3.Sleep soundly
According to the Better Sleep Council of Canada, a good night's sleep boosts your energy, immune system (making you more resistant to infections) and helps your blood circulate to allow your body to mend after the day's activities.
Dr. Jeffrey Lipsitz, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Centre of Metropolitan Toronto, suggests analysing your sleep environment. Ideally, it's a dark, quiet place kept at a comfortable temperature with minimal distractions. If noise or light are issues you can't sidestep, invest in earplugs or a sleep mask. And so you don't do the 3 a.m. alarm-clock stare, put it on the floor, next to your bed and out of your sight line. Skip presleep stimulation such as watching TV (especially in bed) or phone calls; do these things away from your bedroom. And if you're prone to reading an hour in bed before sleep, it's likely keeping you awake, so get your fiction fix earlier in the evening. "Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the evening, and be careful about using sleeping pills as well," adds Lipsitz.
4. Get your back up
A strong core -- your pelvic, abdominal and back muscles -- can help you overcome slips and falls, says Rod Macdonald, executive director of Can-Fit-Pro in Toronto. Strengthening your core back muscles also improves your posture, says Craig. Bonus: Great posture makes you look taller, leaner and younger.
Try standing on one foot while washing the dishes, suggests Macdonald. Even easier, buy a Swiss Ball and sit on it while watching your favourite TV show once a week. Soon you'll be using it whenever the TV is on. During commercial breaks, slightly lift your legs alternately. This balance challenge will also boost your core strength. You can also replace an office chair with it one day a week.
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