It’s no secret that it’s much easier to live a sluggish lifestyle during the drab South Carolina winters. Gray skies and clammy temperatures certainly don’t scream, “Exercise!”

Because of this, it can be easy to fall into a Netflix-watching, junk-food-binging lifestyle, but we’d encourage you to live a balanced lifestyle instead! How, you ask? Well, read on as AFC Urgent Care Greenwood provides some helpful answers.

What Does a Balanced Lifestyle Mean?

Living a balanced, healthy lifestyle means mixing in a healthy amount of exercise and mentally healthy activities with relaxation and some indulgences. Everyone needs at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week, but doubling down on one type of physical activity isn’t the best way to stay healthy. If you only lift heavy weights, your body might look more desirable, but heavy weightlifting can lead to poor eating habits and an increased risk of injury.

The same thought process applies to eating sweets and laying on the couch—too much of it can result in negative health effects. Instead of doubling down on one lifestyle activity, we’ve listed some ways to strive for whole-body health below.

Whole-Body Health Tips

• Avoid eating processed foods.
• Stay adequately hydrated.
• Get a healthy amount of sleep every night.
• Don’t consistently spend long amounts of time in front of a screen.
• Reduce your stress levels.
• Engage in a healthy social community.

How Can I Stop Eating So Many Comfort Foods?

The best way to do that is by being mindful of what you’re consuming on a regular basis. Instead of eating a bag of chips in passing or opening another pint of ice cream willy nilly, take mental notes of when and how much you’re eating.

If you find that remembering what you’ve eaten during the day is too difficult, try keeping a food journal! Journaling your food intake is a great way to keep yourself accountable, and seeing what you’ve eaten on a piece of paper can really reinforce a change in diet habits.

Negative Effects of Eating Too Many Comfort Foods

• Weight gain
• High cholesterol
• Increased stress and anxiety levels
• Stomach distress
• Increased risk of headaches

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Greenwood whole-heartedly believes in the power of a balanced, active lifestyle! Visit us today if you have any questions or health concerns.