Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and several cancers. It also helps to maintain a healthy body weight and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being. Physical activity refers to all movement. Popular ways to be active include walking, cycling, wheeling, sports, active recreation and play, and can be done at any level of skill and for enjoyment by everybody. Work such as household chores or jobs requiring physical labour is another way to be physically active.

Regular physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your overall health particularly at this time with extensive benefits including better brain health, disease prevention, enhanced immunity, weight management, improved bone health and muscle strength as well as increased longevity. Additionally, there is enhanced mental well-being including positive self-esteem and reduced anxiety, improved self-confidence and peer acceptance. Regular exercise can aid better sleep, manage stress, boost your mood, improve memory and help concentrate better.

Best activities to do

• Walking
• Jogging
• Dance

• Strength Training / Pilates
• Swimming
• Gardening

Good nutrition is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. When combined with regular physical activity and good restorative sleep, a sound nutrition plan can give multiple benefits including maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing your risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease, and crucially for a student, research has shown an improved ability to learn, better memory and alertness.

Eating well helps you feel your best and can reduce your chance of developing certain diseases. If you have children, you’re also more likely to pass on good eating habits to them.

Tips for Healthy Nutrition

• Variety
• Eat real food

• Cooking methods
• Portion sizes

Sleep is an important part of your daily routine—you spend about one-third of your time doing it. Quality sleep – and getting enough of it at the right times -- is as essential to survival as food and water. Without sleep you can’t form or maintain the pathways in your brain that let you learn and create new memories, and it’s harder to concentrate and respond quickly.

Sleep is important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other. In fact, your brain and body stay remarkably active while you sleep. Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that removes toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake.

6 steps to better sleep

• Stick to a sleep schedule
• Pay attention to what you eat and drink
• Create a restful environment

• Limit daytime naps
• Include physical activity in your daily routine
• Manage worries

Healthy habits are everyday behaviors that positively impact your physical, mental, and emotional health. These habits can help prevent chronic diseases, improve mental and physical health, and foster a higher quality of life. Unlike quick fixes or fad trends, these habits aren't about instant results or overnight transformations.

Positive habits—like choosing a salad over fast food or dedicating ten minutes daily to meditation—might not revolutionize your health in a day. However, their cumulative effect can substantially influence your wellbeing over weeks, months, and years.

Establishing and maintaining healthy habits is not just about extending lifespan—it’s about enhancing the quality of your life. Each positive choice has a ripple effect, bringing many benefits and inspiring more changes

Rewards of cultivating healthy habits:

• Energy
• Vitality
• Sharper cognitive abilities
• Handling stress

• Emotional balance
• Improved relationships
• Community engagement
• Richer daily experiences