Healthy Habits You Can Do in 1 Minute ( Part 2)

Give your eyes a break.

Many workers and students spend countless hours a day staring at computer screens, where a combination of glare, slumped posture, and poor lighting can all trigger eye strain and headaches. Known as "computer vision syndrome," these common symptoms will usually ease up once you log off.

To protect your peepers from the daily grind of screen time, build in frequent rest stops. Eye health experts recommend the "20-20-20 rule": 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.

Giving your eyes a brief breather allows them to focus on something else, and reduces fatigue. It's also a good idea to stand up, put your hands in the air, and take a beautiful, long stretch, Nerurkar said, especially if you sit a lot. "Stretching promotes blood flow," she explained, which invigorates the body and mind.

Apply sunscreen year-round

A new study suggests that using sunscreen daily has a dual purpose: Putting on sunscreen regularly can protect skin from the visible signs of aging, and it also helps to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Researchers in Australia found that men and women who more frequently applied sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher had younger-looking skin than adults who used it only occasionally. They had fewer wrinkles and dark spots compared with people who wore sunscreen less often.

So if you're looking for an inexpensive way to slow down the hands of time, make sunscreen part of your morning routine — rain or shine.

Microwave, the kitchen sponge

The toilet seat may seem like the most germ-ridden item in the home, but studies have shown that the kitchen sponge tops the list. It beats out other germ-laden locations, such as the kitchen sink, pet bowl, and shower drain.

A kitchen sponge's frequent use to mop up blood from raw meat, grime and spills, as well as its moist and porous texture, make it a perfect breeding ground for food-borne bacteria, mold, and mildew.

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, or place it in the dishwasher, the CDC recommends. Be careful when removing the sponge because it will still be hot. 

Count to 10 (or beyond) when angry

To cool off a hot head, count to 10 and take a slow, deep breath between each number. 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. Still fuming? Keep on counting and deep breathing until you feel calmer, more in control, and less reactive.

"Breath is one of the most powerful tools we have, and it's one of the easiest ways to get present at the moment," Nerurkar said.

, Taking slow, deep breaths helps to switch the nervous system from a "fight or flight" sympathetic system response to a "rest and digest" parasympathetic system response instead, making you feel more mellow and relaxed, she said.