L
ove them or hate them, routines
are essential to maintaining good
health while creating the resilience
and positivity we need to navigate life
successfully.
Surely we all know what to do? Not
necessarily…When growing up, there
was a dearth of reliable information
on what constituted a good lifestyle
choice. Everything we learned was
hear-say, courtesy of an old wives-
tale and if you were lucky, from the
family doctor. Today, we know so
much more now about wellness and
preventive medicine that it is easier to
make positive life changes.
The downside of having all this
information at your fingers tips is that
there is too much information (if such
a thing exists). To help, we’ve decided
to go through the rigorous process of
pulling these micro habits together in
one place on your behalf.
Here are seven helpful routines that
can be easily adopted that will surely
improve your health status. They’re
simple, practical and there’s no
reason why you shouldn’t make these
part of your life.
1. Start your daywith a positive
affirmation about yourself.
The way you view yourself and your
life in the morning sets the stage for
the rest of the day. Tell yourself: “My
life is beautiful and I have plenty of
opportunities to succeed and be
happy,” “I am capable, deserving,
and ready to create an amazing life
for myself and my loved ones,” or,
“I’m proud of my body and I deserve
to treat all of myself with love and
kindness.” Changing your internal
dialogue through positive affirmations
is a fundamental part of having a
clean bill of mental health.
2. Get in a workout
Exercise keeps your brain fluid,
increases your productivity and
generally sets you in a positive
mood. Always aim to do at least
a 30-minute, high intensity workout
every day although a mini-workout
within your compound is better than
nothing. It’s also advisable to follow
up your workout with a sugar-free
drink that includes amino acids and
antioxidants; these will aid energy,
exercise recovery, insulin balance,
and cellular repair.
3. Floss your teeth
Flossing cleans those tight spaces in
your teeth and the gap at their base.
These are the places that a toothbrush
can’t reach. A healthy mouth isn’t the
only reason to floss every day. Medical
research has proven the bacteria that
flourish in an unhealthy mouth can
lead to systemic problems like heart
48 •
The Lion King
• January - March 2017
Health
By Dr Kazeem Akano*
7 Daily Routines That
Keep You Healthy
