When you are young, you can get away with almost anything without it having a significant effect on your health. But once you are in your twenties, things start changing. You can’t eat all the candy you want, and you cannot sleep in or laze around in bed all day doing nothing (if you have been doing so in your teens). Your body changes in your twenties and you need to start adopting healthy habits which will go a long way in ensuring that you are healthy later on in life too. People of all ages should develop good habits, but the sooner you develop them the better. Here are a few healthy habits you should adopt in your twenties.
1. Sleep 7 to 9 Hours A Day
In your 20s, partying all night and spending the next day feeling groggy should not be part of your daily routine. You need to sleep 7 to 9 hours each night. People who sleep less than 7 hours or more than 9 hours each day have a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases and may also die younger. So it is a good habit to hit the sack early and to give your body the rest it deserves.
2. Quit Smoking
Smoking is a difficult habit to quit, but it is not impossible. People who have been smoking for a long time can lose up to 10 years of their lives because of it. If you can quit the habit before you reach 35, you can eliminate the risk entirely. It is never too late to stop smoking cigarettes.
3. Stop Drinking Soda
Soda is not just a refreshing drink that quenches your thirst. It comes with a lot of baggage. Drinking soda on a regular basis increases your waist circumference, leads to obesity, makes your blood pressure high, and increases your risk of metabolic syndrome. Cut back on the soda and increase your consumption of water instead.
4. Exercise Regularly
In your twenties, you should make it a habit to exercise regularly. It should not be a one-off thing that you do every once in a while when you feel like it. It should be a part of your lifestyle. Working out regularly not only makes you fit but also improves your heart health and boosts your mood. As you grow older, lazying around should not be an option.
5. Stop Taking Antibiotics For Everything
If you have the habit of taking antibiotics for all types of ailments including a cold or the flu, then you should stop right now. Antibiotics work against bacteria but are useless against viruses. When you keep taking antibiotics, you will start becoming resistant to them. So, when you actually need them later on in life, they will not be as effective as you need them to be.
6. Cut Down On Alcohol
If you are a party animal and if you like chugging alcohol, then it’s time to tune things down. Drinking alcohol in moderation lowers your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, but excessive drinking has some deadly health effects. Men can have up to 2 regular drinks a day and women can have one each day.
7. Never Leave Home Without Sunscreen
Regardless of the weather, always make it a point to wear sunscreen whenever you step out. The rays of the sun damage your skin, making it age faster. They also increase your risk of melanoma. Applying sunscreen on a daily basis will cut your risk of melanoma in half.
Never be careless and ignore the needs of your body. Go out more, have fun, reduce your stress, and watch what you put in your mouth. Your older self will thank you later.
