4 instant (easy!) health boosts

Move your health forward with these easy steps.
Published December 5, 2015

Any time's a great time for learning fresh feel-good tips and creating new healthy habits. Here are five small things you (and your family) can do right now to get your wellbeing back on track.
 

Get your flu shot


This one little shot isn’t just good for you; it can also keep you from spreading viruses to your friends, family, and co-workers. And now many national drug stores offer the vaccine for as little as $20, so there’s no excuse to skip it!

 

Wear sunscreen every day 


This might seem like a no-brainer, but in the cooler months, it’s easy to forget to protect your skin from the sun. The fact is, sun damage occurs year-round, in every climate. Buying a daily moisturizer with SPF helps protect against skin cancer, keeps skin hydrated, and wards off wrinkles and other signs of aging. Well worth it, no?

 

DVR your late-night shows


We all love Jimmy and Colbert—but do you love them enough to let it sabotage your weight loss? Sleep deprivation can lead to overeating. "When you don't get enough sleep, your body is in an after-stress reaction mode, and you go to eat," says Karen Miller-Kovach, MS, RD, former Chief Scientific Officer for WW International. Another tip: turn your alarm clock around so that you can’t see it from bed. Sometimes seeing the time can cause anxiety and make you restless and unable to doze off.

RELATED: A sleep-friendly bedroom for better rest

 

Don't let yourself get ravenous.


When you’re starving, you’re more likely to scarf down that entire sandwich and overeat. And a recent study suggests that faster eaters actually tend to weigh more. So eat often, and eat leisurely.

RELATED: How to eat mindfully—anytime, anywhere