Tips to help you feel great every day

When you look and feel your best, you are more productive, less tired, and happier in general. This is why it is important to figure out what it takes for you, as an individual, to achieve this each day. What it takes to feel your best will vary from person to person, so this might take a bit of trial and error. Here are some of the most common and helpful ways to be the best version of yourself, presented by Eat for Life Collective.

Eat Well

Eating foods that provide the nutrients your body needs is essential to having enough energy to make it through your day. Without these essential elements in your diet, you may begin to see health-related complications arise from specific deficiencies. In order to feel your best, make sure that you get a good balance of carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein every day. Some good ideas for quick and inexpensive snacks include:

• Hard-boiled eggs
• Apples with peanut butter
• Yogurt
• Salsa with low-sodium tortilla chips
• Cheese and crackers

Keep yourself satiated with healthy snacks throughout the day rather than reaching for high sugar foods that will cause your blood pressure to spike and drop quickly. 

If you need help getting yourself into healthier eating habits, try joining a six-week wellness program from Eat for Life Collective. You can complete it in person or online. It’s a great way to learn more about how to be healthier overall, and it can help you get yourself into some positive habits.

Exercise

Working out is an essential part of being healthy overall. Plus, it has a number of benefits physical and mental health-related benefits, such as:

• Stress relief
• Increased bone health
• Muscle gain
• Increased cardiac health
• Improved mood

Walking is a great form of exercise, especially if you live in an area with a high Walk Score, which means you have easy access to plenty of sidewalks, paths, and trails. For one thing, walking is low-impact, so it’s easy on your joints. It’s also convenient. You can do it anytime, anywhere, and you don’t need any special equipment. But when you’re able to walk outside on a nice, sunny day, you have the added benefit of getting some fresh air and soaking up some vitamin D. So get out there and start exploring your neighborhood on foot! You might be surprised at how much there is to see.

If you have not worked out in a while, take it slow at first. The last thing you want to do is overexert yourself to the point of injury or getting burnt out on an activity you once enjoyed. Start with walking or light jogging, or following along to a workout video from the comfort of home. 

Utilize Work Flexibility

If you are able to do so, work from home more often. This situation allows you to avoid the stressful commute to the office, and instead allocate that extra time to sleeping, working out, and spending time with family and friends. Set up a dedicated space in your home to work so that you get privacy and you can separate work time from free time. That way, when you’re off the clock, you can leave work behind in that space. You do not even have to have an entire room, but simply a space in the kitchen or living room that is somewhat private. Make a space that works for you.

Learn New Things

It’s easy to get into a rut, especially when things are busy. But just doing the same old thing day after day will burn you out quickly. It’s important that you find ways to challenge yourself and mix things up. Hobbies can be great ways to get out of a routine and learn something new. It doesn’t matter what you choose. It could be bird watching or piano or cycling. Just try out some things you’ve never done before and see what piques your interest.

You might also decide that going back to school to earn an online bachelor of education degree meets some personal goals. Perhaps you feel stagnant in your work life and want to move into teaching. Or perhaps you have children in your life that you want to learn how to better help with their educational challenges. Either way, an online degree is a great way to challenge yourself and push yourself into something different.

Pamper Yourself

In order to look and feel your absolute best, pamper yourself by getting a manicure, pedicure, or makeover. Taking this time for yourself is a form of self-care that can go a long way toward relieving stress levels and being more confident in your appearance, explains GoodTherapy. If you live near a cosmetology school, see if you can receive these services from students at a reduced rate. Students want the practice and will often do a great job in order to impress their teachers. 

Practice Meditation (<<– new resource here)

To many people, taking time away from their tasks to meditate seems like a waste of time. However, PsychCentral reports that meditation has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and increase people’s ability to focus, which can lead to greater productivity levels overall. Calm explains that mindfulness meditation is one of the most common forms of this exercise, and it involves being in the present moment rather than being wrapped up in worries about the future. 

Put Yourself First and Feel the Difference

Who doesn’t want to feel their best each and every day? Yet somehow many of us let life and other responsibilities take priority over our own physical and mental well-being. It’s time to flip that script and take some steps to feel your best each and every day. Whether you’re improving your nutrition, working from home more often, or spending time with family, make the most of each day. You’ll find that, even if you only try a few of these strategies, they will help you to look and feel your best each day. Start small, but be intentional about your self-care practices.

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels