Staying healthy has emerged as one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century, owing to a myriad of key factors among them being economic constraints.
It is possible to enjoy a healthy lifestyle without the risk of being declared insolvent, so to speak. Below are three creative ways one can stay healthy on a shoe-string budget.
The F word – Food
What we eat is paramount when it comes to our personal health. If you were to seek expert advice from dieticians, nutritionists and the likes, one phrase that will be thrown around most, arguably in different formats, is “balanced diet.” Touché, but then exactly how do you conjure out this balanced diet on a small budget? Well, here are some suggestions:
Prepare your own meals: This is basically killing two birds with a single stone. One, being that buying ready-made meals is an expensive undertaking since you are also paying for the ‘cooking bit’ value addition. Two, through numerous research it has been determined that processed food is just not healthy. You will also be in a position to pick fresh balanced ingredients for your meal and prepare them to your specific taste.
Grow your own Veggies: It is actually not as hard as it sounds. If you have an ample yard or even patio containers, you can plant easily available seedlings for such vegetables as spinach, kales, tomatoes, and onions. In no time you will have a constant supply of these healthy greens right outside your doorstep.
Keeping Fit
The famous statement goes: “All food and no exercise makes Albert a fat boy” and honestly, that is a valid statement. Keeping fit does not have to be expensive. Try one of these time-tested methods:
Daily Walk:
Take 30 minute walks after meals. This really helps with digestion and increasing your blood flow. Other than the cost of appropriate attire, this is the cheapest way to stay in shape. While at it, you can also walk the dog for added benefit.
Chores:
We are all tempted to hire help when it comes to manual work at home. Enough with that. Take that rake or lawn mower and enjoy the exercise while doing something productive. That is called a three-pronged approach: saving money, keeping fit, and having a beautiful place to call home.
Stress Management
A holistic approach towards healthy living cannot be achieved without emphasizing the importance of stress management. Visiting the shrink is expensive, but before you get to the point where you truly need that option, try out the following:
‘Me’ time
Allocate yourself a slot within your daily program where you do what makes you happy. An activity that truly makes you happy shouldn’t break your budget. Examples include watching your favorite DVD at home, visiting your close neighborhood friends, and having a good laugh.
Vacation:
It does help a lot to take some time away from the routine. Thank goodness, it does not have to be expensive. Swap your home with a friend or go camping, which is way cheaper than booking a full vacation.
Marcy is a stay at home mom and writes on a variety of mom related topics including tips for getting pregnant and has even helped with an ovulation predictor.
