With each day that goes by, our world is inundated more and more by technology, scheduling, opportunities, and along with that, new forms of stress.
To cut through the noise of all this, we want to help you boil down the basics on what you should be paying attention to for your health. So here goes with some of the most basic, yet impactful, approaches to your day for a better and healthier you.
DRINK YOUR WATER
You know this. We all do. But sometimes people forget that just because there is water in juice, pop, alcohol and food, it doesn’t really count in terms of how the body needs to use it, unless you drink it straight (on or off the rocks).
It improves digestion, increases the appearance of your skin, gives you natural energy, encourages detoxification in your body, and improves circulation (among many other reasons).
Drinking 30oz before you even leave the house in the morning will change the way you look at water and it will increase the amount of energy you’re used to having as well. Besides, when you kick start your day with 30 oz of our most critical resource, it’s a heck of a lot easier to get in the rest of your daily requirement (general consensus agree that half your body weight in ounces is sufficient daily). Bottoms up!
EAT SLOWER
It’s so easy to consume too many calories if you’re eating really quickly. Take your time when you eat so that your brain can catch up with the fact that you’ve been working on consuming. Your brain needs about 20 minutes to recognize that it’s taken in calories and doesn’t need to overdo it. Harvard did a study on this and come on, it’s Harvard.
We recommend drinking a glass of water before you dig into your meal and then pace yourself, going half the speed you usually do for downing your meal. We know…food’s DELICIOUS! Slowing down sounds like crazy talk! But trust us, if you’re slowing down and taking the time to enjoy your food, you’re going to have a much healthier relationship with your food and the experience of eating a good meal will stay with you. That’s worth a lot.
STAY PLUGGED IN
Activities aren’t just for kids, they’re for humans. Period. Just like our former super-youthful selves, our brains require play to think better and engage with people around us.
Whether its going for a walk with music, a podcast, or an audio book, hitting the swings at a playground with your best friend (or your kids!), taking bike rids, joining a mixed martial arts class or a paint class, there are tons of things that can spark that fun and play back into your week.
Prioritizing this is necessary. You’re going to come up with a lot of reasons why you can’t possibly fit anything more into your scchedule, but when you decide to dedicate 30min-1hr a week (or heaven forbid, each day!), you’ll realize you’re a happier, more productive, and more energized version of yourself. Everyone around you will notice too and you want to return to the old boring you that finds excuses not to have fun. Your 4 year old self would slap you for thinking that by the way.
VOLUNTEER
If you didn’t think you had time for play, you’re really not going to thin you have time to volunteer. But here’s the good news. There are loads of way that volunteering can be mixed with play. That way, two birds and a stone kinda thing.
There are opportunities to give back through the arts, special needs, with animals, and even computers and education.
Not only can you actually have a lot of fun volunteering, you can meet he need to include play in your week and you can feel amazing about the people you’re helping. It’s better to give than receive is not just a saying, it’s true to the core. BONUS: When you put the focus on other people and ways you can help, you aren’t able to focus on all the stresses negative self talk you might normally spiral into on your own.
BOTTOM LINE
There’s more awesome in life than you might be allowing yourself. Baby steps are awesome. They’re bite-sized and easy to get used to one at a time. Do something positive today that pushes you onto a healthier trajectory. You won’t regret it but you will be happier for it.