How to Enjoy Better Whole-Body Health on a Budget
Tired of letting your budget hold you back from meeting your health and wellness goals? While it’s a common belief that health comes with a high price tag, being fit and healthy doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg! Likewise, it doesn’t have to be a grueling, painful process that tests the very limits of your willpower. Some of the best things you can do for your whole-body health are surprisingly simple actions that cost very little in terms of time and money. Here are some easy, budget-friendly health and fitness tips to give your body a boost every day.
Embrace At-Home Exercise
HerMoney reports that Americans waste a combined $1.8 billion on unused gym memberships! Fortunately, you don’t have to waste money on an expensive gym membership to get your body in tip-top shape. Turn to free online workout videos and embrace outdoor exercise. Since it doesn’t take much to enjoy the rewards of regular exercise, start small. For example, a simple 25-minute walk around your neighborhood every day will help support your mental health and stave off all kinds of diseases, including cancer and type 2 diabetes.
If you’re having trouble finding the motivation to exercise regularly, consider investing in some affordable fitness gear. A smartwatch or fitness band will help you keep track of your progress and hold yourself accountable as you strive toward your exercise goals. A new pair of athletic shoes or even some fun athletic wear can also be great motivators. And you don’t have to spend a lot either. If you look for online deals, you can find plenty of savings! For example, you can snag a deal on shoes with a Finish Line coupon or a discounted tracker with a Best Buy promo code.
Make a Few Healthy Diet Swaps
Sticking to a strict diet can be time-consuming and expensive. Instead of giving your diet a complete overhaul, consider making a few simple, healthy swaps to your regular meal plan. For example, swapping out simple carbs like white pasta and bread for their whole-grain counterparts will introduce substantially more nutrients to your daily diet. Also, try to swap out processed foods for fresh fruits and vegetables—these can be incredibly cheap if you shop local, in-season produce. When it comes to protein, consider replacing pricey meat cuts with plant-based sources at least a couple of times per week. For example, beans are an extremely affordable protein source packed with many other essential nutrients including calcium, potassium, and fiber.
Prioritize Time for Sleep
While there’s no doubt that diet and exercise play a vital role in our overall health, sleep is the third essential pillar of wellness that many of us overlook. Chronic sleep deprivation can cause several mental and physical conditions that can lead to high medical bills and lost income down the line. One of the best ways to support your long-term health is to ensure you get enough high-quality sleep every night—The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours for adults.
Thankfully, there are several low-cost ways to improve your sleep. For example, consider buying a basic fan to keep your bedroom cool and produce white noise to filter out disruptive sounds. If light from the outside infiltrates your bedroom at night, get a comfortable eye mask so you can sleep in complete darkness. If you spend a lot of time lying in bed trying to fall asleep, try sticking to a very strict sleep schedule. Getting up and going to bed at the exact same time every day—even on the weekends—will help your body adopt a more efficient sleep pattern.
Make Your Home Healthy
Our homes provide us refuge and a place to relax, cook and live. When a home is cluttered, messy and dirty, it can contribute to issues with stress, depression and even anxiety—all of which affect our overall health. Not to mention that a messy house can exude a lot of negative energy, which affects your entire household. To ensure your home is the healthy place you need it to be, clear the clutter, open some windows, organize room by room and go for a deep clean using some DIY cleaners. Once everything is in its place and the grime is gone, you’ll notice how refreshing and comforting your home can be.
It’s easy to make health a priority in your life without spending a lot of money. As you go about your day, try to make decisions that will lead you down the path to better health, even if that means something as simple as taking the stairs at work or swapping your spaghetti dinner for whole-grain pasta. Taking small, mindful steps toward wellness is the best way to develop sustainable habits that will stick with you for the long run.