7 PT Approved Life Hacks for Healthier Days

7 PT Approved Life Hacks for Healthier Days We here at PTSI are all about your health. We want to see you live your best life possible. Our patients often become our friends and as good friends we want to see you get the most out of your life. Here are a few life hacks we recommend to make your days better: 1. Stress less Stress can make existing problems worse. Stress can cause wear and tear on your body and can also cause diseases. Don’t sweat the small stuff. 2. Improve your sleeping habits Poor sleeping habits can greatly decrease your quality of sleep. Posture is important to think about while sleeping. Poor sleeping posture and jaw clenching can decrease your quality of sleep, which can lead to soreness and headaches. Sleeping with a neutral spine can help to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your nerves. To achieve this, place pillows under your knees if you sleep on your back or put a pillow between your legs if you sleep on your side. 3. Morning stretches Humans are not Pop Tarts. We are not meant to just jump out of bed in the morning. Stretching before getting out of bed helps increase blood flow and prepares muscles for activity. Take 30 seconds each morning and start your day off with a few simple stretches. 4. Practice good posture With today’s tech filled world, it’s not uncommon to spend hours slouching in front of a computer in a desk chair or slumped forward looking down at your smartphone. This can lead to poor posture as well as pain in the back, neck and shoulders. There are exercises that can help counteract that pain, including the shoulder blade squeeze. For this exercise, pinch your shoulder blades back behind you as if you are trying to touch your elbows. Once you are back as far as you can go, hold this position for 5 seconds before relaxing. Repeat this 10-15 times. 5. Drink more water Your body is composed of about 60% water. Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it's important to rehydrate by drinking lots of water throughout the day. 6. Breathe More This might sound silly but it’s important to stay mindful of your breathing throughout the day. Instead of short, shallow breaths; breathe through your belly to see your abdomen rise and fall. This increases the amount of oxygen you receive during the day, which can help boost energy while also reducing stress. Here’s to a happy healthy you!