There are three simple components to a healthy lifestyle that’ll keep you on track no matter how busy you get:
Eat
Chocolate for breakfast and a burger for lunch will leave you sluggish long before your coffee has time to kick in. Instead incorporate one of these energy boosting foods into your day and you’ll be promoted for you efficiency in no time…
Salmon – We’ve heard so many good things about this protein and Omega-3 fatty acids rich fish that it should be a mainstay in any energy boosting diet. Its Omega-3’s have been shown to be good for your heart and can even increase circulation, while the protein will give you sustained energy.
Red Peppers – Just slice up a few for a snack (without dip) and you’re getting more than three times the recommend amount of Vitamin C, an immune boosting vitamin, so you can be the last one standing during cold and flu season.
Almonds – Another huge immune system booster, rich in vitamin E, almonds are tasty, easy to grab and go; and contain good mono- and polyunsaturated fats which can re-build cells.
Carrots – Remember when your mom insisted you drink your carrot juice, well she was right! Rich in vitamin A and essential for fighting infections, carrots are a good snack to munch on in between meals.
Bananas – High in potassium and a source of vitamin B6, bananas are known as an instant energy booster, and with they’re self-packaging (no plastic bag needed!) they’re made for a busy schedule.
Work
The biggest source of stress is often work related and while we all know stress is bad, you may not know why. Stress releases hormones that can accelerate the heart and as a result (if the arteries are blocked) lead to heart attacks. These same hormones can also contribute to anxiety and depression, and weaken the immune system. The point is that you have to minimize stress…
Do What You Love – This isn’t a hippie mantra, those who love their job have less stress than those who live for Friday. They’re also more productive and more likely to be good at what they do (and therefore more profitable at it). If you fear Sunday nights, it may be time for a change.
Strike a Balance – What does balance mean? It doesn’t mean being everything to everyone. It means not working 20 hours a day for a prolonged amount of time and making sure that you’re incorporating other elements like friends and family in your day.
Play
Play-time isn’t restricted to Kindergarten. An essential component of health, having fun can reduce stress and its harmful effects. But often the guilt alone is deterrent enough. With a million things to juggle at work and home, how dare you take time to go to a movie, right? Well wrong, if you’re serious about your health…
Make Fun a Priority – Sounds simple and it is, just talk to any 13 year-old girl making plans for the weekend. Having fun, whether through a class, a night out, an afternoon stroll or just some reading time, can make you relaxed enough to take on all the things you need to throughout the day.
Make it Your Own – While arts and crafts can be fun with the kids and so can an impromptu puppet show, that shouldn’t count as your own fun. Separate what you do each day for yourself, after all, you deserve your own play-time!
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