Five Things you can do right now to improve your health and wellness

Professor Anne Tideman of the University of Sydney cited physical activity and a balanced diet as two important factors to maintain health in daily life.

Tideman goes on to stress that cutting back on alcohol, quitting smoking, and staying socially connected are also very important for health.

1. Physical activity

"The important message about physical activity is that it's good for everyone, no matter how old you are or what level of disability you have," said Professor Tideman. Even if you can't meet it, there are clear studies showing that some amount of exercise and physical activity is beneficial, and that there are health benefits from doing a little more physical activity than you currently do."

" You do not inescapably have to share in a structured sport or exercise group, but physical exertion can take numerous forms," she continued. Being active around the house, gardening, all these effects can ameliorate your health. ”

2. Eat a balanced diet

Prof. Tideman says maintaining a balanced diet is very important to lower long-term risk factors for disease and reduce the risk of obesity.

Great nutrients in our diet fuel our bodies, strengthen our bones, and give us a sense of energy.

“It is very important to eat a well-balanced diet and not eat too many processed foods and sugar,” Tideman said.

The guidelines encourage Australians to enjoy a variety of nutrients from the five food groups, while helping to limit their intake of foods containing saturated fat, salt, sugar and alcohol.

3. Cut down on alcohol and stop smoking

Professor Tideman stressed the importance of cutting down on alcohol and quitting smoking, stressing that "these are lifestyle risk factors for a number of diseases."

According to the World Health Organization, alcohol consumption contributes to millions of disabilities, poor health and 3 million deaths worldwide each year.

According to data from the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (AIHW), there were 1,452 alcohol-related deaths in Australia in 2020, the majority of which were male.

4. Stay socially connected

 Professor Tideman says loneliness is a "big problem" in our society, and often because of a "lack of connection," we can feel lonely even when we're surrounded by other people.

"It's important to feel connected to the people around you and to feel connected to the society in which we live," said Tideman. " To feel that you mean a commodity to others and to show that you watch them. All these human relationships are really important.”

Tideman explained that volunteering in the community and doing various activities can connect people.

“Volunteering can be a way to promote social connection with others,” she says.  People love sports because I think it's good to have a purpose that is united together."

"It's like playing a team-based sport, everyone is aiming for the same result and can connect in this way," she added.

But she says Professor Tiedman is someone who enjoys being alone sometimes.

"Even if they are alone, they can still connect with people through other means," Tideman said.

5. Take care of yourself and your loved ones

Tideman said the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic are a great example of why we need to take care of ourselves and those around us.

I suppose that is really important, she said. I have come concerned about my aging parents during lockdown and whether they've what they need.

But occasionally people do not realize that they live with quite a bit of stress and anxiety, Tideman said. It's really important to check yourself and make sure you are doing something good for your well- being. Emphasized.