cardiomyopathy, though, like a lot of conditions you'd never guess it, so maintain:

Keep taking the medication!!
Walking every day - easy with a dog
Minimal alcohol
Cook my own meals
Get down to the beach - dog again
Keep moving - easy with a house and garden to keep up
Weight bearing exercise to keep up the quads and save the knees
Grow veggies

New stuff
Exercise bike for 30 minutes every day - increasing levels but not going bonkers

For my inner self
Book Club
Fims
Volunteer work at a gallery
Concerts
Galleries
Long walks in nature - state and national parks
Flowers on the table

Agree about not being obsessive about weight - I only weigh myself before going to the doctor, so not much at all.

Sleep
Osteopath
Physio (plus exercises at home)
Pain clinic
Psychologist
Medication
Supplements
Try to eat healthy meals (though I eat biscuits and cakes too because I have so little other pleasure in my life)
Try to get outside
Try to do something just for me every day
Music - playing happy music in the car makes my journeys easier most of the time
Also related but not when driving: delta waves music for the brain - relaxation)
Audiobooks
Try to keep public parts of the house relatively clean and tidy
Try to make sure I get time to myself every week

I do all this but my MH is on the floor because I am in so much pain every day.

Work very part time.
Exercise - swim, yoga, pilates, gym, walk.
Don't drink, smoke or eat meat and am not overweight.

Get enough sleep.

Drink more water.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Exercise
Stay away from.anyone who makes me feel rubbish
Outside a lot

Cut out alcohol
Exercise
Cut the snacks

Drink 3l of water a day.
Hot yoga membership - I do at least 7 classes a week. It has been amazing for my sleep, skin, strength, balance, plus I’ve met really nice people there.
I sleep well.
No alcohol, fags, drugs, junk.
I walk a lot.
Travel solo.

Yoga/ hot Yoga and Pilates classes. I go at least 3 times a week.
Meal planning and shopping accordingly.
Cutting back on alcohol aiming to get down to two nights a month.
Getting an electric blanket 😊
Buying myself flowers.

Drink lots of water
Meditate
Exercise 3 times a week at least
Only eat meat on high days and holidays
Trained myself that a ready meal/take away is not a treat and I actually don't like some of them now , too salty

-Don’t drink alcohol
-Don’t smoke
-walk or some other type of low impact exercise.-. Hardcore exercise can age you
keep away from toxic people
-I water fast five days a month to give the body a rest
prioritise my mental health. Go NC with anyone who makes me feel like shit
Try to be grateful for what I have. Don’t compare myself to others
Solo trips to cinema, lunch, dinner
Solo holiday twice a year.

Changes for better in the last few years:

Strength training several times a week (almost entirely motivated by not wanting to end up like my mum!)
Run twice a week (ditto!)
Healthy-ish vegetarian diet
Cut down on drinking alcohol - I have a couple of drinks a couple of times a week
Walk the dog every day
Going to theatre more often (still not very often)
Being proactive about seeing friends

Would like to make time for some yoga/flexibilty and some volunteering.

Stop worrying about your health!
Get off the internet
Accept that "what will be, will be" - we are all going to die.

The result of acceptance is zero stress, of course.

Don't smoke or drink, cut down on processed food. Left a stressful job. Floss.
Heart disease runs in my family. Truthfully I could do more exercise and drop more weight.
I take vit D3, iron (spatone), multivit, cod oil high strength, turmeric, b complex. I should take calcium but horse pill size puts me off.

Good diet
Good sleep
Spend time outdoors in fresh air (doesn't matter what activity. My babies spent hours outside in their pram. 80 yr old neighbour just sits outside her front door )

Pursuing enjoyable interests and hobbies (doesn't matter what they are; it's the mental stimulation and pleasure that count).

don’t be vegan (you cannot get all essential vitamins and minerals from a vegan diet)

Oh, here we go...

Having a backrub twice a month. I hadn't been in ages but found a much cheaper beautician so having it done regularly again. A very good way to get the toxins out but I also drink plenty of water.

I hear you, @Pen89ox
I have arthritis (hips) which is severely affecting my mobility, as much as I keep trying. I did have physio about 5-10 yrs ago, maybe I should ask my GP again but these days.. you tend to be half dead before asking for help, with the way things are.
I live at the top of a hill.. of course I do, seem to make a habit of buying houses on top of hills.. so 'going out for a walk' is a huge thing! I need a lift or a taxi before I can get anywhere to walk on the flat - & it still hurts!

Also have IBS or.. something else. Had a test, waiting for result.. so I have quite a limited diet. I do smoke but don't drink. The only thing I can think of that might help you personally is up your vitamins. I don't take thousands but our soil is depleted now & I don't think we get the vitamins & minerals that we once did.

I do look after my teeth - as much as is possible without an NHS dentist.. re-reading my post, we're a bit stuffed, aren't we? Things we used to take for granted, dental check ups, check ups with GP's.. :-0

enough sleep
very limited alcohol
diet - veg, fruit, wholegrains, some full fat dairy, no meat, very limited sugar
a lot of yoga (ashtanga for me). Up to two hours a day (minimum 90 mins) 5-6 days a week
an active part time job (rarely sit down at work)
fresh air every day
reading
a cleaner! clean and organised house lowers my stress levels massively and frees up time
flossing / interdental brushing once a day, teeth brushing twice / three times

Sleep
Drink (water and tea)
Eat vegan 90% of the time or more
Walk
Enjoy nature and wildlife
Do nothing when I feel I need to or want to

Same as what is good for horses, dogs and children and most land creatures:

Fresh air, exercise and routine (eat and sleep at regular times)