Simple things for a healthy life

There are plenty of good health habits that can be done in 60 seconds or less.

From buckling your seatbelt and washing your hands, to doing a breast or testicular self-exam.

Both the positive and negative choices you make every day affect your health.

Here are some worth to be mentioned:

Jumping rope to boost your heart rate. Standing up straight to prevent low back pain. Smiling or laughing to improve your mood. And expressing gratitude — by writing down five things you're grateful for each day — to build optimism and resilience.

And some important easy daily habits:

1. Leave your shoes at the door. When removing your shoes becomes part of your daily routine, it prevents everything from dirt and rocks to lawn chemicals and potential allergens from entering your house.

2. Brush your tongue. Gently brush the surface of your tongue from back to front. Doing this at least once a day helps to remove plaque-causing bacteria and food particles trapped in the tongue, and freshens your breath.

3. Sneeze into your arm. Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or upper arm. The point is to avoid using your hands, which may not be that clean, and can also easily spread germs around.

4. Give your eyes a break. For every 20 minutes you spend on the computer, glance away from the screen for at least 20 seconds by looking at something 20 feet away.

5. Microwave the kitchen sponge. To stop the spread of germs and sanitize your sponge, make sure it's wet, then zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds every evening.

6. Count to 10 (or beyond), when angry. This simple technique may help tame your temper and short-circuit a quick fuse. Counting distracts your mind, which buys you a little time to distance your emotions from the person or situation that's ticking you off.