How to: Simply Improve Your Life
That headline may sound like an audacious claim, but as we’ve noted often on Healthbolt, the magic is in the mundane. Every big project begins with a single move, so here are a few quick starts that could better your physical, fiscal and emotional health right here, right now, today:
- Clear those clothes that you never wear out of your closet, and give them away to your neighbor, niece or Salvation Army. This results in instant clutter control, allows your other garments to breathe, and will make someone else very happy.
- The above advice especially applies to those size 6 jeans you’re saving for someday. Fitness is not measured by size, so celebrate your size by moving your happy feet up and down a flight of stairs three times for a quick aerobic boost.
- Just say no to the siren song of Krispy Kreme. Substitute dry cereal with fruit, a bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar topping, a peanut butter sandwich or a piece of last night’s pizza. Almost anything is better for your breakfast than the deadly donut. Boasting the triumvirate of processed white sugar, processed white flour and a decidedly unhealthy dollop of fat, the KK’s and all imitators are a no-no.
- Skip one lunch per week. Your body won’t miss the calories, and you can play feed the piggy bank with the $5 or $10 you save. Begin now, and you’ll have a nice chunk of Christmas present change come December. If you can’t go cold turkey, eat a meal bar instead; you’ll still save big bucks. Naturally, you shouldn’t play this game if you’re in training or following a special diet.
- Take a walk. Better yet, invite a friend of the two-legged or four-legged variety to join you for a fifteen minute jaunt around the block, the mall or the gym.
- Trade in 30 minutes of boob tube time. Instead of parking in front of the television, play a board game with family or friends, read that novel that’s been on your list, engage in conversation with a family member, or double the walking time suggested in number 5.
- Dance to the music. Any music. You don’t have to own an expensive sound system or even a simple CD player. Turn on the radio, get down and watch yourself smile. To intensify the experience, sing along. Loudly.
- Just walk away from the office gripe session. Negativity rules at the bitch fest, and you don’t need all of that negative energy swirling around your head. And if you’re the one who starts those fests, then Stop it! Right now!
- Say “no” politely to the next request that you assume one more duty in your family or club or neighborhood or church for which you know you don’t have time. You don’t need the stress. Other people say “no” all the time; that’s why you have to say “yes” so often! You need not defend yourself, but if you feel you must respond, try this: “Thanks for thinking of me, but that just won’t fit into my schedule right now.” Practice it in the mirror. Repeatedly.
- Snuggle up. Grab a husband, wife, sweetie, child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandma, best friend, beloved pet or favorite stuffed toy and hold on tight like you mean it. The world can be a cold place. Let love warm it up.
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