Many of us are trying to get through each day the best that we can and accomplish at least most, if not all, of what is on our extensive to-do lists. It can be a challenge to remember to take care of ourselves in the midst of our hectic daily lives. Every now and then we may need just a little reminder to take at least part of our day to improve or maintain our health. So here are 10 tips to help you refocus on your health and taking care of you.
1. Get sufficient rest. Get 7-9 hours of sleep. Take short breaks from working throughout the day to relax your mind, rest your eyes, and breathe to increase your effectiveness. Increase your energy and your body’s ability to recuperate and heal by incorporating essential rest into your everyday life. Do what you can to create your ideal environment for rest in your home, and include more of it in your life whenever possible.
2. Eat a healthy diet. Choose foods that will be excellent fuel for your body to aid you in accomplishing your tasks each day and achieving your dreams. Find out the healthiest sources of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are our main energy sources, and include them in your diet. Don’t get overwhelmed. Take baby steps. If you’re craving something crunchy, choose celery sticks rather than chips. If you desire something sweet pick up a piece of fruit instead of that slice of cake. One step at a time you can transform your diet and your life. Check out Mypyramid.gov from the United States Department of Agriculture to assess your diet, get healthy eating tips, and gain a greater understanding of what positive changes you can make.
3. Drink plenty of water. Every system in our bodies relies on water to carry out normal functions. Water also flushes toxins out of our bodies. Lack of water can lead to dehydration, and even mild dehydration can drain or deplete our energy, making one too tired to accomplish their everyday goals, tasks and responsibilities. Make sure you are hydrating yourself throughout each day to improve or maintain your health.
4. Exercise for at least 30 min a day (60 minutes for children). We all know that physical activity is an important component to staying healthy, but actually getting up off the couch after a stressful day or getting out of bed in the morning with a list of one million tasks that need accomplished seems to hinder many of us from actually putting what we know into action. Visit the Let’s Move or the American Heart Association websites to gain more information about improving your health through exercise. Then do something each day to move, strengthen, and stretch your body.
5. Keep your hands washed and clean. It’s an easy way to prevent infection. Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Hand washing requires soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes. Wash your hands with soap and water vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Cleanse your hands by washing them or using hand sanitizer before meals or as necessary throughout your day to do what you can to limit the spreading of germs and decrease your risk of becoming ill.
6. Learn how to manage stress, worry, and anxiety. Taking time out each day for prayer, meditation, and to consciously breathe deeply can greatly increase your ability to manage the stress in your everyday life. Also, find an activity you truly enjoy to take your mind off of what you may not be able to immediately change. Make sure you are nurturing yourself and enjoying something in life, even if it is for a brief period of time each week. Add something to the beginning or end of each day that is just for you!
7. Create a peaceful environment through your choices. Evaluate who and what you allow into your life. Who is adding stress? And who promotes peace? Some sources of stress are unavoidable. When possible though make wise choices about who and what you allow into your life, and do whatever you can to increase in wisdom concerning how to handle the people and sources of stress you cannot remove or change. You can increase the peace in your own life by being a peaceful individual. Remember, you will attract exactly what you are putting or radiating out into the world and what is within you.
8. Appreciate and be grateful for what you have. It will help you maintain or restore your joy. Gratefulness is the result of counting your blessings and being appreciative of everything you have, everything you possess the ability to do, and every kind act others do toward you. It is a quality that will attract others to you because of the positive outlook on life and demeanor that it causes you to possess. Attracting good things and good people to you will greatly impact and enhance the quality of your life.
9. Empower yourself with the wisdom, knowledge and tools you need to change your life. Read voraciously and commit to being a lifetime learner. Knowledge will give you power and the necessary information to achieve all your goals and dreams. Wisdom will help you sustain lasting joy and peace as you achieve your dreams and throughout your life. Always ask yourself, what did I learn today that will help propel me toward reaching my dreams? And, am I wisely using the information and life experience I have obtained to build a better, healthier, more peaceful life?
10. Stay motivated. Remember the most challenging part about accomplishing anything is getting started. Take a moment right now to get started on one of your life goals. By simply putting one foot in front of the other and being diligent about accomplishing one task at a time, you can begin to create the life you desire! No, seriously right now… stop reading and immediately put some time and energy toward learning and achieving one of your major life goals. Feel free to stop back by The Real Life Advice to let us know when you have accomplished your goal or dream!
Read more about stress management in one of our other articles Managing Stress, Worry, & Anxiety.
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