Do you want to make a new year’s resolution that you can actually keep? Here’s some simple health tips and wellness suggestions from our team at Drayton Street Family Practice that can help make 2021 your healthiest year yet.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Do you wake up tired? Are you struggling with lethargy or mood swings? If you’re not getting a good night’s sleep, your body and mind can’t function at their best. The amount and quality of sleep that you get affects all aspects of your body and mental health, including alertness, mood and energy levels. Poor sleep is also attributed to a vast range of health issues, ranging from high blood pressure to acid reflux and a weakened immune system.

There are many ways to improve your sleep, including keeping a regular sleep pattern, reducing your afternoon caffeine consumption and creating a quiet and comfortable bedroom environment. However, if you are concerned about your sleep quality, you may require sleep services to determine the cause of your restless nights. You may be suffering from a sleep disorder, like Insomnia or Sleep Apnoea. Talk to your GP about your sleep problems — and rest easy.

Challenge Your Mind

Health isn’t just about the body — it’s also about keeping your mind in top shape, too. With 1 in 15 Australians (aged 65 or over) suffering from dementia, there are some lifestyle choices you can make to lower your risk by improving the health of your mind, body and heart.

These lifestyle changes include remaining social, maintaining regular exercise, controlling high blood pressure, challenging yourself and taking the time to play games or complete crossword puzzles.

While there is no way to prevent dementia, and many factors which can not be changed (like your age, genetic makeup and family history of dementia), you can reduce some of the risks of dementia by making some everyday changes to your lifestyle.

Drink More Water

If you’ve ever heard the saying “don’t drink your calories”, changing the types of drinks you consume can really help you lower your daily intake of sugar and calories. Your body needs regular hydration, but it doesn’t need the fructose, glucose, caffeine, additives and preservatives found in many bottled drinks.

While water may not always be the most appealing option, the benefits it offers your body (as opposed to the negative effects sugary drinks can have on your health) are undeniable. Instead of reaching for a bottle of softdrink, juice, flavoured milk or an energy drink, try swapping at least one sugary drink a day for a glass of water. It’s an easy way to ween yourself off the potentially addictive and harmful ingredients that are present in many bottled drinks — and your body will love you for it.

If you’re motivated to improve your health in 2021, get in touch with our team of doctors and allied health professionals at Drayton Street Family Practice. We’re here to help you make the best possible lifestyle choices and share our simple, easy health tips. Why not phone us on 07 3857 2799 to make your next appointment?

* The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer or company.