6 [ACTIONABLE] STEPS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

Getting healthier, starting today, is easier than ever. Armed with all the important information, and a kitchen stocked with fresh produce, you will be on the road to a healthier you in no time!

Follow these 6 actionable steps to start leading a healthier lifestyle.

This may not be the most exciting place to start, but it’s definitely the most important.

Understanding where you are in your life, and health, is half the battle. You know you want to change, but understanding “what” you need to change will make the “how” that much easier.

Visit your medical professional for a check-up. They will be able to help you frame your health goals, so you make faster, more sustainable, progress.

From reducing your body fat percentage, to improving your heart health, they will give you the facts that you need to start plotting your road to success.

Just remember...

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we cannot achieve big health goals in a small amount of time. So, what should we do? We can start by setting small, achievable goals.

These smaller goals will help you to stay motivated, acting as little glorious milestones each time you meet them.

If you have a large health goal, break it into smaller steps.

For example, lets beak down a 5kg weight loss goal. If we target a 0.5kg weight loss per week, that gives us a 10-week timeline to achieve our goal.

The smaller goal can be achieved by taking small, sustainable steps, such as brisk walking for 30 minutes a day or drinking 8 glasses of water a day. These may not seem like much, but when pieced together day after day, week after week, and month after month, these small steps could amount to a bigger change – allowing you to achieve your greater fitness goal!

Find out how you can set and track your health goals with AIA Vitality.

We all need our beauty sleep. But studies show that people in Malaysia don't get the regular 8 hours a night we should, or the 7.5 hours we wish had. In fact, the recent AIA Healthy Living Index demonstrated that on average Malaysians regularly get as little as 6.3 hours of sleep.

Sleep affects our mood, health, and weight. A good night’s sleep allows us to perform at our best, whether we’re in the office, or at the gym.

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) associates chronic sleep deprivation to increased smartphone use. Using technology late into night interrupts our bodies’ natural processes, making it harder to enjoy a good night’s sleep.

• Turn screens off 1-2 hours before bed time
• Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night

Water is the essential element that all life depends upon. Well, it turns out its pretty important for your health too.

Drinking more water improves your bodily functions and mood, clears your skin and boosts your energy levels.

Aim for around 8 glasses of water per day. It may sound like a lot, but you will feel the benefits both in the short and long terms.

Ensuring Your Long Term Health with AIA Vitality

At AIA we never trust in leaving things to chance.

With AIA Vitality we set out to help people across Malaysia develop a healthier, and happier, lifestyle. Our proven approach delivers the knowledge, tools and added motivation you need to start living a healthier lifestyle.

Find out more.

References

https://hilt.harvard.edu/files/hilt/files/settinggoals.pdf http://www.consumer.org.my/index.php/health/lifestyle/828-malaysians-dont-sleep-enough-and-suffer-health-problems
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2015.00233/full
http://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body
http://ikeepsafe.org/be-a-pro/balance/no-screen-time-before-bed/
http://www.moh.gov.my/images/gallery/publications/cny2013/Healthy_Eating2.pdf
http://www.moh.gov.my/english.php/pages/view/536
http://www.moh.gov.my/images/gallery/Report/Country_health.pdf
http://www.worldactiononsalt.com/worldaction/asia/53960.html
https://www.nrv.gov.au/chronic-disease/macronutrient-balance
https://www.healthydietadvisor.com/what-is-the-right-balance-of-macronutrients/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/sugar-guideline/en/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water#1

The above articles are intended for informational purposes only. AIA accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from reliance on information contained in the articles.