We all have our daily rituals, or weekly, or sometimes even monthly ones. For some of us it is simple, we wake up brush our teeth, shower, eat breakfast and indulge in some coffee and then go to work. For others skipping breakfast and going straight for the coffee is the only way that they and stay awake and survive their 9-to-5 life.
Then there are the healthy conscious ones, people that have a daily routine whom you get all judge-y in front of your friends about, but silently envy and wonder what their secret is. You know of whom I speak, the ones who appear to be positive and happy all the time, frequent the gym or a yoga class daily, sip on fresh juices instead of wine to chill out after a long day at work while you get half cut at happy hour and convince yourself that you are going to do a cleanse starting on Monday.
Making the choice to live a healthy lifestyle can be quite daunting, there is so much information out there that it’s hard to know where to start. Also going into an extreme diet isn’t always the most realistic way to succeed, however if that works for you go ahead, get extreme, do your thing.
Healthy habits will help you live a longer healthier, happier life and the trick is to transition and get a routine. Being healthy doesn’t always mean changing your whole being right away or going on a juice cleanse. It can be just adding little things to your days that go a long way in the long run.
So, no, you don’t have to be a raw, vegan, yoga-doing, iron-pumping elitist, just focus on one activity at a time. For example, if you eat McDonalds for breakfast five days a week maybe next week you try only four days, maybe the following week you do three, and so forth. Or just add little weekly, daily or monthly habits that will help you live a healthy life like a boss.
Here are a few suggestions to start.
Time for yourself
Whether it is seeing what the Real Housewives are up to or drinking a glass of cheap wine while reading a book in the bathtub, or dancing naked in your kitchen to Taylor Swift (cause life is too short not to). Self care is very important, and self care means whatever you want it to, it means alone time or time with friends
Digestion
So many of our health problems can be helped by aiding your digestive system. Ninety per cent of your serotonin is in your digestive tract as well as your immune system. This means that your mood and your overall health is directly affected if your digestion isn’t working properly. Eat fermented foods and eat your god damn veggies (the real ones that live in the produce section of your grocery store).
Lemon water
Help our your digestion and your liver with a glass of lemon water first thing in the morning 30 minutes before you eat anything. This will increase your stomach acid so you can digest those much needed nutrients from your food. Lemon water will also help out your liver from all those highballs you drank the night before.
Exercise
Not only good for you, but an awesome way to spend time. Even just going for a walk 30 minutes a day is a great way to get your health on, or you could simply pump iron, lift cars then take us all to the gun show.
Forgiveness
Holding on to grudges will make you physically sick so forgive your roommate for using the last of the ketchup and forgive yourself for being angry for something as trivial as ketchup.
Let go of fear
“Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda wants you to resist the dark side.
Eating Breakfast
Kick start your metabolism with a healthy breakfast. This will get you sorted for the day and will also help regulate your sugar levels. So replace that donut or croissant with some complex carbs.
RECIPE: Breakfast chia pudding to-go
Ingredients
1 tbs Chia seeds
1 tbs flax meal
1 can organic coconut milk
½ tsp Goji berries
1-2 bananas (mashed)
Directions
1. Mix chia seeds, coconut milk, flax seed, Goji berries, and bananas together in a glass mason jar. Mix together, screw on lid and let it set in refrigerator overnight.
2. Remove it from the fridge, and make sure your pudding looks thick and the chia seeds have gelled. Top with fresh fruit and nuts, and enjoy.
• Follow Patty on Twitter at @WholeNourishBC
