When embarking on a journey towards better health and more vibrant wellness, you must remember to keep things simple.
If the basics are not the cornerstone of your endeavor, you’ll soon find yourself overwhelmed. When things are too complicated and you can’t commit to all the changes you held yourself too, you’ll feel defeated. You’ll stop progress altogether because if you’re not all in you’re not getting the most benefit, right? Instead, your complicated plan shortly becomes too much to bear and you remain the same, still holding that extra 20 pounds, still gasping for breath after going up the stairs.
Let me take a moment to remind you of the basics, the bare necessities of living a healthy, balanced life. This doesn’t include a food scale or calorie counting, and there’s no need for a fancy fitness program.
The Basics:
- Eat plants and animals
- Avoid processed foods
- Cook your own meals
- Eat until you feel full
- Pack your lunch
- Find healthy snacks that don’t have too many simple sugars
- Drink filtered water
- Steer clear of sugar-sweetened beverages
- Don’t have caffeine past 2pm
- Move your body every day
- Go for a walk
- Run, lift weights, or go to a yoga class if you want to
- Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night, depending on your own needs
- Limit your screen time, especially at night
- Take deep breaths
- Spend time with your loved ones
- Spend time with yourself
- Allow yourself to laugh
- If you slip up, forgive yourself and get back on track
If you implement these lifestyle practices, things will start to change. You’ll feel more energized and less lethargic. You’ll need less coffee and have more time to spend with your loved ones. Once you start, the momentum will keep you going. That cupcake you have in celebration of a good week won’t feel like a defeat but a victory. Small victories will compound and you’ll soon be miles ahead of where you started
It’s all about balance. If 80% of the things you do are healthy and 20% aren’t the best for you, you’re living a pretty balanced, enjoyable life. Forgive yourself if you slip up and move forward with a grateful heart. This is all about learning and growing.
I’m telling you, if you get back to the basics, things will change.