I sure use that word a lot, don’t I? Healthy. Healthy has so many definitions and it means something different to each and every one of us.
What does healthy mean to me? Healthy means what I am doing to my body, what I am putting into my body, what I am surrounding my body with is good for me.
Am I sleeping or resting enough? Am I staying active? Am I taking mental breaks by reading, writing, sipping on coffee while staring at the wall? Am I eating food that’s wholesome and real? Am I eliminating chemicals and using clean products to cleanse my home? Am I filling my home with plants that purify the air or diffusing essential oils that benefit me mentally and physically?
The answer to all of those is a big, fat “yes!” It took me a long time to develop healthy habits that I incorporate into my daily routines. I’m so passionate about leading a healthy lifestyle I love to share my tips with others. Here are some simple, yet successful, ways to help aid you in your own journey.
- Make your bed. No, seriously. Make your bed. If the first thing you do when you wake up is something productive, it puts your mind in a great place to get so much more accomplished! Success looks different to each of us. For me, a successful day is one in which I hear the hum of the dishwasher when I go to bed and my baby is sleeping peacefully with a full belly.
- Eat a healthy breakfast. Not sugary cereal or pop tarts. Not a banana because you “didn’t have time.” If you’re pressed for time, try making breakfast muffins so you can grab-and-go on those rushed mornings. Or if you have a little bit of time, oatmeal, yogurt, and eggs are quick and delicious breakfasts. Try something filling so you aren’t reaching for processed snacks between breakfast and lunch. Eating a healthy breakfast fuels your body to start the day.
- Drink water. This one is hard for me because I’m obsessed with coffee. I have a personal rule that I am not allowed to have a second (or sometimes third) cup of coffee unless I drink 16oz of water between each mug. I mean, essentially coffee is water, but plain, normal water is essential for your body.
- Eliminate processed foods. This one is much more tricky because you have to do a lot of research on quality foods. An easy rule of thumb is if you can’t pronounce it, you probably don’t want to be eating it. One of my favorite “desserts” is Kashi cereal. I like the Heart to Heart Organic Honey Toasted kind (aka organic Honey Nut Cheerios). What kind of ingredients should I expect in my box of cereal?
- Eliminate chemicals in your home. This one is also a little trickier because we think the more it smells like chemicals, the cleaner it must be, right? I mean bleach does kill things. But at what cost? My husband and I have been buying from The Honest Company for years. We pay $35/month and get all our essential cleaning items: laundry, bath, kitchen, sunscreen, bug spray, baby items, and so much more! It’s actually really nice because once you get stocked up you just keep building on what you have. And to think that I’d spend that (or more) anyway going to the store each month for cleaning products makes it worth it. If you’re super crafty, try making your own cleaning products with pure essential oils (like doTERRA).
If you’re interested in Honest for yourself, here’s a reference link: http://www.honest.com/refer/732199
- Take care of your gut. The study of the microbiome is a new one, but what they’re discovering is amazing. I could go on and on about it (because I’m a nerd) but instead I’ll tell you I’ve been taking Plexus products for going on 5 months now and I’ve noticed a great difference in my body. Plexus can help aid in many things (such as weight loss) but it can also just be a great additive to your daily routine. They offer prebiotics, probiotics, vitamins, natural energy supplements, active lifestyle aids, protein powders, and so much more. The best part, and the reason I invested, is they are all-natural products.
- Take mental breaks. This is also different for everyone. Mindlessly watching TV once my daughter goes down for the night is a mental break for me. Or taking a bath. Or reading a book. Or going on a walk. Or doing.absolutely.nothing. Whatever it is that helps your mind rest is very important. Stress causes many bad things to happen to our bodies, so even if we’re in a stressful period of our lives, taking those mental breaks will really aid us to get over the hump!
Most of you know that my daughter and I are anxiously awaiting the arrival of my husband (her daddy!) in NC. We braved coming here by ourselves and to say that I have been stressed is an understatement. I’m acting as a single mom right now and it’s been far more difficult than I anticipated. Kudos to all you single mamas out there because I don’t know how you do it! Going on daily walks (hello, NC!) has been wonderful for both me and my daughter. She absolutely loves the walks — probably because she’s never seen trees before, but, hey, it’s great. It calms her, it gets out some pent up energy for my pup, and I get to not think about much of anything. These have been my saving grace as of late.
I really hope that these tips can help aid you in leading a healthier lifestyle. I know that my days aren’t perfect and I don’t always follow these perfectly (not when pizza exists..) but I can genuinely say that my mental and physical health benefit from these small tasks.
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