The Five Healthiest Things You Can Do Every Day, According to Experts

Trying to stay healthy can seem overwhelming. You may feel as though you don't know where to begin, but there are actually small things you can do on a daily basis that will build toward your overall health.

Nutritional Health

Aim for a balanced diet. Most people know they should do this, but it's their mindset that gets the best of them. People feel that if they fail to eat nutritiously at one meal, they should give up for the day, or they beat themselves up for not making all the right choices. However, most experts say that the key is to make the right choices most of the time, and indulge yourself about 10 percent of the time.

Brain Health

Continuous learning and working to keep your memory fresh is not just for the very young and the very old. Challenge yourself by taking on projects such as language learning or working difficult crossword puzzles. Some universities now offer portions of their curriculum online for free, and you can dip your toe into everything from architecture to theoretical physics. Spend a few minutes daily exercising your brain with this unfamiliar material.

Emotional and Mental Health

Try journaling, affirmations or meditation. Studies have repeated shown that all of these have a significant effect on a person's mental health. In some cases, journaling has been shown to be as helpful as talk therapy. One study found that people who engaged in positive affirmations a few times each week did better on cognitive tests than people who did not. Another benefit of these techniques is that they teach people self-reliance and self-care in times of stress.

Physical Health

Keeping up on your meds is an important part of physical health. Whether these are for strictly physical ailments or for emotional health, you should be sure to take any meds as prescribed and keep a handy list of what they are. While you may be hesitant to comply with your doctor’s orders all the time, you can usually rest assured that your healthcare professional is licensed and experienced. When pharmaceutical companies are distributing pharmaceutical product samples, they must verify practitioners' licenses. This ensures that the samples they’re distributing are going to actual, licensed doctors.

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do for all aspects of health. Study after study shows it can be effective against mild depression as well as keeping you in shape. Daily exercise does not have to be strenuous and can include low-impact activities like walking and gardening.

One thing to keep in mind about staying healthy is that mental and physical health are closely related. By doing small things daily to remain healthy in both mind and body, you put good habits in place for lifelong health.