Hello, Yahoo Life readers! My name is Caitlin. We’ll send you a weekly roundup of the best health and wellness news.
Autumn is here, and it’s the perfect season for a walk. But would you consider going 15 miles or more on an extreme trek across your city? Some people are doing just that and sharing their journeys on social media. Try it yourself. Be sure to stay safe as a pedestrian, stay hydrated, and bring a filling snack.
In the meantime, check out the weather in your area and check out your horoscope if you’re interested. Then check out Wellness Bites below.
🏃♀️ Take breaks during exercise
Don’t like long, steady jogs? A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B says that taking breaks during exercise can be beneficial. Researchers observed 10 participants who walked at various stages on a treadmill and Stairmaster and found that participants who performed short bursts of activity of 10 to 30 seconds were more likely to perform continuous exercise over the same distance. It turned out that they consumed about 60% more oxygen than if they had been maintained. This increased oxygen consumption means that short periods of activity can burn more calories and require more energy than continuous exercise. In other words, you can get more benefits from the same amount of exercise.
Why not try it for yourself? Next time you go to the gym, do some intervals. Choose a challenging speed for 30 seconds on the treadmill, then actively recover with a walk. repeat!
🎃Try October Theory
January may not be the ideal time to set goals, at least according to a recently resurfaced theory popularized on TikTok by 2023 creator Macy Morgan. Theory suggests that October could be the best month to accomplish your goals. It allows you to feel a sense of urgency to accomplish something by the end of the year without feeling overwhelmed by the need to maintain progress for a full 12 months. For example: Did you want to start your exercise routine in January, but it’s gotten off track? Consider giving yourself permission to call October a reset and take advantage of your fall workouts.
☀️ Let’s get brighter soon
If you have trouble waking up in the fall, you’re not alone. As the days get shorter and there is less light, the sleep hormone melatonin increases, making you feel groggy. Fiona Barwick, director of the Sleep and Circadian Health Program at Stanford University, suggests a simple solution. It’s about getting 10 to 15 minutes of light exposure first thing in the morning. Ideally, you should go outside, but turning on the lights as soon as possible can also help. Still feeling sluggish? Try a lightbox. This is essentially an indoor solar simulator. It features a box that emits 10,000 lux (a unit of measurement for light) to recreate a bright day outdoors, making you feel more awake and energized.
🕰️ Schedule time to do nothing
Want to unwind from a stressful week? Signing up for a yoga class is one way to unwind, but there may be an easier and free option. It’s about building time into your schedule to do nothing. By giving your brain a break from your daily routine, you’ll have time to de-stress and reset, no matter what you do with the blank space on your calendar. For example, “doing nothing” time might be like sitting outside drinking coffee and listening to the birds (which in itself is great for your mental health!). Or maybe it gives you time to take a nice, luxurious bath instead of a quick shower. The key, of course, is to stick to the “do nothing” block. Once you let go of the immediate gratification that productivity brings, you’ll be energized and ready to tackle the next thing on your to-do list.
🧹 Consider decluttering
From spring cleaning to fall tidying up? In an essay for Insider, the mother of three explains how decluttering makes her space feel much calmer, even though it means letting go of things she once cherished, like her children’s old toys. He said it became like that. It can be difficult to let go of things you hold dear, but there are many good reasons to reduce what you’ve accumulated. Professional organizer Tracy McCubbin shared tough love tips with Yahoo readers for clearing up the mess, including putting emotions aside. After all, just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s inherently valuable. So are the gifts you vowed to use but never got. Toss or donate it instead.
💡 Bring light into your workspace
You probably know that a clean desk helps you focus on work, but professional organizer Anastasia Lee recommends prioritizing natural light for people looking to be more productive while working from a home office. He gave me some amazing tips. Doing so increases your energy and focus, Lee told Business Insider. No windows? If that’s not available, “choose bright, warm lighting to create an inviting workspace,” says Lee. Exposure to more light during the day is linked to a lower risk of depression, so it’s worth a try.
🛒 Read nutrition labels even when shopping online
Apps like Instacart can make it easier to order food for the week, but it’s best to proceed with caution, according to a new study from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Researchers found that only about 35% of online grocery retailers offer FDA-approved food labels that include nutritional information, ingredients, and allergens. This means you could end up buying things you wouldn’t have thought of if you were reading the labels at the store, which can affect your diet and overall health. The Tufts University team calls on retailers to take action, while consumers can make better choices by checking food labels online and being particular about buying natural foods like fruits and vegetables. .
🍷 Avoid alcohol for a month
Trends like “Sober October” encourage people to abstain from alcohol for a month, but if you missed the boat this month, you can still join the 30-day sobriety campaign. There are several reasons why you might want to try it. Dr. Liana Wen explained to CNN. Removing alcohol from your life for a short period of time can help you assess your drinking habits and identify potential problems, especially if you’re concerned about binge drinking or alcohol use disorder. Cutting down on alcohol also has health benefits, including improved sleep and weight loss, as well as reduced liver inflammation and lower blood pressure.
🧽Please be careful when cleaning
Thoroughly cleaning your space can be very satisfying. Please stay safe while cleaning. One way to avoid toxic chemicals is to avoid mixing cleaning products. For example, mixing vinegar and bleach can produce harmful chlorine gas, which poses serious health risks and can even be fatal in high concentrations. Always read labels when using cleaning products to ensure safety, ensure proper ventilation, and change sponges or other scrubbers between products to avoid accidentally mixing chemicals.
🧍Don’t just stand there!
You may have heard the advice, “It’s better to stand than sit.” But new research has found that standing alone doesn’t provide much benefit and may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. “The overall advice is not to stay still,” vascular surgeon Dr. Christopher Yee explained to Yahoo Life, adding that people should choose to move instead of just standing. . For example, if you work in an office, get up every 30 minutes and move your body, whether it’s taking a short walk to refill your water bottle or doing some active stretching at your desk.
🥗 More health and wellness tips
Commute with purpose — Give yourself control over your pre-work time by calling a friend or listening to an audiobook.
Add protein powder or Greek yogurt to your bowl of oatmeal for a satisfying blend of protein and fiber.
Drink green tea – may help lower cholesterol
Let’s start making things. Doing so may help you feel more satisfied with your life.
