Simple lifestyle changes to improve your

In our previous blog we discussed why we normally recommend that our clients follow a financial reboot with some health-boosting self-care. At Libertine Consultants, we believe that once the pressure of debt has been removed, you should take care of your mind and body and implement long-term lifestyle changes that will pave the way for a happier, healthier life in general.

Here are a few simple lifestyle changes you can make to improve your mental and physical health during and after debt review:

Eat the rainbow

First things first – assess your diet. The type of fuel we give our bodies determine how well they can function, it’s as simple as that. If your diet mainly consists of refined carbs (bread, pasta, pap) and meat, you are going to run into some problems. While these foods do keep you going, you need to eat a more varied diet to ensure that your body is getting all of the vitamins and minerals it needs to heal and replenish. Start by adding some fresh fruit and vegetables to the mix. Shop seasonally to get the best prices and try to eat at least 4-5 servings per day. Ideally, you want it to be in it’s original form (i.e. not from a tin or in the form of a sugary juice).

Find a type of exercise you enjoy

You don’t have to run marathons to enjoy the benefits of regular exercise. Recent studies have shown that as little as 3 x 10 minutes of moderate exercise per day can make a big difference in an individual’s health and life expectancy. Start by taking the stairs instead of the lift at work and taking a walk around the block when you get home at night. After a while you can up the ante by finding a type of exercise you enjoy – dance, skip, jump on a trampoline, swim, run, cycle! The choice is yours, all you need to do is get moving.

Get checked

Go for regular medical check-ups. Eyes, skin and teeth have to be checked at least once (ideally twice) a year. Additionally, ladies have to see their gynae and gents have to visit the proctologist to ensure that their reproductive systems are healthy. Prevention is better than cure, so schedule these visits and the beginning of the year and stick to it.

Hydrate!

The average adult needs at least 2L of water per day to flush their systems and keep all their organs sufficiently hydrated. Get in the habit of keeping a 500ml water bottle nearby and sip from it regularly. You can even set an alarm on your phone or computer to remind you to drink a few sips every hour.

Get enough sleep

Consistently getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night can lead to a wide variety of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Prioritise rest and ensure that you get at least 7 hours of shut-eye per day.

These are just a few of the simple lifestyle changes you can implement to improve your mental and physical health during and after debt review. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with a Libertine Consultants representative for more information on our debt services and credit services, and how we can help you to get to the point where your financial burdens are a thing of the past.