Greetings to all the readers of Yahoo Life! I’m Kaitlin, and I’m excited to bring you some of the top health and wellness tips for this week.

We understand that mornings can feel especially dark and inviting when your bed is so cozy. To make it easier to start your day, consider establishing a morning ritual that excites you. Yahoo Life editor Erin Donnelly has gathered readers’ favorite habits for enhancing their mornings—ranging from early exercise sessions to incorporating gratitude practices. (Ever thought about journaling?)

Speaking of morning exercise, why not indulge in a long stroll? While it’s beneficial to rack up steps throughout the day, walking for more than 30 minutes can enhance fat burning, not to mention elevate your mental state through its calming nature.

Curious about the weather for the week? Check your local forecast to stay informed. Interested in astrological insights? Read your horoscope next. Following that, explore the wellness tips listed below that will help you make this week a tremendous one.

🫧 Sanitize your home

With the increase in illnesses such as norovirus, flu, COVID, and RSV, you might think cleaning is only necessary when everyone in the house recovers. However, it’s crucial to disinfect your living space post-illness since germs can linger on surfaces and potentially spread. Wash items like clothes, blankets, and towels in hot water, and scrub high-contact surfaces such as sinks, doorknobs, countertops, and tables with soap and water before using disinfectant wipes and sprays. (Don’t forget to clean your phone and laptop too!)

Another cleaning tip is to let some fresh air in: By doing this, you can reduce the bacteria present in your home, and sunlight can help eliminate harmful pathogens.

🐟 Explore a new type of canned fish

Concerned about the recent recall of canned tuna? While the issue affects specific brands due to botulism risks, this is a perfect opportunity to try other canned fish options. If you typically enjoy tuna salad, consider switching to canned salmon instead, which is loaded with brain-friendly omega-3s and provides essential protein and calcium. You could also experiment with a variety of trendy canned fish: Add sardines to a salad or whip up a smoked trout dip to enjoy with crackers and fresh vegetables.

🏈 Apply this motivational strategy from Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts recently achieved a Super Bowl victory with the Eagles, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. In the two years between his team’s defeat and their triumphant comeback, Hurts kept a reminder of that Super Bowl loss as a screensaver on his phone. This concept is a form of a “digital nudge,” which health psychologist Simon Williams has suggested can keep you motivated. In this instance, Hurts’ photo of leaving the field post-defeat served as inspiration for his hard work, which ultimately brought great results for the Eagles.

🛒 Discover a useful grocery shopping tip

If you’re looking to cut down on plastic waste but find paper bags tend to tear under pressure, try this innovative hack shared by an Aldi shopper on Reddit: use a sturdy canvas bag combined with a cardboard box. This combination stabilizes your items during transport, making heavy loads easier to manage and simplifying both loading and unloading. A more manageable bag might even encourage you to walk to the grocery store, allowing you to squeeze in some additional steps.

🥶 Consider trying a cold plunge

A recent study published in PLOS One indicated that cold-water immersion, like cold plunges, may temporarily alleviate stress, enhance sleep quality, and even reduce sick days. Although further studies are necessary to verify the long-term effects, it could be worth a try if you can handle the chill. You don’t need to take an ice bath; even taking a cold shower for a few moments can provide similar physiological benefits, such as boosted energy. Start with 30 seconds and gradually work your way up to three minutes.

🥤 Try a modern soda

You might have noticed Poppi’s advertisement featuring influencers during the Super Bowl and pondered whether you should swap your traditional soda for one of these new contemporary soda options. Brands such as Poppi, Olipop, and Zevia generally contain much less sugar than their classic counterparts and none of the artificial sweeteners found in Diet Coke. Bear in mind, though, to moderate your intake; some of these modern sodas, like Poppi, are high in fiber, which can cause bloating if consumed excessively. Aim for just one can per day.

🧠 Nourish your brain

Heather Sandison, a naturopathic physician and author of the new book Reversing Alzheimer’s, shares insights for those seeking to boost their cognitive health. In an excerpt adapted from her book published on CNBC, Sandison suggests concentrating on a diet that maintains stable blood sugar levels, since fluctuations can contribute to insulin resistance and increase the risks of cognitive decline and conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Rather than cutting out carbohydrates completely—which provide vital energy to our bodies—she recommends embracing lower-carb choices, like a salad rich in veggies and meat instead of a typical sandwich, and prioritizing proteins and healthy fats first to mitigate sugar spikes.

For an easy way to start your day right, consider breakfast options: Swap out carbohydrate-heavy choices like cereal or bagels for a high-protein cottage cheese bowl or an omelet. Alternatively, if you prefer a carb-rich option, make sure to start with protein and healthy fats, such as having a handful of nuts or a couple of hard-boiled eggs before indulging in that pastry.

😊 Select a warm Zoom backdrop

For those wishing to enhance work relationships, consider opting for a Zoom background that radiates coziness. University of Texas at Austin’s Andrew Brodsky, who specializes in digital communication, explained to the Guardian that such backgrounds (instead of sterile environments, like a spaceship) convey warmth, essential for connecting during virtual meetings. Bookshelves and greenery seem especially favorable, so why not choose a virtual library setting for your meeting?

🥦 Make vegetables delicious

Row 7 has just introduced a new line of flavorful vegetables at Whole Foods. Their mission is to encourage people to consume nutritious foods that are also tasty, but you can make your vegetables more enjoyable without buying specialty produce. Experiment with grilling vegetables for intense flavors or spice them up with exciting sauces—add a touch of hot honey to carrots, smoked paprika to cauliflower, or melted cheese over broccoli. If you prefer to consume veggies without actual visibility, incorporate them into sauces, mashed potatoes, or even smoothies—no judgments here!

🥣 Incorporate yogurt into your diet

Research from Mass General Brigham indicates that consuming yogurt regularly—at least twice a week—might lower the risk of certain colon cancers. This could be attributed to yogurt’s Bifidobacterium, beneficial bacteria that safeguard gut health. Additionally, yogurt boasts protein, calcium, and probiotics that aid digestion. Maximize the benefits of yogurt by crafting a wholesome bowl: Top it with antioxidant-rich berries, fiber-filled seeds like chia or flax, and a handful of nuts for healthy fats.

🍒 Indulge in cherries for dessert

If you often reach for ice cream after a long day, consider topping your dessert with cherries. Not only are they a classic sundae topping, but research suggests they can enhance sleep quality. Tart cherries, in particular, contain natural substances like melatonin, which regulates sleep patterns, making them an ideal late-night snack. (Bonus points if you substitute ice cream with Greek yogurt, which can also aid in sound sleep due to its magnesium content.)