Today Is A Better Day
Living in the 21st century isn’t the easiest time period to live in. Many of us have children to raise, jobs or careers to uphold, looking for romance, unstable housing, leaving a bad relationship, undergoing chronic stress and so on… Life can surely be one tough cookie. I am here to let you know that you are not alone. I am writing this to you because I am here to help you on your journey called life. In order for us to want to succeed in life such as get married, have children, raise a family, find your lifetime partner, looking for the next hookup, or the next promotion, we come to understand we all want to do better for ourselves even though we may think it is unattainable. Surely, life starts with you. It is up to you to decide what you want and need in your life. By taking a nose dive to change your life, it starts with action, an action to take serious steps to have a life worth living that will change your mindset, attitude and overall health. Let’s ruminate over three ways to take charge of your life and thrive.
Sleep is important. Having adequate sleep, we can function better through our day. Sometimes, we don’t have the sufficient hours we need to rest due to taking care of a newborn baby, staying up at night studying/partying/scrolling through your social media news feed or waiting for your Uber to come get you on a busy Friday night. Therefore, being able to rest your eyes comes to our attention. Heck, our body demands it. You know, the times when we get so tired that we forget to set our alarm or don't have enough energy to eat dinner when we get home. I’ll start off with, sleep is an infamous luxury for mankind. What would happen if you don’t get the rest you need? Concentration and productivity is out the door, diseases can occur such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Not sleeping as good in the night or in the day (yes, I am talking to you night owls), it can lead to depression and at risk to inflammation and weight gain. Never mind how you feel when you don’t get enough rest, it will negatively impact your emotions, athletic performance and social interactions. Example: What did our boss say again? You shamefully ask your co-worker who always listens carefully in the morning meetings. Sleep is what is needed to function at our best. This is one of the best ways to start loving yourself because you deserve rest and peace and to be at your best. Go ahead, set the alarm, tuck away your phones for the night and brush your teeth. Setting a bedtime routine can cue you in for sleep. Sleep soundly ladies and gents, another new day awaits!
Additionally, exercise is an inexpensive way to kickstart your mood. Loving yourself can be a struggle since we may find other ways to feel better and live better but wouldn't it be great if you can move your body and get unstuck from how you are feeling? Our bodies store emotions and when we aren't feeling good, being sad or angry or lonely, it lies dormant in our bodies. Have you ever decided to get up and stretch your arms overhead in the morning from a night's rest? Don't you feel invigorated? It is the same way with exercise when we decide to move our body; exercise can help us get unstuck and alleviate our mood. Exercise can be a stress buster, a way to master ourselves giving us a sense of accomplishment, better mobility and flexibility and keeps our body young as we age.
What happens if you neglect exercise? You will lose muscle meaning you will be weaker and it will lead you feeling incapable of doing things, produces a weaker immune system which you will be able to catch the flu or cold easily, bone loss which can lead to arthritis meaning stiff joints and you are at increased risk of developing a disease such as diabetes, obesity, anxiety and depression. According to World Health Organization (WHO), more than 264 million people are affected with this common illness. If you are not an exercising fan, there are fitness activities to get your body in shape and love yourself and your body all over again. Here are some examples: join a gym, walk at the park, go hiking, Pilates, strength/weight training, swimming, join a sports team such as soccer, basketball, lacrosse or hockey, dancing and stretching. Do something that makes you feel good and you love it! Life is too short to waste on anything that doesn't promote self-love. When you love yourself, you want to do better for yourself. Taking care of your body, by moving it to become healthy is a fantastic way to say yes to self-care and self-love for the present moment and better days to come.
Lastly, nutrition is imperative for creating a better you. We are so used to eating at fast food joints, going out to restaurants to eat or drink or relying on vending machines to help stabilize our hunger pains. Unfortunately, this way of eating can only get so far. Not having the right nutrition for yourself can lead to weight gain, gut problems and mental health issues. Our digestive system controls how we feel which can also impact our thoughts. In order to feel better for ourselves, we want food to heal and nourish our bodies instead of giving it toxic waste. With that being said, water is a great start. Our bodies are made up of 70% of water meaning water is important to our health and helps us live. If you do not like water, there are other ways to combat the bland taste such as drink mixes and mineral water such as Pellegrino and my favorite: Izze. Some healthy grocery items that can make your tummy smile: Greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, asparagus, romaine lettuce and cucumbers. Citrus fruits such as grapefruit, oranges, lemon and lime. Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. Honeydew melons, cantaloupe and watermelon are delicious and nutritious. Here is a recipe on a hot summer day: put watermelon, lime juice and some mint leaves into a blender and blend. Cheers to a refreshing summer drink to cool you down. Eggs are a good source of protein. Sodas and alcohol can damage our body. If you are a smoker, cigarettes is not a wise choice to substitute for food. Cigarettes can only damage your health in the long run. When we eat the food we love, how happier we are and if we eat the food we love and it's healthy for us, how happier we are as well. It promotes positive action to take care of ourselves.
Our mind, body and spirit are such prominent components in our life's journey that we may sometimes forget how important it is to take care of these areas in our lives well. Always seek the good for you. Your choice is in your hands and you have the power to seek what's best for you. You are your own hero. Sleep, exercise and nutrition are definitely some ways to truly love yourself and start a life worth living!