Connecting you to health information that is relevant
Choices…. life situations, from changes in our work and environment, affect the choices we make. Work gets busy or we start working from home and physical exercise and food choices can change (not usually for the better).
The three pillars of health are our food choices, physical activity and sleep. Doing these three things well will improve our health and therefore so many areas of our life. Our emotional well being and how we manage stress will improve with an improvement in any of these areas.
What do we do? How do we keep from making poor decisions? Here are some tips to do just that. Try one, try all. The important step is to try…
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Try one thing and keep at it. Too often we try too many things, increasing our chances of completing none.
Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep. If this is not true of you, there are natural supplements to aid in improving sleep. Sleep is crucial to making wise choices. Check out this evidence-based article on natural sleep aids.
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Create a better night-time routine.
Stock your cabinets with healthy choices. Say “No” to those things that you love a little too much. Quite honestly, there are even some healthy choices out there that you may find you just cannot have on the shelf. If you have a tendency of binge eating a certain item, do NOT buy it. Exchange sodas with sparkling water or Zevias (sodas sweetened with stevia). Replace junk food with healthier versions – yes, they exist for almost all junk food. These typically mean less sugar, fewer chemicals, or more natural ingredients.
If you have a tendency to binge eat a certain item, do NOT buy it.
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Having groceries delivered will reduce impulse buying, saving you money and helping you with better choices.
Stay hydrated. Lack of water can trick us into thinking that we are hungry over actual thirst. Force yourself to drink water in between every alternative drink. Fill up your water bottles at the beginning of the day and determine to drink ½ your body weight in ounces of water. Use urine as a guide – it should be clear to lightly colored.
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What color is your pee? The clearer the better.
Journal your food – download an app: My Food Diary, See How You Eat, or My Fitness Pal.
Use a website such as cronometer. Dr. Mercola is a distinguished holistic MD that takes nutrition to a deeper level, giving you truly the nutrients that you intake or are missing when you use his cronometer. Making yourself document your foods helps to cement your choices in your head, forcing you to face the facts – and not “forget” that snack you may have chosen earlier in the day.
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Reading labels, or even taking the time to track what you eat, is a keystone habit and will positively influence other areas of your life.
Stress reduction – limit your time with the news. Get outside, put your feet in the grass, and breathe deeply. Stretch, try yoga or Pilates. Move - outside or in. We are blessed with amazing creation to behold, but there are tons of online options to lead you through at-home workouts. Meditation and prayer bring us back to a calm in the midst of stress.
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Getting exercise in the day is linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety. Let's get physical!
Lastly, stay positive. Do not let negative thinking about your body or the current situation overwhelm you. Be hopeful and know you can get through this!