A Recap of the Journey to Better Wellness
Episode #10 of the course 10 days to better wellness by Alyce Eyster
“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.” —Carol Burnett
My friends, you’ve made it to the end of the class equipped with knowledge and tips to make wellness a priority in your life. Most importantly, science proves that by making a few simple changes you can affect your body physically and mentally for the better.
Remember, it is important to analyze and identify areas of your life ripe for improvement —whether it is nutrition, exercise, water intake, sleep or mind/spirit/community—and set a goal. Diet is probably the area where most people desire improvement and the healthiest diets encourage whole foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and lean sources of protein like fish and poultry. These diets also avoid processed foods and minimize sugar, fat and salt. Diets that encourage this healthy type of eating include the plant-based diet and the Mediterranean diet, along with hara hachi bu, a Japanese way of eating that is helpful against overeating as it encourages practitioners to push away from the table and stop eating once 80% satisfied.
Like a healthy diet, exercise can have profound effects on a person’s health as it has proven physiological effects like improving cholesterol, and is also important in stress relief. For best results, strive to work out every day for at least 30 minutes.
Water, sleep and mindset also affect your health and wellness. The science of water intake is controversial, but try drinking half your bodyweight in ounces daily and see how you feel. Adherents have noted more energy and less bloat.
Sleep requirements are more definitive than water requirements. Anyone who has experienced a bad night’s sleep can vouch for what typically follows in the morning—a crummy, low energy day—so be kind to yourself and get plenty of sleep, anywhere from 7-9 hours. It is incredible how transformative a good night’s rest can be.
Treat yourself to some quiet time every day. It only has to be 10 minutes, but allowing time to reflect, pray, be mindful, or meditate can have a calming, centering effect on the mind that carries throughout the day.
Finally, don’t beat yourself up if you are fighting resistance and obstacles in your upgrade to better health and wellness. If you’ve had a day of unhealthful eating or skip a day of exercise, it is very important to forgive yourself, let it go and promise to do better the next day. Take these positive habit changes one day at a time. For more success along the journey, remember to engage in a community of supporters, where you will find motivation and inspiration. You will soon see that adopting better wellness in the form of a healthy lifestyle not only has amazing effects on your body, but on your attitude and outlook. Good luck—I wish you all the best in your quest for better wellness!
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