I love lists. There’s something about ticking things off and basically having a done-for-you to-do list that excites me. For that reason, I created a list of 20 ideas to improve our health:
- Be a student – Constantly be learning. Read books. Attend seminars. Watch courses. There is always more to learn.
- Prioritize relationships – We thrive off relationships. Spouses. Friends. Co-workers. Make sure you are working on them. We all need healthy relationships to be our best. Isolation kills. This is why solitary confinement is one of the worst punishments known to man.
- Get rest – We all need rest. The healthiest and most successful people I know prioritize their rest time as much as anything else. Make sure the room is pitch black when you go to sleep at night with no lights from computers, phones, etc.
- Do some mobility each day – Basically, make sure you’re doing some stretching each day. You can even do a couple of stretches while the coffee is brewing.
- Strength train twice per week – Strength training at least two times per week will help keep (and maybe even add a bit) the muscle on your bones to support your metabolism and health.
- Stay hydrated – As a general rule, drinking half your body weight in ounces will help you maintain the focus and energy you need by keeping things flowing properly.
- Get a check-up – It’s much easier to stay on top of things when you know what’s going on. Get a basic check-up including vitals (e.g. BP) and blood work. The last thing you want to do is sweep a health issue under the rug.
- Don’t forget emotional health – Overall health or wellness includes the emotional side.
- Disciplined but not obsessed. Discipline is crucial in achieving anything worthwhile. The problem is it can quickly turn into an unhealthy obsession. Do you ever beat yourself up for missing one workout or having one “less than ideal” meal? Me either.:)
- Get the habit of food prep – Whether it’s 30 minutes in the morning or a longer food prep session each week, it can save you time and make eating healthy much more doable.
- Serve others – Sometimes the best thing we can do to forget about our own problems is to get out of our own head and help someone else.
- Smile and laugh every day – People who smile and laugh are healthier and tend to live longer.
- Take care of the entire wheel. Each area of your life (e.g. health, relationships, etc.) is like a spoke on a wheel. If you neglect any one area long enough, you’ll end up with a flat tire.
- Sprint 1-2 times per week – Perhaps you don’t like long sessions on the treadmill. Unlike the boring nature of traditional cardio, sprints will leave you feeling invigorating. Do them!
- Avoid processed food – The “I want tin now” culture we live in has created a whole host of problems including poor health as a result of eating processed food.
- Consume healthy fats – Fat is not the enemy. Every traditional healthy culture had natural fat as a staple in their diet.
- Get plenty of sunlight – When the weather permits, get outside and enjoy nature! It will do your body good!
- Train your mind – Just as your body needs to be challenged, so does your mind. Read a book or do something that keeps your mind working and engaged.
- Find a hobby – Life is meant to be lived. Stop waiting until you have more time.
- Stay Focused! – It’s so easy to get distracted in our busy world. Remember why you started and how great things will be when you finish strong!
There you go. 20 things you can do to become a better healthier version of yourself. Print this list out if you need to and check them off as you complete them. Looking forward to hearing about your success.