It All Comes Back to the Same Stuff...
- Laura Hannan
- Dec 4, 2016
- 3 min read
Have you noticed that every time you read something intended to help you better yourself, it all comes back to the same stuff? Want to sleep better, lose weight, avoid disease, reduce stress, be nicer, be more creative? With a few variations, the answers are pretty much all the same. We can try to complicate it all we'd like, but it seems that just a handful of things are all we need. Check out the list below and hop on the path to happier, healthier living.
1. DIET
This is the big one. You are what you eat. Manage your food, manage your life. With the increasing amount of research coming out about the microbiome, a healthy diet can keep you trim, allow you to live longer and improve the quality of your life. WOW. If there was a pill that could do all that, we'd be buying it by the Costco card load. Research is showing your diet can literally help you avoid everything from alzheimer's to MS, cancer and heart disease. And oddly, you never hear about diet when you visit the doctor's office. It's really up to you to figure out what your body needs. Think avocados, coconut oil, grass fed beef, leafy greens, anything rich in fiber, and fermented foods. Foods to start avoiding today include SUGAR or foods that turn directly into sugar (white bread, rice, sugary drinks, etc) and processed foods (including foods where you can't read the ingredients on the label).
2. EXERCISE
Get moving! Cardio and strength training are where it's at in this category. And gym shaming yourself sadly isn't the answer. You have to find something in these categories that you actually enjoy doing. So perhaps you hate "cardio." You do not have to run a marathon or chase after Usain Bolt to get where you need to go. Try going for a walk and taking a tennis ball. Just bounce as you go and you'll move more than you thought. You might even have some fun. Get on your bike or try playing tennis with a friend. Try yoga! Chase around after your kids or grandkids. Anything to make you smile and move your body.
3. MEDITATE
There is a zen saying that goes... You should meditate 20 minutes everyday. And if you don't have 20 minutes, you should meditate an hour. If you're THAT busy, you really need to meditate. People have been meditating for thousands of years and thankfully we've gotten around to proving that it's good for you. You can literally change your body on a cellular level by being quiet for 20 min a day. It doesn't get more straightforward or simple than that.
I believe that if you can manage the first three, everything else will begin to fall in line, but if you're looking for some more guidance here are a few more areas to think about.
4. FRIENDS - Have a good community around you. Everyone needs help. And everyone needs to give help. Pick your tribe carefully because they have a huge influence on how you live your life. If even one of your friends is unhealthy, you are more likely to be unhealthy. I'm not suggesting you purge every friend who picks up a cookie this holiday season, but realize that everyone who loves you is influenced by YOUR health.
5. HAVE FUN - Find a hobby. Dance, play a game, garden, read a good book. Feed your mind and find something you love. You might even find some new members for your tribe.
6. DE-STRESS - This one is very individual. Perhaps you can let go of stress by taking a warm bath or joining a yoga class. Maybe you need to find that one big thing that is dragging you down and remove it from your life. Perhaps it's slowing down or de-cluttering your house. If you listen and pay attention, you will know what it is for you.
7. SLEEP - Make yourself a priority and get at least 8 hours a night. If you have trouble sleeping, working on this list will likely make your zzz's easier to catch.
*DISCLAIMER I frequently read self-help blogs, like this article. It's easy to think the author has it all together and we should aspire to be equally perfect. Let me be very clear. I am far from perfect. I am a mother of 2 young children and I often wonder how it's possible to meditate without falling asleep. How do I find time for stillness or to eat anything other than Cheerios and mac n cheese? But I know this is a path and a practice. Sometimes you will get lost. But just keep coming back to the basics. You are worth the effort.
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