In this day and age there are many different “miracle” products that claim they will make a person magically healthy and happy overnight. Wheatgrass, kale, fish oil and whiskey just to name a few.
None of these products are going to make you 10 years younger or fix your life. The key to health is balance and keeping stress levels low. You need to exercise, eat healthy, sleep, enjoy your life/work, and most importantly have healthy and meaningful relationships.
The truth is that no two people are alike, and what may be healthy for you may not be healthy for another person. There is no exact science on the subject, but there are positive actions that any individual can take to ensure that progress will be made. Keeping a positive mindset is also a key instrument in this formula.
First off and most important is having meaningful relationships in your life. Humans are social creatures who love to interact with one another. Now that doesn’t mean that you need to be the life of the party or have millions of friends. But you do need to have at least one or two people who you can truly trust and be your real self around.
It could be family, it could be friends, it could be a significant other; every situation is different. Nevertheless, most humans need some sort of close connection in their lives.
There are people who live happy and alone but they are far and few in-between.
Exercise is another very beneficial aspect to happiness. A lot of people think of exercise as going to the gym and pumping weights or running on a treadmill. The truth is there are hundreds of ways to stay fit. Some of the options include dancing, walking or even fencing if that’s your thing.
Just make sure to move 10-30 minutes every day, your body and mind will thank you for it.
Another crucial element to staying fit is NOT OVERWORKING YOURSELF. Many people overdo it in the gym; it is a rookie mistake. The whole point of staying active is to increase energy levels, not deplete them.
We’ve all seen that guy who looks like Brock Lesnar at the local gym who can lift weights for two hours straight. Chances are, you’re not that guy or gal; take it slow and do what feels good for your body.
You want to feel good for the whole day, not crash after your workout.
Eating healthy is an extremely important part of this mix. Sure, that cheeseburger tastes good when you eat it, but an hour later its nap time.
There is no perfect diet that is going to satisfy every human. Some of the basic rules are to not overeat. On the same token, don’t under eat, and make sure you eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
The keto, south beach, and atkins diet, all look good on paper but are not long-term solutions.
The human body needs fat, protein, carbs, cholesterol, vitamins, minerals, and a hell of a lot of other things to properly function. Just make sure to eat a well-rounded diet and you’ll be good to go.
However, there are certain foods that you do want to avoid. One of these trouble-makers is large portions of red meat. Nothing wrong with a little red meat here and there but don’t go for the double cheeseburger with bacon.
Another food group to avoid is refined carbohydrates such as white bread and white rice. It’s just not good for you, like at all.
The last food on the naughty list is corn syrup and high fructose. Stick to organic cane sugar. By the way, what even is corn syrup?
The next aspect to consider is your job. What is your job doing for you? Is it just a paycheck or are you truly living your passions?
Every person has to make a living and that is completely understandable, but there is no reason to stick around at a job that is making you completely miserable.
If you were employable enough to get the current job you have, chances are you can get another job that doesn’t suck quite as bad.
Even if you have no qualifications or skills, find a way to do something you like. There are many low-paying jobs that are quite rewarding. You only have one life to live and you don’t want to spend 40 hours a week at some place you absolutely hate.
Life is hard enough as it is, and you don’t want to make it worse on yourself.
If you have to work a crappy job to pay the bills, it makes sense. At the minimum, then work on your passions in your own free time or go volunteer at something that you truly want to do. You will be better off for it.
We were all given special talents in this world, humanity is suffering as a whole if you don’t utilize your God-given skills.
Sleeping is such an underrated portion of life. There are not many things better than waking up from a good full night of sleep.
Many people forgo sleep for multiple reasons; it is not worth it.
Try and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. There are people who can function on less sleep, and that’s ok. But that’s not the norm. Your body will perform at optimum levels if you are fully rested.
In terms of when to wake up and when to go to sleep, that’s up to your body to decide. Do what feels right. The most important thing is to stay on a regular sleep schedule. Your body’s circadian rhythm will be out of whack if you continuously shift sleep patterns.
With the exception of staying up all night, almost all sleep patterns are healthy. Shouts to all the night-workers out there. You’re the real MVP.
Each and every individual responds to stress differently. There is no sure-fire way to reduce stress. Do what works for you. It could be yoga, meditation, beer, pot, whatever. Just be sure to practice and indulge in moderation.
Great things don’t happen overnight, but progress equals success. If a person continues to stay balanced and positive every day then they will eventually become the healthiest version of themselves.
