Stupid, completely avoidable injuries can make you reevaluate your life and make tons of promises about how you’re going to live a completely healthy life from now on. At least for a few minutes if the injury’s not too serious; longer if your bones now ache after the injury, foretelling the coming rain.

As we age, our bodies tend to get weaker. Our bones shrink in size and density, our muscles lose strength and flexibility, and we become more prone to accidents. However, getting into the habit of moving lots and being physically active is one of the ways that we can offset the gradual decline of our bodies.

Activities like walking, swimming, weight training, and calisthenics help us stay strong, less prone to injury, and keep our bodies fit, so we recover from accidents quicker than if we were couch potatoes.

Another part of staying healthy is eating a healthy diet that’s low in saturated salt and fat, and has a variety of veggies, fruits, high-fiber foods, and lean sources of protein in it. You also ought to limit your intake of sugar, quit smoking, and either completely give up or greatly reduce how much alcohol you consume. Managing stress via exercise, socializing, and mediation, as well as getting enough sleep, are two further ways how you’ll stay fit, focused, and capable.

If you’re already very physically active (I assume there are at least a few professional athletes among our readers!), then you need to be aware of what you can do to reduce the risk of injury during training and competitions. 

Health Plus explains that most sports injuries can be avoided by doing some form of warm-up like stretching or cardio. However, there’s also the need for proper cool-downs after you finish exercising. The amount of time you spend cooling down should be roughly twice as long as you spend on your warm-up.

The right equipment, shoes, and clothes are also important factors. Of course, knowing how to do particular exercises is much more important than splurging on top-notch gear, but it’s still nonetheless an important aspect to consider if you can afford it.

If you do suffer a sports injury, you should remember the RICE method. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. If you become injured, you should get as much rest as possible and refrain from straining the area. Apply an ice pack on the soft tissue area that’s hurt. Next, wrap the area with a medical bandage to prevent swelling: not too loose but not too tight, either. Finally, raise the injured body part above the level of your heart to reduce pain and swelling.