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By Jessica Migala, InStyle
No, you don't have to devote every minute of your life to
getting healthy. Sometimes just one minute will do. All it takes to
adopt new good-for-you habits is a bit of creativity and a willingness
to do them whenever—and wherever—you can.
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"There are so many things you can do for your health right now that
give you a nice return on a quick time investment," says Sherry Pagoto,
PhD, professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical
School. That’s because even little tweaks (a snack switch here, an extra
plank there) will help you become your fittest, happiest self.
VIDEO: 7 Healthy Foods That Cost Less Than $1
Try these suggestions to make the most of the spare moments you have.
1. Dab SPF on your ears
You put it on your face—now take three seconds and smooth it on each
ear, too. Nonmelanoma skin cancer that’s located on an ear has been
found to be more aggressive; these tumors grow larger and deeper than
those appearing on the face. (While they’re typically not deadly, they
can result in nerve and muscle injury.) And because of the ear’s shape
and the fact that you can’t see all its parts, it can be difficult to
spot potential changes that would indicate skin cancer.
2. Upgrade your smoothie
While everyone is tossing turmeric into their blenders, go for ground
coriander in yours. "Derived from cilantro seeds, coriander contains a
blend of oils that help calm your gut," says Patricia Bannan, RDN,
author of Eat Right When Time Is Tight ($16; amazon.com). That can help relieve bloating and flatten your belly, she says. Use a quarter teaspoon in a single-serve smoothie.
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3. Start something big
Ask yourself, "What small step can I take right now that will move me
closer to one of my goals?" suggests Pagoto. Let’s say you want to
exercise more regularly. You might download the Couch to 5K app,
text a friend to invite her to spin class, or email a group for a
hiking trip. "Sometimes getting started is the hardest part," notes
Pagoto. You can use that first step as a springboard to a larger habit.
4. Break out the floss
We know, we know—it’s the last thing you feel like doing at the end
of a long day. But flossing—along with brushing twice a day and heading
to the dentist at least twice a year—is essential to removing bacteria
and keeping your teeth and gums disease-free, says the American Dental
Association. It may even help you live longer: According to a 2011 study
of older adults, those who never flossed had up to a 30 percent higher
risk of dying during the study than those with a daily flossing habit.
Get on it.
5. Hit pause
Before you reach for that afternoon chocolate candy fix or dive into a
bag of pretzels, wait just 25 seconds. That may be long enough to
cajole yourself into making a healthier pick, per new preliminary
research from Rush University in Chicago, which examined how people
order from vending machines. Nuts are a great snack choice: Adding an
ounce a day to your diet could lower your risk of diabetes by 39
percent, heart disease by 21 percent, and cancer by 15 percent, suggests
research published in BMC Medicine. (Stash 100-calorie packs in your purse, desk drawer, or gym bag so there’s always a good option on hand, suggests Bannan.)
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6. Do a plank
This fundamental fitness move targets your abs and lower back and can
help you avoid injury. That’s because strengthening your core can help
provide stability to your spine, explains Pagoto. (She heads up the
Plank a Day Twitter challenge: #PlankADay.) Start with a 20-second plank
hold and work up to a minute.
7. Stretch away stress
Having one of those days? Pop into Downward Dog pose. "It’s a great
full-body stretch that really targets the muscles in your shoulders and
back that tend to hold stress," says Pagoto.
8. Check the bowl
After you go number one or two, give a little glance—your pee and
poop can tell you a lot about your health, says Michael S. Langan, MD,
an internal medicine doctor at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical
Center. If your urine is dark yellow, that’s a signal to drink more H2O
(the ideal: pee that’s clear or very light yellow). Pinkish or reddish
pee could signal a urinary tract infection or other health problem—see
your doctor.
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9. Sit up straight
Slouching in your chair is a one-way ticket to feeling blah. On the
other hand, sitting upright with good posture (spine in line, shoulders
back) helped people with depressive symptoms feel more enthusiastic and
less fatigued, found a recent study published in Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. Other research suggests that good posture may boost brain activity.
10. Breathe right
When things go wrong, belly breathe, says Sheenie Ambardar, MD, a
psychiatrist in Beverly Hills who specializes in happiness. Slow, deep
breaths reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, and send a signal to
the rest of the body to relax, adds Pagoto. Here’s how to do it: Breathe
in through your nose, hold for a count of three, and breathe out
through your mouth, all while envisioning your abdomen expanding and
contracting with each breath. Just five of these breaths can relieve
pent-up tension and anxiety, says Dr. Ambardar. Ahhh!
11. Grab a fresh towel
Dish towels are some of the scummiest things in your kitchen. In
fact, nearly 90 percent of towels sampled contained coliform bacteria
(the kind found in feces), and 25 percent had E. coli, per research in
Food Production Trends. To avoid spreading germs, use a new rag daily.
