Five Wellness Hacks That You Can Try Today

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For keeping well in winter―or in any season, really―there are some simple things you can do at home to boost your system and keep it thriving. These wellness hacks are free, they use what you have lying around, and you can try them today.

Five Wellness Hacks

Drink More Water

Our bodies are 60% water, and maintaining hydration keeps the body working properly. A full night’s sleep is a long time without water, so starting the day with a tall glass of water is a great way to rehydrate and awaken your system. Studies have shown that hydration can improve mood and brain function, lubricate the joints, and support kidney function. Drinking more water can help remove toxins from the body and is generally supportive of the immune system.

Try Cold Water Therapy

Before you turn off the water of your nice warm shower, breathe deeply and spin that handle to cold. Keep those deep breaths coming and stay put for as long as you can stand it. Why, you ask? Because cold water therapy has been found to improve mood and a sense of well being. And it can boost immune health by improving lymphatic drainage and circulation. One study found that people who take cold showers miss fewer days of work! A few minutes in a cold shower each day just may keep those sniffles away.

Get Outside First Thing In The Morning

Sunlight therapy increases vitamin D assimilation and helps maintain the circadian rhythm. We know that vitamin D is important to immune health, and whether you choose to supplement or not, a little sunshine on the face will promote vitamin D production. Sunlight therapy, especially first thing in the morning, also keeps the circadian rhythm—your natural body clock―on track, which can improve natural melatonin production. Whether you’re walking the dog, bringing in the garbage bins, pausing for a few extra moments before hopping into the car, or just stepping into the sunshine for a moment because you know it’s good for you, a little sun in the morning can lead to better sleep at night. And that leads to the next point…

Get More Sleep

This one may be easier said than done, but sleep can make all the difference in health and wellness in so many ways. For focus and memory and emotional health and immune function and so much more, it’s so important to get good sleep―and enough of it. Regarding immunity, it’s found that even moderate sleep loss correlates to loss of natural killer cells and immune response. Study participants who slept 7 hours or less were 3 times more likely to develop a cold than those who slept 8 hours or more. Support your wellness by getting even the tiniest bit more sleep at night, and you may feel that much better for it!

Eat Your Veggies

There is a lot of chatter about which foods are good or bad, what we should or shouldn’t eat, and which food-philosophy we should adopt and why. It can be confusing, overwhelming, and maybe even a little bit annoying. But there is one thing that nearly everyone agrees on: the power of plants. There are many reasons to enjoy a plant-rich diet, including improved immune function. A recent review of 83 studies concluded that greater consumption of fruits and vegetables may help reduce inflammation and lead to an enhanced immune cell profile. So enhance your wellness by enjoying real whole foods with as many of the plant variety as possible.

Try One Today

Most of these hacks are common-sense, and are probably things you already know, but they can be so hard to do. And even harder to change if you’re far out of the habit of it.

So don’t stress about it―stress isn’t so great for the immune system, after all―and choose just one to focus on today. Make it a part of your daily routine, until it becomes a habit and you’d miss it if you didn’t do it. Then you’re ready to focus on something new.