Health/Beauty

Health is Wealth: 6 Easy Ways to be Healthier Every Day

I love the saying “Health is Wealth”. It’s so true. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have your good health, then what is it worth? I don’t think we ever really appreciate our ability to just enjoy our everyday lives until it is taken away from us, and that’s a real shame. So, in an effort to ensure that you are able to enjoy all that money that you’re saving, I thought I would do a roundup of 6 easy ways to be healthier every day that I have integrated into my life and think might be actually working.

1. Have a positive attitude 

Power of being positive People underestimate the power that positive thinking has on your overall health. Studies show that not only are positive thinkers healthier and less stressed, they also have greater overall well-being. How can one be more positive, you ask?

* If you encounter a disappointing situation, focus on things you can do to resolve it rather than dwelling on your frustration or things you can’t change.

* Be grateful. A really simple but affective exercise is to write down five things that you’re grateful for once a week. It puts things in perspective.

*  Keep positive people around you. Being around friends who have a great outlook on life and are generally happy people will rub off on you.

Remember the law of attraction. If you think positive, you will attract positive – and I sincerely believe that. When you CHOOSE to be positive instead of negative, you choose happiness – and isn’t that what we’re all after?

2. Eat your greens

I am a freak when it comes to this rule. I get made fun of because of my obsession with ensuring there is some sort of vegetable included at every meal. I would seek help, but since vegetables are the most beneficial thing that we can put into our systems, I’ll keep this neurotic habit.

* Try to replace a salad for lunch or dinner when possible, or ensure you always include a side vegetable with your dinner.

* Careful – this doesn’t mean eating iceberg lettuce salads every day. You should be focusing on those with the brightest colors – think broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens.

* Instead of using creamy dressing and sauces to make them more bearable, try to stick with light butter, salt or some pesto or marinara sauce.

3. Get off your ass and exercise 

People don’t like to believe this, but once you get into a regular exercise routine, you actually begin to crave it. All you need to do is start and stick to it, workout selfieand hopefully you don’t become one of those annoying people who takes selfies every day at the gym. Not only will you feel great and lose weight, but working out also reduces all of the biomarkers of aging. That’s right – it will keep you looking young so you don’t end up having to get bad plastic surgery like a Beverly Hills housewife when you’re 50. If you absolutely despise the gym – sign up for classes or start riding your bike or going for hikes. It’s one of those decisions you never regret (unlike calling you ex after watching the notebook and four glasses of wine).

4. Get a good night’s sleep

Sleep may be the most important factor of a healthy lifestyle. When you don’t sleep, your brain makes you think that you’re hungry when you’re not, and you don’t have any energy to get your ass to the gym (aka recipe for disaster). The best tips for better sleep include:

* Try and get your body on a regular sleep schedule if possible.

* Exercise and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga can help you get and stay asleep.

* Making sure your room is super blacked out and you stay away from the TV, computer and cell phone right before bed.

If I have a few days in a row of not sleeping properly, I will personally knock myself out with some over the counter sleep aid just to get my sleep patterns back on track (even though most sources don’t recommend this). I also take a hot shower before bed to raise my body temperature since it helps relax you and feel all nice and cozy in your cool sheets. You should be aiming for 7-8 hours a night to get the optimal amount of rest for your body and brain to recharge.

5. Eat Breakfast 

My dad got me into the habit of sitting down for breakfast every morning, and it’s a habit that I’m so grateful for today. Eating a meal that is high in fiber each morning helps to regulate your blood glucose, meaning that you won’t be so starving by lunch that you want to down a philly cheesesteak sandwich. It also gets your metabolism going so that you can more effectively burn calories throughout the day. I hear so many people argue that they just aren’t hungry in the morning – but that’s because your metabolism has slowed from sleeping. When you don’t give it fuel, it stays slow and starts – gasp – storing fat to keep you alive. My personal favorite breakfast staple is one-minute oatmeal with a little brown sugar, banana and ground flax seed. Yum. If you’re on the go – starbucks makes a great oatmeal as well.

6. Drink more water

Not only will drinking water stop you from drinking other sugary drinks that will make you fat, but staying hydrated throughout the day keeps your energy levels up and keeps you from getting hungry when you’re not really hungry. It also helps detoxify the body, keeps your skin from getting flaky, and keeps you looking young since it helps replenish tissue, assisting in elasticity. We all know the side effects of not drinking enough water – you feel gross or you get headaches. Your body is telling you something. The rule of thumb is to try and drink 8 glasses a day, or 2L (if you track using a bottle) – I try to drink one big cup as soon as I wake up in the morning, and always have a refillable bottle on me throughout the day.

drink more water

When you’re healthy you feel better, you look better, and you’re better setting yourself up for success. Never forget that your health is the most valuable asset you have – so don’t waste it!

 

 

3 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*