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A healthy lifestyle includes getting enough sleep, a balanced diet, physical activity, maintaining social relationships and enough relaxation. It’s such a thing with healthy resolutions to get rid of unhealthy habits. How do you do that?
The older you are, the more important it is to have a healthy lifestyle. “But it’s even better to change your lifestyle early,” says Renato Mattli, “Lifestyle Interventions” project manager at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. The trained movement and sports scientist summarizes in five tips how best to change and improve your own lifestyle. And at any age.
Sleep and relaxation
Like lifestyle, sleep is also something very individual: some people need a lot of it, others get by with little. The Swiss health survey 2022 showed that a third of women and a good quarter of men sleep poorly. “The fact is that the older you get, the less sleep you need,” says Mattli. Therefore: Don’t stress if you can’t sleep in on Sunday like a teenager.
“Waking up several times a night is completely normal,” says the study leader. Even young people wake up at night, but can no longer remember the short periods of wakefulness.
Tip: Maintain regular sleep and wake-up times and do not deviate from them by more than an hour at most. Regardless of whether you slept well or badly. And don’t stress about sleeping less as you get older.
Nutrition
Sure, a balanced diet is important. But almost as important for Mattli is that you eat consciously. «What does my menu smell like? What does it look like exactly?” He recommends letting the meal sink in before eating.
Tip: “Resolve to invite someone to breakfast, lunch and dinner within a week.” In this way, social contacts are maintained – two birds at once. And if you only have dinner guests once a week, it doesn’t matter. According to Mattli, a healthy lifestyle should not be a requirement.
Movement
Good company not only helps with conscious eating, but can also motivate you to exercise: “Go for a walk or exercise with someone,” recommends the study author. Here, too, you automatically maintain social contacts and have moved around.
Tip: Training twice a week that includes strength, flexibility, coordination and balance.
Emotional health and dealing with stress
Whether young or old: you are not immune to blows of fate and mental stress. “The basis is how you look at yourself,” Mattli is convinced. For him, it’s all about self-care. But also about gratitude.
Tip: “Treat yourself the way you treat your best friend.”
Social contacts
“Do I have someone who is there for me when I need help?” According to Mattli, this central question is independent of age. That’s why you should maintain social contacts throughout your life. Important social contacts even more so. You should always think about: “Do I see the people who are important to me on a regular basis?”
Tip: Why not pick up the phone and call someone again?