In today’s frenetic world it is easy to neglect our health and wellness. We are so busy racing through our day-to-day lives – juggling family, friends, school, work, sports and social engagements — that we barely take a moment to look after ourselves. It’s really no wonder that many individuals complain of feeling exhausted most of the time. But there are actually some very simple things that we can do to make changes and improve the quality of life.
Drink Drink Drink
You’ve probably heard it a thousand times and you are about to hear it once more — drink more water!
Stop and think about it for a minute. Our bodies are comprised of seventy-two percent water. This means that a mere five percent drop in fluids creates a 25-30% loss in energy. A fifteen percent drop in fluids causes death! What is astounding is that sixty-six percent of Americans aren’t drinking enough water, which means that over half the population isn’t running at full potential – and that’s before considering problems like air pollution, unhealthy food and widespread stress.
It’s not really a difficult thing to fix. Addressing it in bite-sized pieces means drinking just one glass of water every half hour or so. This quickly adds up to 10-12 glasses of water each day — and soon you’ll notice a significant jump in your energy levels.
Living Food — Loving Life!
Most people do not realize that heating food above 116F destroys much of its inherent nutrient content. Considering that Americans typically do not eat the required daily amount of vegetables, that’s a fairly substantial problem. Nutritionists recommend five servings of fresh vegetables per day. How many people actually follow that advice?
A delicious way to receive the nutrients found in fresh veggies without spending hours in front of the stove or eating raw carrots or celery sticks is to juice your veggies. Purchase a good quality juicer (as some juicers expose vegetables to friction-created heat during the juicing process, breaking down critical enzymes), then grab some fresh vegetables and drink your way to health! It takes a fraction of the time (no cooking!) and it’s convenient and portable. You can take your juice to work and even send some with the kids in their school lunches!
An excellent source of nutrition is found in wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is high in chlorophyll (described as “plant blood” because it resembles human red blood cell molecules) and it has over one hundred elements that the human body needs. Fresh grains are another excellent source for vitamins and minerals.
Energy In — Energy Out
Most people dread the thought of exercise. However, exercise does not have to be time-consuming or boring. These days, there are plenty of options. In years past, gyms and health clubs only offered weight rooms, aerobics classes or perhaps circuit training. Now it’s common to find water aerobics, yoga, pilates, step classes and a multitude of workout options.
Even if you don’t have the finances for a gym membership, or if you’d rather spend your mornings and evenings at home, then try an exercise bike or walker. Set it up in front of the television and peddle away merrily during your favorite program.
If you suffer from illness or injury or your level of fitness is quite low, you need to be aware that once out of shape, and particularly after an extended illness, it can be a mammoth battle to do a minimal amount of exercise. Your inactivity leads to further loss of energy, which becomes a downward spiral until it’s difficult to just get up off the sofa.
In this case, the best way to get back into a physical routine is to start slowly. Take baby steps, even to the point of wondering if they are doing any good at all. For instance, during the first couple of weeks, walk for only five minutes per day – just five minutes, no more, no less, even if you think you could go farther. Then, after two weeks, increase your exercise time to seven minutes, then 10 minutes, then twelve. Continue to gradually increase your activity until you have arrived at a comfortable level.
It may sound a little silly, but it works. It’s almost as if you trick your body into producing more energy. As you slowly build up your exercise time, your body doesn’t really realize what’s happening. Before you know it, you’ll be comfortably exercising within your limits every day!
Then if you rearrange your lifestyle a bit more, adding better eating habits and drinking a glass of water every 30-45 minutes, you’ll be well on the way to living a healthy life. Additionally, don’t forget to take some quiet time for yourself. Many individuals have found that meditating is an excellent way to minimize stress levels. Meditation does not mean that one is required to sit around for hours. It’s as simple as carving out 5 minutes of quiet time every day — even in the bathroom, if that’s the only place where you can get time out — and have a little time to yourself.
And last but certainly not least, laugh! In fact, laugh like a lunatic — the louder the better! You’ll be amazed at how much such a simple thing like laughter can lift your spirits!