Keeping yourself healthy isn’t just a way to keep your doctor off your back; it’s about fulfilling your potential.

When your mind and body are at peak health, you’ll find that life’s obstacles are no match for your increased concentration, mood and strength. You look better, feel better, and work better.

And improving your health is easier than you might imagine. With a few simple lifestyle changes you can vastly improve your health from the inside out.

Eat the right food

Let’s begin with an obvious step: if you want to improve your body’s health, you must take care of what you put into it.

A balanced diet consisting mostly of fruits and vegetables supplemented with protein, whole grains and healthy fats will keep you looking younger and feeling younger.

90% of serotonin is made in the gut, and since serotonin is the chemical responsible for contentment, avoiding foods which are difficult to digest (such as complex carbohydrates, sugar, and alcohol) can do wonders for keeping anxiety at bay.

Exercise

Exercising isn’t just for bodybuilders and gym bunnies. Regular physical activity is vital for healthy circulation, muscle development, bone strength, and our mental health.

As we exercise, our brain releases endorphins which decrease pain and increase happiness and our sense of pleasure. This, combined with the physical exertion, helps us sleep better, which also gives our mental health a boost. On top of that, losing extra weight and gaining muscle tone is a sure-fire way to boost your self-esteem.

You don’t have to spend hours in the gym. A daily walk, yoga, swimming, dancing, or playing a sport are all great ways to get moving.

Make time for the things that matter

We all place special value on different things, whether that be family, friends, work, creative endeavours, or simple ‘me time’. But are you giving these precious things enough attention?

It’s easy to get swept up in demanding careers, personal commitments, and other people’s baggage, and while we can’t put ourselves first all the time, we also can’t neglect the things that make our life worth living.

Make a mental list of your day-to-day worries and try to find at least one or two you can easily cut out for more free time. Don’t over schedule yourself (or, if you’re a parent, your children). Just give yourself more free time to do the things you want to do.

Do what makes you feel confident

The way we feel about our appearance has an enormous impact on how we conduct ourselves and the choices we make. If you feel drab or unattractive, you’re much less likely to put yourself out there and make yourself a priority.

Do whatever it is you need to do to make yourself feel confident. That might involve wearing a particular style of clothing, taking some time each morning to spend on a hair or skin regime, or, if your insecurities run a little deeper, booking a consultation with a professional.

Non-invasive aesthetic procedures like Botox are an effective way to rid yourself of the small imperfections that are impacting your sense of self-worth. A few wrinkles, age spots, or saggy skin shouldn’t stand in the way of your wellbeing, so don’t let them.

Don’t compare yourself to others

In this age of social media, it’s easy to compare yourself – your life, your appearance, your achievements – to other people, or at least the version of themselves they put on Instagram.

When we compare ourselves to others, we waste time and energy wishing we were something we can never be, and which may not be possible for anyone to be. No one has a perfect life, so focus your attention on making yours as good as it can be, reflecting on your own goals and ambitions and finding ways to fulfil them.

When you do everything you can to make yourself happier, you improve your health inside and out.