A lighthearted look at how to take care of yourself. We work and play hard and often neglect taking care of ourselves, especially when we are young, which falls second to last. But keeping a positive attitude can help. Remember, as the saying goes, “Laughter is one of the best medicines.” So here is your chuckle for the day!
Life is a ride on a rollercoaster… don’t take it too seriously!
Don’t Cry, Laugh!
- Are you a “Snacktivist?” A well-rounded diet of chips, cookies, and soda counts as “balanced” because the packaging’s colors offer “variety. If a cereal has different colors in it, that counts, too!”
- Sleep in superfluous! So you have a deadline, that’s great, but mastering the art of napping on the couch for 5 minutes at a time is just not enough. Sleep well,l, and you can work well.
- YouTube Exercise: After all, you must surf the YouTube exercise programs but don’t get around to doing the exercises. Put a mat on the floor and exercise along with the gurus.
- Think you get enough coffee and energy drinks while working hard because “they’re mostly liquid, right?”
- I had a Gym Membership but had too many work deadlines, so I had to let it lapse. Now I do stretches.
- “I’m at my computer getting some light.” Forget sunshine; take a pill.
- Laughter is great, but memes won’t cure your anxiety. Take a break and think straight.
- “I’m Too Busy,” this excuse is like rocking in a rocking chair. It keeps you busy, but you don’t get anywhere. Take a moment and be unbusy.
Seriously though, here are some positive steps you can take to look after yourself better.
Try taking your health into your own hands.
FOOD
- Eat more whole single-item foods. For example, a potato does not have an ingredient list.
- Avoid too many processed foods. Or give them all up and find a way to cook from scratch.
- Choose nutrient-dense foods.
- Make Kefir; it can do wonders for your digestion.
- Crash dieting is for the birds; you only lose weight on your face. However, developing good dietary habits builds up your system in the long run.
- Remember to feed your microbiome. We don’t eat they do.
- Fiber of all kinds… get some.
EXERCISE
- Build some form of exercise into your daily routine.
- You can go to a gym.
- You can build exercise into everything you do. Even sitting can be exercise if you get up often enough.
- Walk.
- If you have a dog and you have to walk the dog, your dog is taking you out for exercise.
- If you don’t have a dog, find someone who likes walking and will come and take you out.
- If you are like me and can’t work out unless it is doing something constructive, garden. Gardening involves lots of bending and lifting, and you have to look after it every day.
- Housework! My aunt used to say that doing housework gives you all the exercise you need. But then she didn’t have a rumba vacuum. In her day, that might have worked. Still, housework can give you a workout.
VITAMINS
- You should be able to get most of your vitamins from food, but not always. Get a blood test to see if you are low on something.
- Minerals are as essential as vitamins. Himalayan or Redman’s salt has many minerals, whereas table salt doesn’t.
- Make sure to add Lactobacillus and other living cultures to your diet.
- Fermented vegetables are good for you.
- Find out what your long-lived great-grandmother did. How did she live to be 106?
- Think of finding a natural-based solution to a health issue first. Natural solutions take longer and, depending on the issue, last longer.
ATTITUDE – FAITH – GRACE
- Mindfulness, meditation, and practicing positive and joyful thoughts can help.
- Develop a consistently positive outlook.
- Learn to forgive
- Let what bothers you go, flush some of those things down the toilet, and move on.
- Find the Faith that gives you calm.
- Remember you are loved, and the grace of God is always carrying you whether you know it or not.
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
- Go get a physical.
- Find a doctor who focuses on preventative medicine.
- Get your teeth cleaned by a dentist every six months. Almost everything starts in the mouth.
BALANCE
- Try for balance in all things
- Everything always works out in the end.
- If it doesn’t, you can start again.
- Re-invent yourself from time to time so you don’t get stale.
- Remember, no one is entirely good or entirely bad. So forgive and don’t take things too seriously. Often, if you encourage someone, they will show you their better side.
WHERE TO GO FROM HERE
You decide. You make your life happen. Go for your dreams!
Even if this advice may not be relevant to you, perhaps you can gain some light and encouragement. Even the darkest days and nights give way to sunshine. There is always hope.
Please note: This blog’s author does not know everything and, like you, is trying to figure out life one day at a time.
