More people are embracing a philosophy of holistic wellness as a means of protecting their overall health for longer. If you’re unfamiliar with this type of lifestyle and want to learn more, it’s essential to start with the basics. Here’s a brief look at the basics of holistic living.

Physical Health

While holistic well-being concerns every aspect of human health, it starts with physical health and for good reason. Failing to take care of your physical body can lead to cognitive decline, emotional illness, and spiritual suffering. Adhering to a mostly plant-based diet that limits or excludes refined sugar, fat, and processed meat is an excellent way to improve physical health. It would be best if you also restricted tobacco and alcohol consumption. Besides dietary habits, getting between 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day and seven to eight hours of sleep each night is also essential.

Emotional Health

It’s easy to take emotional health for granted, but failing to look after this aspect of your health can lead to problems. Overall, your holistic wellness relies on reducing stress regularly. Engaging in stress-reducing activities will also help boost your mood. Choose activities that you find relaxing, or try doing yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.

Social Health

Your social engagement also affects your overall health. Researchers have found that people who are not socially active are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and other mood-related mental illnesses. You can engage socially in several ways. Try visiting relatives, participating in community events, or meeting up with friends regularly.

Spiritual Health

There are many areas of spiritual health, including religion and mindfulness. Hiking in nature or meditating can help you meet this basic need. You can try any activity that enables you to connect with your inner soul, or you can look for practices that help you connect with the natural world.

As you try to incorporate these practices into your day to day life, don’t forget that your mental health is also essential. Many of the activities listed here will also stimulate cognitive functioning. Alternatively, you can boost your mental health by working on puzzles, reading, or learning a new hobby. As you begin looking after all five pillars of health, you’ll be on your way to achieving a state of holistic wellness.

This article was originally published on JillOmbrello.com