Beech Tree News Network

Athlete Jon Jones said, “Just staying healthy, that is true wealth and true happiness” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/healthy). I absolutely agree with Jones. I’ve done some reading about three ways to improve one’s health: decrease anxiety, walk for exercise, and live in a green environment. 

Many people experience anxiety, and while anxiety itself isn't harmful, persistently elevated stress resulting from anxiety can harm the body. The WebMD article “Tips for Living with Anxiety” (https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/anxiety-tips#1) suggested a few ways to decrease stress. The authors recommended the following ways to calm the mind: 

•Exercise regularly.

•Create a routine that will help you sleep. 

•Cut back on caffeine and alcohol. 

•Schedule a daily 30-minute worry session to identify what’s bothering you and what can be done about it.

•Practice deep breathing.

•Picture yourself facing your fears. 

•Practice relaxing sections of muscles and work through your body. 

•Spend time doing good things for others. 

•Watch for patterns of your anxiety. 

The article explained more about each of these methods and why they help to manage anxiety. I believe these practices make sense and could indeed be helpful.

Walking for exercise is also a healthy practice. Jodi Helmer wrote an article entitled “3 Common Walking Myths, Busted” (https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/common-walking-myths/).  The author explained, “Walking an additional 2,000 steps per day – even if your current step count is minimal – helps lower body mass index and boost insulin sensitivity….” Also, Helmer reported, “In one small study, researchers at the University of Virginia found that overweight women who logged three 30-minute, high-intensity walks and two moderately-paced walks per week for 12 weeks lost six times more belly fat than women who went for a slow stroll five days per week. A second study found that varying speed burned up to 20 percent more calories than maintaining the same pace.” Helmer stated, “While a walk around the block is a good start, maximizing the benefits of a walking workout requires logging sufficient time in your sneakers … focusing on distance, duration or calorie expenditure….” Walking provides great health benefits, and I enjoy walking outside regularly during warm-weather months.

Many believe that living in a green environment has positive effects on one’s health. In Christina Goyanes’ recent article entitled “Plants Could Help Make You Happy and Healthy (Says Science)” (https://blogmyfitnesspal.com/?p=38417), she stated that being inside “plant-less places” may result in the increase of both mental and physical stress, while green environments have proven to put people at ease. A study indicated that houseplants “improved subjects’ mood, focus, and productivity. Medium-sized plants made subjects happier than small ones and having at least three or more plants ‘reduced the feeling of boredom in participants….’” Certainly, selecting houseplants requires consideration of lighting, space, and pets. I love houseplants and have more than my share. A green environment improves my mood, but I’m unsure of its impact on my focus and productivity. Nevertheless, the elevation of my mood is worth the tradeoff of watering plants year round. 

Dan Buettner said, “A long healthy life is no accident. It begins with good genes, but it also depends on good habits” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/habits). These three ways of improving one’s health – decrease anxiety, walk for exercise, and live in a green environment – are not difficult. We just have to choose to take action.