5 Tips on How to Stay Healthy While Living in a City

For most people, living in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Toronto comes with its ups and downs. On the one hand, there’s so much to do and see that you could go out every night of the week and still not scratch the surface. But with all this entertainment available, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits and poor eating choices that lead to weight gain or heart problems. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

1) Sleep properly

Sleep deprivation makes your brain more vulnerable to poor decision-making, especially when it comes to food. It also raises your blood pressure and makes you more susceptible to infections. To keep your immune system strong and fight off illness, try going to bed early instead of staying up late or sleeping in. Take breaks: You may not have time for lunch breaks when you’re working out of an office but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to relax. Take short brain breaks by doing things like stretching or standing up and walking around while continuing to work. Not only will it relieve stress, but it will give you fresh perspective on whatever you were trying to accomplish.

2) Exercise regularly

In cities, it can be hard to find time for exercise. But staying active is critical to healthy living. Every hour spent walking, biking or playing sports will lower your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. If you don’t have time for an all-out sweat session, be sure you’re getting some movement every day — walk instead of drive or take stairs whenever possible. And always take public transportation: It’s great exercise and it’s also better for your wallet!

3) Eat healthy

As convenient as it is, fast food isn’t doing your health any favors. In fact, studies show that consuming foods from chain restaurants is linked with high cholesterol and can contribute to obesity and heart disease. Another healthy option? Curb your sugar addiction by steering clear of soda, which contributes absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever. Making sure you’re eating healthy by avoiding processed junk food and opting for nutritious whole foods can be one of the most important steps you take towards maintaining a healthier body weight and lowering your risk for serious health problems down the road. One more tip: If you live within walking distance of work or school, exercise there instead of getting in your car every morning.

4) Keep calm

Cities are loud, stressful and chaotic, but they can also be exciting, innovative and filled with opportunity. If you have good health habits, you’ll find living in a city just as fun as it is frustrating. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to live healthier (and happier) while taking advantage of all that urban life has to offer. Here are five tips for doing so

5) Connect with nature

Being surrounded by nature is said to be good for your physical and mental health. It may sound cliche, but there’s scientific evidence showing that spending time outside recharges our brains, makes us more creative and inspired, and can even improve our moods. If you live in an urban environment, you don’t have to settle for a park bench or window view—you can find ways to connect with nature even if you’re surrounded by tall buildings. An easy way to start is by adding indoor plants or houseplants inside your home; they provide an instant change of scenery while helping purify air quality and absorb harmful pollutants (like VOCs).