5 Simple Steps Toward a Happier, Healthier Home

Go beyond diet and exercise and make these easy changes to your day-to-day life

Posted: August 24, 2016 05:24 PM ET

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Have Healthy Food at the Ready
It may seem like a no-brainer, but having healthy snacks on hand can help you avoid cookies and other sugary temptations. Keep carrot sticks in the fridge, put dried fruit in the cookie jar and leave a bowl of almonds out in the kitchen. If you have a sweet tooth, pre-make smoothie popsicles or have fruit and yogurt in the fridge to satisfy any cravings. And drink lots of water—adding cucumber and lemon slices to a jug of filtered water makes for a tasty incentive to health.

Keep Your Dental Health Routine Fresh and Fun
Many of us brush our teeth hurriedly and improperly. It’s hard to jazz up such a mundane task, but the benefits are well worth it. Buy yourself a spiffy electric toothbrush—there’s even one with Bluetooth that connects to an app, which helps you track the pressure applied, time spent brushing and other helpful hints. Too high-tech? Try setting up a dental station with a timer (according to Health Canada you should brush for at least two minutes), buy fun toothpaste flavours (some brands offer interesting spins, like ginger and cinnamon) and keep a jar of fun floss picks within reach.

Set Up a Relaxation Area
Choose a corner—or, if you have space, an entire room—devoted to your mental and physical well-being. The space should be light, airy and uncluttered; somewhere you can meditate, get in-home massages, do yoga—anything that makes you feel relaxed. Throw in some pillows, rugs, soy candles, plants, calm lighting and music. It’s your space, so make it your own, and try to devote at least half an hour a day to yourself.

Make Your Bedroom the Ultimate Sleep Station
Having quality sleep at night is very important, so keep your room quiet and dark. Keep earplugs close if you need them and have heavy curtains over your windows. Consider having a dim lamp by your bedside or install a dimmer so you can read in low light before you go to sleep. Avoid using your phone or computer about an hour before bed—don’t scroll through social media, send out an email or watch YouTube videos. Also, keep the computer and television out of your bedroom. Hint: a little bit of meditation or restorative yoga before bed can also help you snooze.

Keep Proper Track of Appointments
There seem to be thousands of apps out there that can help us keep tabs on upcoming doctor, dentist and specialist appointments, and many of them are free. Do a little research and test out a couple to see which designs and features work best for you. This way, you’ll always have a reminder in your pocket. But, as many options as there are out there, nothing really beats the good old-fashioned paper calendar on your fridge. Write down any upcoming check-ups, tests, eye appointments, doctor consultations and even massages—anything health and wellness related—so you’ll be reminded every time you reach for one of those healthy snacks.

Don’t forget to choose the right health and dental plan. And if you really want a sweet deal, about a dollar a day* can get you CAA’s Extended Health Care (EHC) coverage, including benefits for massage therapy, vision care, hearing aids and more. Plus, if you’d like to include coverage for prescription drugs and dental care, simply choose the flexible plan that meets your needs and budget.

Find out how affordable Health & Dental coverage can be. Call 1-866-923-4084 or visit our website today.

*Applies to the Basic Extended Health Care product—individual rate for those aged 18-54.

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