Good ole’ Ben Franklin said it best: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” It’s so true, especially when it comes to living a healthier, happier lifestyle! Here are a few quick tips we’ve put together to inspire you to take control of your body and mind to help you live a longer, healthier life.
Take care of your body.
After all, it has to last you a lifetime.
As you can probably tell from the way a hangover feels, alcohol, in excess, isn’t the best way to take care of your body. The headache you wake up with, the nausea…yeah, that’s not great for your health. That’s not to say you shouldn’t have a glass of wine here and there, just don’t make boozing a habit. Similarly, eating too much can cause complications down the road. Don’t make everyday Thanksgiving. While you should totally let loose every once in a while (like Thanksgiving), don’t treat yourself with a cupcake every afternoon. The weight gain is just the beginning. Don’t think that heart and liver troubles are any fun – neither is diabetes. While these aren’t a guaranteed side effect of over eating, the binging definitely doesn’t reduce your risk. Eat your veggies. Enjoy natural foods high in protein, vitamins and fiber. Make a habit of healthy eating. That way the cravings for junk will weaken over time.
On the other hand, there are certain things you should be getting more of – like water and sleep. Drink water. There are so many benefits. Water keeps your skin healthy, it helps flush toxins from your body and keeps it working efficiently. And, Sleep. Yep, you’re busy. But if you don’t sleep enough, your immune system will suffer and if you get sick, your ‘to do’ list won’t get tackled at all. So, stay healthy – get some sleep. You’ll feel better, you’ll look better and you’ll get do more of what you want to get done!
Make sure to moisturize your skin. Winter and summer can be tough on your skin. It’s an easy ritual to forget. Make a point of wearing a facial moisturizer with SPF and keep your skin hydrated to keep it looking young and vibrant!
Escape from bad habits.
Whether you’re a smoker, a couch potato, a chocoholic or a night owl, the choices you make now will follow you down the road. Stop smoking and you’ll look better, smell better and feel better. Get off the couch and develop a hobby that gets you moving. If you can’t live without your favorite TV show, make a healthy deal with yourself. Don’t give up your TV shows, but try watching them on your phone or tablet while you’re on the treadmill. Enjoy a small, bite-sized piece of chocolate after supper, but limit your intake to that small amount.
And again, get some sleep. If you work non-traditional hours, you write for your MilSpouse lifestyle blog after the kids are asleep, or you just like to stay up late, make sure you get into a schedule, and include sleep in that schedule.
Do what makes you happy.
Life’s full of obligations. Even though those obligations make you feel successful and accomplished, make sure you’re doing something for yourself. Have you always been curious about photography? Sign up for a photography class. Start scrapbooking that amazing family vacay from last year. Make a weekly dinner date with your besties. Get the family out for a weekend hike and picnic. You spend a lot of time working with your service member’s schedule, and the kids’ schedules; make sure to get the fam and your friends involved in your interests too.
Relax.
Reduce the stress in your life. Sure, we all get stressed, but keeping the stress to a minimum will make you a happier person in the long run. Do what makes you happy. Recharge your batteries. Find ways to decompress – a few drops of lavender oil in a hot bath tends to do the trick.
Get moving.
There are a lot of articles coming out lately that claim that sitting will kill you. While this might be an extreme approach, the message is the same. Get up. Get out. Work out. Walk places when you can. Just get moving.
Exercise, whether it happens in the gym or outside, will make your body healthier and your mind happier.
If you’re curious about how your lifestyle is affecting your health and longevity, check out AAFMAA’s Life Expectancy Calculator.
