9 Ways to Feel Healthier

If you can feel healthier its almost as good as being healthy. There is nothing that feels as good as being healthy in mind, body and spirit. It takes all three to create an aura of optimism and gratitude. These feelings manifest into increased energy. Have people around you that impress you with their energy for life? You could be one of those and feeling healthy is a start.

Secrets to Feeling Healthier

1> Cut Out the Bad Foods.  Years ago I lost 50 pounds over a four year period. I started by cutting out the bad foods and my unhealthy addictions. Mine was certainly ice cream after dinner. I would substitute something just as bad perhaps but then once the addiction was eliminated move to something more healthy. From ice cream I went to Snickers bars and then to granola bars. You can play with your mind. The first goal is to eliminate sugar, then fried food, then flour. Wow, what do I eat? There you go, a good first question. I started with more greens, fruits, beans, seeds, and lean meats. I progressed to eating raw for a while but that was too extreme. Now I am 95% vegetarian because I only eat meat every week or two. I feel perfect.

2> Move. Nature designed all our systems to work better with movement because when we burn muscle our body flushes inflammation and replenishes with energizing chemicals. Our health and longevity rely on this process. Not burning muscle brings on quicker physical deterioration. Burning muscle activates endorphins and euphoria often called flow. Our brain comes alive with the challenge of new exercises and the flush of energy created.

3> Drink Less Alcohol. Moderate amounts can be healthy, but too much acts as a depressant, dehydrates us, and saps energy. In this category, include anything else that we use for escape. Dealing with our emotions develops resilience. I love a few beers watching sports at my local pub, but the rest of the week I go without. Pretty soon you don’t even notice that you are not drinking.

4> Drink More Water. Our body is 70% water when hydrated and everything about us internally thrives on being hydrated. I drink water when I am drinking alcohol and every night I start drinking tea to hydrate and because imbibing is satisfying. Once we start drinking more water our body wants more water. Water creates more energy than cigarettes, sugar, or energy drinks once you get used to staying hydrated. Your energy won’t sag as with all other palliatives.

5> Do Nothing for an Hour a Day.  I know you feel you are too busy for this. But think about just where your life is going. Obama took an hour out of his crazy day to read. Warren Buffet reads for several hours a day. Why would the richest and busiest people on earth take time off the job? I have several rest periods during the day which might be a nap, exercise, or reading some place peaceful. The result is I can be optimally more productive for more hours. Yes, your nervous system is really only effective for about 90 minutes of intense concentration then it starts to debilitate. Productivity drops. People don’t take vacations because they fear falling behind but their effectiveness drops to about 50% of their potential.

6> Have Spiritual Moments. Our feelings can be one of two types during the day. We can feel we are over burdened and can’t wait until the end of the day to get relief or we can feel great that we have the opportunities we experience. Evaluate which you feel the most each day. We are the best version of ourselves and make our greatest contribution when we feel gratitude. Gratitude can begin by connecting with our bodies in good health, connecting with Nature to feel a part of the whole, and then connecting with people in wanting to make lives better.

7> Sleep 8 Hours. The body needs rest. If you want to feel healthy, you need to allow your nervous system to recharge. Sleeping well is often just as complicated as mastering a sport. You have to set a rhythm of going to sleep and waking at the same hours if possible. You have to prepare by eating and drinking properly before bed. You should have a wind down routine at night that isn’t TV. Waking up feeling great is the test of whether you are properly preparing to go to sleep.

8> Reduce Stress. Sure, he says, and while you’re at it save the world. This is often a long process. Live within your means. Don’t procrastinate. Have good relationships by confronting and solving all issues. Save money every month. Work on something that improves the big picture. Reduce all negative behaviors. Find a way to be optimistic by building resilience and faith. Find what is really worth living for and don’t push for the unrealistic.

9> Learn Every Day. Optimism builds when we are getting better. I like to build my physical, mental, and spiritual systems but learning gives us the insights to improve our lives, make a bigger contribution, and stay relevant. Learning may be our biggest opportunity for security. The machines are lurking and what the work place needs are more energized, educated, skilled, empathetic, and enthusiastic humans. Machines are teaching machines so we have to teach ourselves.

Tell me if you put all these practices to work you wouldn’t feel healthier, stronger, and more optimistic. Start a little at a time and create a full program of new daily behaviors.

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If you want to explore in depth these 9 practices, read my newest book The Good Life Plan-The Final 23% of Fulfillment.

If you would like me to speak to your group about changing lives through better habits contact me at markap12 at gmail dot com.