Quality of life matters immensely when it comes to happiness and health; in fact, studies suggest that improving it could even increase longevity.
But what does a high quality of life entail? This definition can vary greatly between people.
1. Exercise regularly
Exercise can dramatically enhance your quality of life in numerous ways. Exercise can strengthen both the heart and muscles, improve mood and even alleviate pain from certain conditions such as arthritis or back problems. it may even help improve sleep quality, ease tension and boost energy.
Studies have demonstrated that those who exercise regularly can decrease their risk for serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes while living longer than those who don’t engage in physical activity.
Health experts advise adults to engage in 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, in addition to engaging in muscle strengthening activities that target all major muscles at least twice each week.
3. Get enough sleep
Sleep plays an essential role in body’s renewal and maintenance processes, from restoring hormone balance and healing tissues, to supporting immune system function and helping regulate blood sugar, reduce stress and maintain a healthy weight – not forgetting its key role in memory formation and learning processes.
Research indicates that getting adequate quality sleep can significantly enhance both short-term mood and long-term health, positively influencing how you think, learn, get along with others, as well as making exercising easier and maintaining a healthier diet simpler – it may even help avoid certain health conditions altogether!
4. Take care of your mental health
Behavioral health, which encompasses mental and emotional wellness, is an integral component of quality of life. It affects how we think, feel and interact with one another; how we handle stress or deal with challenges; as well as our overall stress management practices and problem resolution strategies.
Studies of patients’ subjective sense of well-being is a relatively modern phenomenon, having only gained widespread interest within the last two decades. Prior to this point, medicine focused mainly on curing diseases or managing long-term impairment due to illness.
Early and consistent treatment can help those living with mental health disorders recover and lead fulfilling and productive lives, often assisted by psychotherapy and medications.
5. Spend time with family and friends
Spending quality time with family and friends can be an excellent way to enhance the quality of life. Spending time with loved ones helps reduce stress while increasing happiness levels.
Mental health benefits from peer support in that it provides a safe, nonjudgmental space to express one’s thoughts and emotions freely and safely. Furthermore, peer support groups may help increase self-esteem and foster feelings of belongingness among its participants.
Spending time with family and friends can also help prevent unhealthy habits from developing; those who regularly spend time together tend to eat healthily and engage in regular physical exercise.
6. Take care of your pets
Pets require regular feedings, exercises and grooming – giving you structure and purpose while giving yourself something to look forward to every morning! Pets also provide sensory stress relief; touching them may even lower blood pressure!
Studies suggest that those who own pets experience an improved quality of life than those without. This may be the result of decreased feelings of loneliness and isolation, plus having an animal can encourage you to take more walks or visit parks, further improving health.
7. Take care of your home
If your loved one’s quality of life is being diminished due to illness, it is crucial that they find ways to improve both their outlook and intrinsic happiness. Exercise, getting enough restful sleep and eating healthy foods all play a part in increasing quality of life. Our home healthcare team can take their quality of life even further by offering homecare services which consider all aspects of physical and mental wellbeing as well as emotional support as well as meeting social needs.
