What are your healthy lifestyle habits?

[Hollylane]

The first year that I worked for my current employer, I was forced to read a book, that someone had decided would help all CSRs. I was appalled that I was required to basically write a book report, that would be reviewed by a group of supervisors, so that they could decide what percentage of the yearly bonus I would receive as a new employee.

The book was called The Napkin, The Melon, and the Monkey. I absolutely hated this book, and I felt it was completely ridiculous that I was required to read it, write a report, and be graded on that book report at my age. But, I did have one take away from it, and that was the need to unplug. I use this word quite frequently, when I describe how I take my mind off of stress.

The way that I unplug at work, is to leave the campus during my one hour lunch break. I seek out a little piece of nature and I just absorb it, whatever it is. Sometimes, this is just the back parking lot at the nearby grocery, that backs up to an estuary, sometimes I go to a nearby park. Others would probably call this meditation, but I call it unplugging from chaos and plugging into mother nature.

When the weather is good, and I'm stressed, I try to get out and go hiking with my camera.

Lately, I have been very stressed at work, and about health issues. So, I'm thinking I need to readdress the need for unplugging.

For me, unplugging is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, that leaves me feeling rejuvenated and happy.

[Ginger]

Every Sunday night I cook ridiculous amounts of food and use it for my lunches all week.

I always feel calm and go into a mood that would even qualify as "happy" when I do this. I saute ginger and red onions, then add red cabbage, beets, carrots, mushrooms, all kinds of stuff. In another pan, I saute tilapia. In a big pot, I make a lot of quinoa. In another pot, I make oatmeal with apple and cinnamon (I adore cold oatmeal). I love all these foods, and assemble my lunches with them all week.

Another thing I do that is healthy, is work out a few times a week. I love my gym and go into a quiet, focused state when I'm there. I'm sort of proud of how much weight I apply on the machines.

I don't always accomplish this goal, but I try to get enough sleep, which makes a huge difference for me.

Having something to look forward to is very effective for improving my mental health. I try to go to a movie many Friday nights. Building ritual into my life is comforting.

And music helps a lot.

[Corkey]

Healthy lifestyle for me means being honest with myself and my wife at all times. Sometimes I do too much and end up paying a price that sets me back. Being healthy means doing the things that work, food, excersize, mind, and spirit. It means giving up unrealistic expectations for myself that I can no longer physically expect a good outcome. Sometimes it is self care in retreating from the world and it's demands. Most of the time it is meeting head on things that need done with good cheer. Grumpy me has issues with some stuff and grumpy me needs to get the hell over it. Cheerful me knows grumpy me wins at times.

[Kelt]

These are really good ideas, I am impressed.

Like Sweet2th and KC butch, I also did a pretty complete overhaul of my physical life. It has prompted me to continue to wanting to seek more changes along these lines which is why I am getting ideas from folks here.

Agreeing with MerryFairy on the importance of self care, and with Hollylane's suggestion for a nature break at regular intervals.

IslandScout, I do the exact same thing with food preparation. Even though I cook for one, you would think it was for ten. I love being able to open the fridge at anytime and know that there will be several very tasty and good for me choices available. It really reinforces healthy choices. I also like making big batches of soup and freezing the extra. That way even if I don't have the time to shop for a while I know it is there and always have a backup plan.

Corkey, knowing yourself is probably one of the healthiest things a person can do for themselves.

Brock, kudos on the apple.

[Gráinne]

I too have been following this thread, and getting good ideas. I never thought of self-care as a sacred ritual; it's always after work/cleaning/kids/everything and everyone else that my time comes.

I feel at the core of self-care has to be a conviction that we deserve it, need it, and that it's very UNselfish of us to put our own needs first. That's tough to do!

I (as of Monday) dusted off my Weight Watchers subscription and began tracking and following the health guidelines. This time, my attitude isn't that I'm "on a diet", which presumes that one day I'll be off of it. I like how I feel when I'm following it, and making it a way of life. Not everyone is fluffy like me, but there are good tips just for maintaining (and I like the smiley faces when I fulfill a guideline ).

I was also thinking that I need to bring back my morning ritual of swimming laps at the gym until my arms fall off, then sitting in the hot tub. While I swam, I imagined my problems falling like bricks to the bottom of the pool, making me lighter. By the time I'd finished, maybe I hadn't solved all of them, but neither did they burden me.

I've always been more able to meditate and clear my mind if I'm doing heavy physical exercise.

[PearlsNLace]

I have just recently replaced my 60 ounces of coffee with water.

I am reducing my use of NSAIDS by 50% by using a heating pad, gentle stretching, and long showers.

I am aiming for 30 minutes of activity daily.

I moisterize my face and hands.

I use aromatherapy to reduce my stress at work. its actually helping.

I have a night time routine, and I go to bed and wake up around the same time, even on days off. My circadian rythms are pleased.

I am practicing forgiveness of self when I dont meet my aims.

[Kelt]

Another thing I've done is to increase the amount of sleep I get each night. This was a tricky one because I didn't want to take any supplements or anything. I had been getting along for quite a few years on 6 hours a night, but after doing a bit of research, decided I could use more. I wanted to reduce the levels of cortisol in my system. I read up on what is referred to as sleep hygiene and implemented some of those ideas. Setting up and using a fan for white noise, making it as dark as possible, and making it cooler at night all helped. Just not enough.

Over some time, maybe a month or two, I put together a ritual to go through right before I go to sleep and faithfully followed it everyday. Nothing special, just closing up the place, checking pet needs, and as the last item I made sure to have a hot bath or shower right before getting into bed. By following the same exact routine each night, my body started learning that when x,y,z, were complete, it was time to go to sleep.

It like a reflex, or muscle memory, and works like a charm for me 98% of the time. Even if I am stressed or all wired up, the motions seem to put in place the result.

[Contessa]

Originally Posted by Hollylane

The first year that I worked for my current employer, I was forced to read a book, that someone had decided would help all CSRs. I was appalled that I was required to basically write a book report, that would be reviewed by a group of supervisors, so that they could decide what percentage of the yearly bonus I would receive as a new employee.

The book was called The Napkin, The Melon, and the Monkey. I absolutely hated this book, and I felt it was completely ridiculous that I was required to read it, write a report, and be graded on that book report at my age. But, I did have one take away from it, and that was the need to unplug. I use this word quite frequently, when I describe how I take my mind off of stress.

The way that I unplug at work, is to leave the campus during my one hour lunch break. I seek out a little piece of nature and I just absorb it, whatever it is. Sometimes, this is just the back parking lot at the nearby grocery, that backs up to an estuary, sometimes I go to a nearby park. Others would probably call this meditation, but I call it unplugging from chaos and plugging into mother nature.

When the weather is good, and I'm stressed, I try to get out and go hiking with my camera.

Lately, I have been very stressed at work, and about health issues. So, I'm thinking I need to readdress the need for unplugging.

For me, unplugging is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, that leaves me feeling rejuvenated and happy.

((((holly))))) Bless you for doing this job. When much younger..I did this kind of work and it is extremely stressful, thankless and well..One of the toughest there is IMHO. You have to have one tough spine to handle this day in and day out. I'm so glad you are finding ways to unplug on a daily basis..You NEED to!!!

[Amber2010]

Thank you Hollylane for talking about stress relievers. "Unplug" I have never heard it that way before but that will now stick in my mind as well.
I have been so very stressed as well with work and life changes and realized as you did it is time to unplug. I get a 30 minute lunch break so I walk out the door to the lake accross the street and walk around it for 15 minutes. I also jam out to my favorite tunes. My CD player doesn't work in my car anymore so I put my mp3 player on and my ear buds in and jam out to anything that will get me singing in the car. This relieves my stress so much. I also do five laps around the track four times a week that is close to home. Eating right and drinking lots of water has always been a big part of my life. It is the stress I think that hurts me the most. Trying to stay away from people and things that stress us out is not easy but I do try.

[Girl_On_Fire]

In 2002, I was so sick I thought I was dying. My hair was falling out, I was down to 90 pounds, I had horrible anxiety, fatigue, pain, etc. Desperate, I went to a naturopath who took one look at me and said, "Food is killing you." He put on an elimination diet and that's how I found out I had gluten intolerance. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I didn't know a day without pain until I cut all gluten products from my diet.

Fast forward 11 years later and I've educated myself through research about not only how unhealthy gluten is to those who cannot digest it but how food affects the body in general. In 2006 I read, "Natural Cures THEY Don't Want You to Know About" by Kevin Trudeau and was astonished to discover how much food really isn't that at all. It's all chemicals.

Since then, I've been trying to eat as healthy as possible. Organic whenever I'm able and as few additives as possible. I exercise regularly and meditate here and there. Just relaxing with a good book or spacing out while creating houses and people on 'The Sims' is healthy for me too. I run my own business during the week and I love and need plenty of quiet down-time. It's refreshing and necessary for sanity and good health.

[KCBUTCH]

Originally Posted by Girl_On_Fire

In 2002, I was so sick I thought I was dying. My hair was falling out, I was down to 90 pounds, I had horrible anxiety, fatigue, pain, etc. Desperate, I went to a naturopath who took one look at me and said, "Food is killing you." He put on an elimination diet and that's how I found out I had gluten intolerance. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I didn't know a day without pain until I cut all gluten products from my diet.

Fast forward 11 years later and I've educated myself through research about not only how unhealthy gluten is to those who cannot digest it but how food affects the body in general. In 2006 I read, "Natural Cures THEY Don't Want You to Know About" by Kevin Trudeau and was astonished to discover how much food really isn't that at all. It's all chemicals.

Since then, I've been trying to eat as healthy as possible. Organic whenever I'm able and as few additives as possible. I exercise regularly and meditate here and there. Just relaxing with a good book or spacing out while creating houses and people on 'The Sims' is healthy for me too. I run my own business during the week and I love and need plenty of quiet down-time. It's refreshing and necessary for sanity and good health.

I too was gravely ill for years my intestines were so inflamed I could not even touch my stomach it hurt so bad - Found out I was Gluten intolerant also-
I keep an enzyme with me at all times called glutenzyme which is the missing agent in the system that prevents gluten from being processed - I take it if for any reason I suspect i may have encountered Gluten...
I am glad you are felling better

[StrongButch]

I stay active,drink lots of water,try to get enough sleep,creative projects,read alot and follow a spiritual path.