People want to lead a healthier life: eat better, exercise, meditate, use clean beauty products, and more, but it’s usually not easy to achieve. I’ve noticed that many of us don’t see ourselves as a priority – we deal with work, spouse, children, family, friends and what not. There is always something or someone who needs something. While this is the reality and important to attend to, I feel we need to also make time for ourselves, where we take care of our needs – body and mind.
"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease." - Buddha
The first step is to decide and be clear about prioritizing “me-time” along with everything else you have on your plate. Once you cross this bridge there are a few more tips that can help you make the wanted adjustments and changes:
1. Put it in your schedule. A commitment starts with a dedicated “me-time”. It is a type of an announcement to yourself, reminding you it’s time to also prioritize yourself. It can be a 5 minute meditation or an hour workout. For a smoother transition make changes into things you enjoy and like. Why? Because when we make such changes often we spend a lot of time doing things we absolutely hate, and for absolutely no reason. I recommend that instead of dragging yourself to the gym, find a work-out you actually like and are excited about! It will help get you into a healthy routine.
2. Sleep is a priority. Lack of sleep typically results in poor memory, feeling low energy, drowsy, and irritable, and can even change your personality. Avoid staying up late and only getting a handful of hours sleep. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep. Make catching Zzz's a priority because being sleep deprived isn't healthy.
3. Drink water - eight glasses of water a day provide high energy. It replenishes your skin, organs, muscles, well, all of you. Add fresh lemon squeeze or berry slices to make it more interesting and fun. Find what helps you hydrate more throughout the day.
4. Enjoy the food you eat - Make time for meals, because healthy wholesome meals help with weight loss and controlling cravings throughout the day (some cravings are emotional, but let’s not get off topic). Transition into a more plant based diet so you eat mostly plants. It's not necessarily attractive, but they are the holy grail of health: You'll be getting a healthy dose of protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and nutrients-and you won't be eating empty calories in the process. Once a week find one healthy dish you enjoy and incorporate it in your meal rotation. Instead of committing to a nutrition plan, eat foods that are going to make you feel good and avoid the stuff that sets you back. It's really that simple-and you don't have to stress about it in the process.
5. Baby steps- Start where you feel at ease and take baby steps to grow your health habits. Overloading your schedule by making too many changes at once will not benefit you. Respect your body and time. Allow body and mind to adjust.
Get Your Healthy Way of Life Going For You
Paving the right path for you will help you to think of health as long-term rather than short-term. It's easy to get caught up in the moment and only think about your health day by day, but when it comes to your livelihood, you should have an end goal in mind. When you decide you want to live a long, healthy life, it makes you want to make better decisions in the moment. And when you discover your perfect fit, you'll actually want to work out, eat better, use healthier products, enjoy body work or massage - and you'll get into a routine that will keep you feeling top-notch now and in years to come.