1. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning: So easy and so doable and so very good for you. When you wake up your body needs to be hydrated, to flush out toxins. By drinking one to two glasses of water first thing in the morning you are firing up your metabolism, fueling your brain and you will also relieve constipation. In Japan this is common practice because they believe that it can prevent and even cure diseases.
2. Move your ass: Excuse my language but I didn’t want to say exercise and scare you off. Because the truth is that many of us hate the idea of going to the gym. Personally I find them to be boring. There are so many other more fun ways to get your body moving. Like dancing! Do what I do and turn the music up while you’re cooking and swing those hips. Or how about kicking a ball around with the kids. Or taking the dog for a walk. Getting out of the house is a great idea but buying a treadmill and putting it in front of the telly is just as good. Anything to get you moving.
3. Go to bed early: I don’t like this one because I’ve always felt I am more of a night person but I’ve tried it and it makes all the difference. There are so many reasons why going to bed early can be good for you. A good night sleep can knock down stress levels, it can help you think better and be more productive. It can do wonders for your skin not to mention your weight and it can help keep you at a lower risk for scary diseases because while you’re snoozing your body is repairing.
4. Take your vitamins: Now that I’m pregnant I’ve become more diligent about taking my vitamins. Yes there are days when I forget, which is one of the reasons I didn’t take any before this pregnancy. I would buy them and then completely forget about them. So as to avoid this happening during these past nine months I bought a lovely little box that I keep on my kitchen counter and inside I have placed all my vitamins. So now I see that pretty box every morning and it’s quite hard to forget.
5. Go meatless: No matter how much I love a good steak or a great burger, I have become aware of my meat intake over the past couple of years. I rarely cook meat at home and when I do it’s always organic meat. For obvious reasons. Going meatless a few times a week is good for your health because it can reduce heart diseases and limit cancer risks not to mention improve the nutritional quality in your diet as you’ll make more attempts to eat plant-based sources of protein like beans.
6. Prepare snacks: Although this can sometimes take time, it’s a life-changer because it is one of the easiest ways to make sure you eat healthy. Start by boiling eggs, cutting up veggies, roasting chicken breasts, keeping nuts on the kitchen counter, buying individual-sized yoghurt pots, stocking up on sugar-free oat and granola bars. Anything that can guarantee you will reach for something that is good for you when hunger strikes.
7. Breathe: Like, take the time to really breathe. Long, deep breaths can make all the difference to a person’s emotional state. By focusing on your breath you can ease away panic and anxiety attacks, reduce stress and deal with pain. I like to lie on my back and put my legs up against a wall and take deep breaths. Even though it’s only for a few minutes, it makes me feel so good I think I may be slightly addicted. But of course don’t feel you need to set time aside to do this (although you should). Try it while you’re stuck in traffic or before you go to bed.
8. Hug, snuggle: Did you know that hugging is good medicine? Massages, holding hands, snuggling and hugs can boost your immune system and reduce stress levels. Honestly I don’t think I could live without them. Papa and I hug alot which means that Georgie likes to do the same and if you have kids you know how absolutely mind-blowing their little hugs can be. Even the ones that feel like my air supply has just been cut off.
9. Organise, declutter: Living in an untidy and cluttered environment can be quite bad for your health. I say this thinking of beautiful images of rooms overflowing with books, pictures, clothes and all sorts of knick knacks and going back to the moment I realised reality can be quite different. Since we decided to drastically cut down on the stuff we own and make a conscious effort to keep corners clean and empty my stress levels have drastically decreased. It also makes organising your life much easier. Keep in mind that clutter is not just physical stuff. It can be bad habits or toxic relationships or even a loaded computer. I recently decluttered my laptop and I can’t tell you how good it felt.
10. Do something that makes you happy. Everyday: It could be gardening, gossiping on the phone with a phone, watching a movie, listening to an album, eating a bar of chocolate, dancing, shopping. Whatever it is do it! Do it and mean it and enjoy it!
