Serious About Improving Your Health? 5 Essential Tips, From Getting More Sleep To Being Less Sedentary

This question originally appeared on Quora. Answer by Terence Yang.

1: Stop Screwing Up Your Sleep.

Before you go to sleep, turn off your phone and other electronic devices that you look at right before you fall asleep and put them somewhere far away from your bed.
- You can go cold turkey or ease into it by using blue light filters on all your devices. I’m using one right now on my laptop and it is 7:30pm.
- If you need an alarm clock, buy one rated 4 stars on Amazon for $5. Amazon.com: BestGot Desktop Clock OK Fashion Digital Alarm Clock For kids Girls Adult SC5010 (OK Black): Kitchen & Dining
  - No this is not an affiliate link. And no, I’m not Tim Ferris, giving you hundreds of weird products to buy.
Get more sleep.
- Get as much sleep as you need to feel good. Some people only need 6 hours of sleep a night. Others may need 9. Try different amounts and see what works.
Take a lukewarm bath or shower before bed. The cooler the better to lower your body temperature.

2: Stop Sitting All The Time.

Sit less.
- You probably sit too much. Stand and eat one of your meals. Do stand-up meetings. Do walking meetings.
Sit for shorter stretches.
- You probably sit for long stretches without standing or doing something active like walking, air squats, jumping jacks, planks, standing on one foot, marching in place or push ups.

3: Incorporate Physical Activity Into Your Daily Life.

Unless I am carrying a lot of stuff, every time I walk by the stairs - even after I work out, I take a flight of stairs first before I take the elevator (my garage, gym and business center are in the basement).
Get a dog you have to walk.
Walk to work if you can, or park further from your office.
Stand barely on one leg in the elevator. No one will notice if you are subtle.

4: Be Kind To Your Body.

If you have digestive issues, cook your own food. Stop relying on random cooks and restaurants to not upset your stomach.
Stay hydrated. If you are easily dehydrated, drink more water. If you need flavor to drink more, then add a little honey or lemon.
Eat a variety of healthy foods. You need a diverse microbiome.
Stop using Splenda or use it a lot less. Splenda limits your microbiome.
Eat less food which is processed, fried, smoked, barbequed or too sweet.
Eat more fish, poultry, beans, vegetables, fruit, eggs, seeds and nuts.
Buy more expensive, fresh healthy foods, cook and eat them right away or right after they have sat the right time. Eating healthy foods can taste great if they are fresh. Examples include eggs, shrimp and steak.

5: Do Unhealthy Things In Moderation Or Abstain.

Such as drinking, smoking, driving, sitting, eating junk food, drinking soda, etc.