The term ‘healthy and happy lifestyle’ means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To some, it means being super serious about working out, eating nothing but greens, and never letting a drop of coffee, alcohol, or sugar-based liquid pass their lips. To others, the happiness part of the equation is the most important, and the focus is on eating what you want, with the only exercise taken involving getting up to turn over the TV.
For the rest of us, however, we probably lie somewhere in the middle. Not everyone wants to be a super fit athlete. And the vast majority of us want to lead healthy lives. The good news is that by following some simple suggestions, it’s more than possible to improve your health, feel better about yourself, and lead a long and happy lifestyle long into the future. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.
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The importance of the individual
OK, so let’s get started with you. Be honest - do you put aside proper time to look after yourself? Whether you are a high-flying career woman, a busy mom, or a stressed-out student, it’s important to give yourself a break from the norm and put time aside to look after yourself. The reality is that if you don’t give yourself time to recharge, refuel, and repair, no one else will either. We all lead busy lives, but taking care of yourself has to be a priority. Do so, and you will find you are more productive at work, a more able parent, and a brighter spark at school.
Tailor-made solutions
If you are thinking of working out or going on a diet, don’t believe everything you see or hear. As Club Fitness points out, if you want to get fit, you need to work with a gym that helps you achieve your personal health and fitness goals - not the targets of someone you saw on the TV, your neighbor, or your work colleague. It’s precisely the same principle with dieting. We are all different, and at various stages of our fitness journeys. And the reality is that there is no one size fits all solution - you have to find a tailor-made plan that is achievable and workable. A personal trainer can help, or you could learn everything you need to know yourself. There is plenty of information and lots of tools online to help you build a picture of your current fitness condition. And once you start learning new techniques and workouts, you will find you are inspired to do a lot more.
Catch some zs
Sleep matters a lot more than you might think. And the quality of sleep is even more critical. Getting enough shut-eye is crucial to your health, as it gives your body the chance to heal itself from the day’s stresses and strains, while at the same time it gives your brain an opportunity to evaluate and assess what it has experienced. Lack of sleep could make you physically ill, and can also be the cause of all kinds of mental health issues. At best, you will be far less productive, happy, and focused until you catch up. And finally, let’s not forget that when you are tired, it can often mean you will crave unhealthy food during your waking hours, which is neither good for your health, or your waistline.
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Morning matters
Once you start to go to bed a little earlier, you will often find you can wake up earlier, too. And as much as it is tempting to turn over and go back to sleep, why not embrace the day ahead, look it in the eye, and take up its challenge? Early mornings are a great time to ensure you get an excellent, energy-creating breakfast. You might be able to fit in a workout, too, or a dog walk. And even if you don’t feel active, just relaxing on your own before the world wakes up is a fantastic opportunity to gather your thoughts for the day ahead.
Exercise and activity
As we mentioned above, the morning is a great time to workout. But if you can’t get up in the mornings, or just don’t have time to get your physical activity in before work, it’s not an excuse to skip it altogether. Everyone should be taking at least half an hour of reasonable exercise every day as a bare minimum. Doing this will keep your health in good order, and reduce your chances of developing nasty conditions like high blood pressure, heart issues, and even stroke. Not to mention the benefits will have on your immune system and your overall physique.
Diet and nutrition
The food you eat is perhaps the most critical part of living a healthy and happy lifestyle. So when it comes to your overall diet, it’s essential that you are eating nutritiously and fueling your body in the right way. Consume the right amount of vitamins, keep an eye on additives and preservatives, and make sure the majority of your meals is made up of vegetables and fruits. A lot of people make out that eating healthily is tough - but once you get started, you will find the opposite is the case. You don’t have to starve yourself of treats, however. It’s just a simple question of moderation that you need to consider.
Water, water, water
Your body weight is 60 percent water. So it’s no surprise that we see water as being a giver of life. Drink plenty of it, and do so regularly - don't wait until you feel thirsty. By that stage, you are already dehydrating, so aim for around eight glasses of water a day at regular intervals, dependent on your size. Proper hydration will help you feel better, think clearer, and perform better in sport, work, exercise, or even reading. As discussed in a previous blog post, it’s also great for keeping you looking young and healthy, flushing out toxins, and keeping your body in the best possible shape.
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Hang out with good folk
Believe it or not, the people you spend the most time with will have a significant impact on your personality. Hang out with people who drink a whole bunch at the weekends? You probably will, too. Spend time with people that worry about illness and the world around them constantly? You will, too. It can be incredibly awkward trying to live a happy and healthy lifestyle when there are people around you that encourage you to do the opposite. In most cases, it’s not because they want to drag you down - it’s just that by not doing ‘the usual’ you are seeking to invalidate them. It can be tricky, but if you have friends that are a bad influence, you might want to reassess your relationships. Meeting up with positive people can be a remarkable help in achieving your health and fitness goals, for example, and can also help you get on better at work and accomplish more with your life.
Cut out the stress
According to research, stress is an increasing problem in the modern world. And make no mistake about it, it’s not something you want to experience. Stress can cause many health conditions that could end up being the death of you. It can also start causing havoc with your relationships at home and at work. Sure, stress can be tough to avoid in life, but if you feel it is getting on top of you, don’t be shy about visiting your doctor. Which brings us to our next point…
Regular medical visits
It’s a proven fact that people who visit their doctor more often tend to suffer from fewer serious illnesses. Arranging regular check-ups with your physician will ensure that if you do get anything serious, it will be picked up at a very early stage, at which there is far more chance of a full and straightforward recovery. Even diseases like some cancers can be treated relatively easily, and have excellent prospects for a full recovery - if it’s caught before it takes hold.
Slow and steady wins the race
If all this sounds like you need to change everything about your life right now, it couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is that slow and steady will always be a better approach than diving in headfirst. Taking on too much change is impossible, and is also one of the most common causes of failure. It will be too difficult to continue, and you will feel like it is impossible. You need to set yourself achievable goals if you want long-term success, so take baby steps, instead.
OK, so there you have it - some simple rules to follow if you want to have a happy and healthy lifestyle for the future. As we discussed above, taking on these things one step at a time will help it feel a lot easier. Try it out, and I guarantee you will be feeling better, more productive, and possibly even younger before you know it. Good luck - and good health!
This may be a contributed post but all of the thoughts I agree with and match the tone of my blog .
Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that your week has started off well! Back in June I shared that on our 5th day of our Rhine River cruise we had the amazing opportunity to spend the morning cruising the Middle Rhine River. (You can read about the first part of our scenic cruising HERE and the second part HERE!) Then we spent the afternoon and early evening exploring the beautiful city of Cologne, Germany. (You can read more about a walk through historic cologne HERE.)
As we made our way to the Cathedral we walked through cologne square where our tour guide spent some time sharing about the different buildings.
One of the things that I never tired of on our trip was all of the amazing architecture that had been preserved throughout the different centuries.
Isn't the architecture so unique?
I loved seeing this area of Cologne and learning more about the history of the buildings and hearing the stories of this city on this tour. It was truly fascinating!
I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of a walk through Historic Cologne! In my next post I can't wait to share more about the Cologne Cathedral and its unique survival during the bombing of World War II. The Cathedral was absolutely magnificent! If you are interested in reading more about our Basel to Amsterdam cruise on Viking, you can click on the links below:
// Viking River Cruises: Answers to Your Most FAQ's //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// A Walk Through Historic Cologne // Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) // A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// A Walk Through Historic Cologne // Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) // A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
Happy Monday friends! I hope you are having a wonderful start to this new week! This past weekend turned into one of the most beautiful summer weekends of the summer!
On Saturday I had the most wonderful special brunch, then caught up with some dear friends who are such an encouragement, and did a short hike. There is something about spending time about these tall trees that just makes you feel small and inspired at the same time.
Saturday, while hiking, I finalized the last few details of our Alaska trip plans. There had been some debate (okay a LOT) internally about some places that I wanted to see desperately, but as wisdom was given it became quickly obvious that it would be impossible to hit everything. The hard part was that everything looks amazing so it is hard to give anything up. I am though excited about the final decisions and am so excited about the trip that is coming up! And I have already started an itinerary of dream places to visit for a future trip back. hahaha!
Some of my favorite times of the summer are spent on this porch... talking with loved ones, catching up with friends, and enjoying the beauty. The evening white lights make it even more cozy in the woods. *smiles*
Yesterday (Sunday) was a fun filled day on the water! It was a perfect water and boat day and was so much fun! I took the boat over to meet up with friends and we had a great time spending the day on the lake!
These ladies are seriously so amazing. While I would never choose to have gotten sick or have Lyme Disease or have had to walk the painful road to get to this point... there are these amazingly unexpected blessings of illness that show up if you look for them and these three ladies are definitely some of them. I don't know if we would have connected if not for Lyme. I love how our conversations travel from dealing with this journey to life, dreams, and the future. We had such a great time laughing and spending the day on the water.
I can't believe that we are already into the second week of July of this summer. This summer seems to be flying so quickly. I want to grab onto the moments and just hold time still in some ways, and yet it continues to march forward and with that I know will come new adventures and joys.
Happy Monday friends! I hope that you have a wonderful beginning to your new week!
for details on shopping the post:
Moon Guide Book (Anchorage & Denali)// Moon Guide Book Alaska // Fodors Travel Alaska // Rand McNally Alaska Road Map // White Porch Lights // Tory Burch Sandals (Poppy Orange) // Earrings (originally from Target in 2014, very similar HERE!) // Black & White Polka Dot Headband, very similar HERE // similar porch chairs HERE
Happy Saturday y'all! I hope that you are having a good start to your weekend! I am so excited to share with y'all this vintage girl nursery rhymes storybook bunting that was just added to the shop today!
Each storybook bunting in the shop is precious to me, but this one quickly became a favorite with its sweet design and pictures and the adorable vintage pictures! It has some of my favorite qualities: vintage children's books, lovely twine, and pretty scrapbook paper. *happy sigh*
The chosen and featured pages used from this book has been carefully preserved and the colors are vivid. In addition to the wonderful color the writing is very clear so that on the pages with writing it can be easily read.
This beautiful storybook bunting measures approximately 3 feet long and is hand strung together with adorable twine.
This gorgeous and unique decoration will be a rare treasure that you can use for years to come to decorate a nursery, a kids room, a playroom, or as decoration for an adoption party or baby shower.
This beautiful garland features gorgeous storybook pages, that although they are vintage they are in perfect condition and will add to your decorations if you are using this as a party or shower decor.
Each page from this child's book has been carefully preserved and the colors are vivid.In addition to the wonderful color the writing is very clear so that several of the pages writings shows and can be easily read.
If you are interested in this vintage girl nursery rhymes storybook bunting you can find it HERE. If you are interested in looking at other storybook buntings that are available in the shop you can find them in the storybook buntings section HERE.
Thank you so much for all of your continued support of my little Etsy shop. I am truly so grateful for you! Happy Saturday friends! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Today, my little heart is beyond excited to share a special project that I have been dreaming about and planning for a long time, which will be in conjunction with a new website and collective that is going to be announced on July 16th! I can't wait to share all of the details but for now I wanted to share a little bit more about The Novel Garden.
As an author and former teacher, I have always believed that the power of the written word could change the course of a life and bring hope. Simply put... reading is a way to change the world.
The dream and concept for The Novel Garden began and developed over time into what it is now.
Inspired by stories, travel, and history, The Novel Garden is a book review account for 20th century stories. With every book purchased we will give back.
So how will this work? In short, every month there will be a "book of the month" that will coincide with the time frame decade that is being focused on through Twenty History Lane. For every book purchased we will match book for book purchased and donate the books to local children's hospitals, shelters, libraries, and group homes. All you need to do is send an email to: twentyhistorylane@gmail.com with a confirmation of receipt of payment!
Interested to learn more about Twenty History Lane? It launches on July 16th! In the mean time you can follow along and get updates at the following places:
1. Buy Their Book
This might be silly to even suggest but the reality is that many of the independent author's closest contacts won't think to purchase the book. This might be because they have heard almost every word of the book before it has even gone to print (*smiles*) but the reality is that for whatever reason many close family members and friends won't actually purchase a copy. Take the time to complete this simple step and this will be a huge support to your friend! (Interested in buying one or all of my books? Click HERE!)
This might be silly to even suggest but the reality is that many of the independent author's closest contacts won't think to purchase the book. This might be because they have heard almost every word of the book before it has even gone to print (*smiles*) but the reality is that for whatever reason many close family members and friends won't actually purchase a copy. Take the time to complete this simple step and this will be a huge support to your friend! (Interested in buying one or all of my books? Click HERE!)
2. Think Outside the Box and Share Your Connections
Chances are, you know someone who could use the book that your friend has published even if it doesn't directly relate to you. Purchase and send them a copy! Maybe you could gift a copy of a book to your local library, hospital library, church library, community resource center, domestic violence shelter, homeless shelter, etc? Maybe you could gift a copy of a book to your doctor's office (if the book relates to medical information like my Lyme Disease books) or your counselors office. Perhaps you have a connection at a coffeehouse and you could bring in your friends' book and see if it could be displayed for sale or if your friend could try and sell some copies at your favorite store? Think outside the box and think of the people in your life that you know that you could connect your author friend with.
Chances are, you know someone who could use the book that your friend has published even if it doesn't directly relate to you. Purchase and send them a copy! Maybe you could gift a copy of a book to your local library, hospital library, church library, community resource center, domestic violence shelter, homeless shelter, etc? Maybe you could gift a copy of a book to your doctor's office (if the book relates to medical information like my Lyme Disease books) or your counselors office. Perhaps you have a connection at a coffeehouse and you could bring in your friends' book and see if it could be displayed for sale or if your friend could try and sell some copies at your favorite store? Think outside the box and think of the people in your life that you know that you could connect your author friend with.
3. Write a Review
Just purchasing the book and reading it is a wonderful gift to your friend but what would help them even more is if you would take the time to write a review of the book (especially if it is available on Amazon)! Because your friend has independently published their book they do not have a huge marketing campaign for their books. Due to this they are doing all of the marketing themselves. Your words about their book will speak volumes to many people who aren't familiar with your friends' work! Every author is so grateful for generous and gracious reviews. I have received hundreds of emails from people saying that the whole reason they purchased a book of mine was because of a review they read! So take the time to write a review! I can guarantee that your friend has a goal of at least 20 reviews per book so pass the word to your friends and ask them to write reviews for your friend also! It will only take you a few minutes but will be of lasting help to your friend!
Just purchasing the book and reading it is a wonderful gift to your friend but what would help them even more is if you would take the time to write a review of the book (especially if it is available on Amazon)! Because your friend has independently published their book they do not have a huge marketing campaign for their books. Due to this they are doing all of the marketing themselves. Your words about their book will speak volumes to many people who aren't familiar with your friends' work! Every author is so grateful for generous and gracious reviews. I have received hundreds of emails from people saying that the whole reason they purchased a book of mine was because of a review they read! So take the time to write a review! I can guarantee that your friend has a goal of at least 20 reviews per book so pass the word to your friends and ask them to write reviews for your friend also! It will only take you a few minutes but will be of lasting help to your friend!
4. Share Their Business Card
Most authors have a business card that will help pass their name on a bit more. If you don't feel comfortable passing on the book to a variety of places perhaps you would feel comfortable with passing out your friends business card? Contact them and ask them for a bunch of business cards that you can have on hand to help spread the word about their projects! Live in a different city, state, or country then your friend? Even Better! You will be helping them with marketing even more!!
Most authors have a business card that will help pass their name on a bit more. If you don't feel comfortable passing on the book to a variety of places perhaps you would feel comfortable with passing out your friends business card? Contact them and ask them for a bunch of business cards that you can have on hand to help spread the word about their projects! Live in a different city, state, or country then your friend? Even Better! You will be helping them with marketing even more!!
5. Talk About Their Book on Social Media
Share, share, and share some more about your friends projects on various social media forums. It will be such a blessing to them!! Tag your friends social media to all of your correspondence (example: if you post a picture on instagram tag them in it so they connect directly with people!). Volunteer to "social media love" your friends work! They will be so grateful! This is free for you, but so helpful for your friend who is trying to share about their book!
Share, share, and share some more about your friends projects on various social media forums. It will be such a blessing to them!! Tag your friends social media to all of your correspondence (example: if you post a picture on instagram tag them in it so they connect directly with people!). Volunteer to "social media love" your friends work! They will be so grateful! This is free for you, but so helpful for your friend who is trying to share about their book!
6. Word of Mouth Recommendation.
Talk about your friends book to people you know. Many people purchase books solely based on a friends recommendation.
Talk about your friends book to people you know. Many people purchase books solely based on a friends recommendation.
7. Invite Your Friend To Share About Their Book (or their story)
Does your work bring in special speakers? Ask your friend to come in and share about their book. Maybe the book doesn't fit into the exact business that you you work at, but your friend could share about the writing process or about publishing a book or maybe their personal story or a variety of other things. Suggest your friend! Are you a member of a church or community group? Invite your friend to your Bible study to have them share their story or to your church for a ladies luncheon or for a community chat. Again, the topic might not exactly fit but your friend would love the opportunity to get their name out there and to share a little bit about writing or their heart!
Does your work bring in special speakers? Ask your friend to come in and share about their book. Maybe the book doesn't fit into the exact business that you you work at, but your friend could share about the writing process or about publishing a book or maybe their personal story or a variety of other things. Suggest your friend! Are you a member of a church or community group? Invite your friend to your Bible study to have them share their story or to your church for a ladies luncheon or for a community chat. Again, the topic might not exactly fit but your friend would love the opportunity to get their name out there and to share a little bit about writing or their heart!
8. Share Your Connections for Where They Are Traveling
Perhaps your friend is traveling for business, pleasure, or personal reasons. Do you have connections in the area that they are traveling? Talk with your friends and share your connections.
Perhaps your friend is traveling for business, pleasure, or personal reasons. Do you have connections in the area that they are traveling? Talk with your friends and share your connections.
9. Host a Book Party
Similar to the various parties that exist (i.e. makeup, jewelry, etc.) consider hosting a "book signing party" and have your friend as the guest. This will encourage people to purchase your friends book, interact with them, and get to know more people!
Similar to the various parties that exist (i.e. makeup, jewelry, etc.) consider hosting a "book signing party" and have your friend as the guest. This will encourage people to purchase your friends book, interact with them, and get to know more people!
10. Give the Gift of a New ISBN Number
Want to gather a few friends and take up a collection to bless the socks off of your friend? Gather the money to cover the ISBN number of their book that they have published (or for their upcoming book)! ISBN numbers are an investment and cost $125 which is a lot of money for independent publishers. This gift would be such a blessing to them!
Want to gather a few friends and take up a collection to bless the socks off of your friend? Gather the money to cover the ISBN number of their book that they have published (or for their upcoming book)! ISBN numbers are an investment and cost $125 which is a lot of money for independent publishers. This gift would be such a blessing to them!
Happy Wednesday friends! I hope that these tips are helpful for those of you who are looking to support your friend who has independently published their book! Looking for additional ways to support your friend who is an author? Check out these other posts from the blog:
12 Ways to Support Your Friend Who is an Author
12 Ways to Support Your Friend's Book Release
12 Ways to Support Your Friend Who is an Author
12 Ways to Support Your Friend's Book Release
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