March 2024
Healthy Living Made Simple
Happy March and almost spring! Arbonne's theme this month is "healthy living made simple" so I thought I would stick with that same idea for my newsletter. Plus March is National Nutrition month! Whether you are.....
-on a roll with your 2024 goals and sticking to any new habits you have started
-wanting to do some spring cleaning within yourself not just your house
-realizing that summer will be here before you know it and you want to feel/look your best....
It is a great time to evaluate where your health is and know that healthy living does not have to be complicated. What is important is daily progress and knowing you are investing in your quality of life LONG-term.
Long-term versus short-term health
However, even if you choose to take one of the courses above for any reason, to be truly healthy, I believe that each of us at some point must make the decision to make daily choices that will better our health. This is why I call it a healthy living JOURNEY. It does not happen overnight or in a month or even in a year. It is a lifetime of learning and choosing healthy habits. Even if a short-term choice works for you, it is not likely that it will sustain you or be sustainable for you to do.
Your health is a priceless investment. To avoid and prevent chronic illnesses and things that will get or keep you down later in life (if not now), you have to make deposits daily into your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Some days or seasons this may be tougher than others. It is the progress that counts. Think about the long-term effects rather than immediate results or satisfaction. When I think of quality of life, I think about it as being able to do the things you want and need to do while feeling your best. Your best can be different based on the day because let's be real, we can't always give 100% (like I said some seasons are more challenging than others). But overall, you still are able to do what you want and need such as following the kids around to all their events, carrying in the groceries from the car, planting flowers in the garden, picking up and holding your grandkids, playing that sport you love or even having the energy to do a good day's work at your job. THIS is what you should think of when you are considering your choices every day. Are you pouring enough into yourself in all areas so that you can pour into others?
Simple habits
There are so many SIMPLE ways to invest in your health.
- DRINK WATER. Y'all this is so important. If you don't like water, try upping your intake just a bit at a time. Get a water bottle you love. Add a *healthy* flavoring (EnergyFizz (; ) to some of your water (although I still think you need plenty of plain water too). Trust me, your body and energy levels will thank you.
- MOVE YOUR BODY. This can be different for everyone based on your physical abilities, age, and preference. Yoga, walking, stretching, resistance/weight training, running, swimming, pickleball, basketball, whatever motivates you! Some movement every day is great even if it is a quick walk or yoga session, then aim for 3-5 days of more intense movement if you can!
- GUT SUPPORT. So many people struggle with their gut health. Symptoms can be a wide range of things: bloating, going too much or too little, acne or other skin issues, low energy, headaches, food intolerances, fatigue, autoimmune conditions.... Even if you don't have any of these symptoms, anyone can benefit from taking a probiotic! Especially with the quality of our food these days, it can't hurt to make sure we have plenty of good bacteria in our guts. My favorite supplement provides not only probiotics but prebiotics and digestive enzymes, all which support overall digestive processes and a diverse gut microbiome.
- FRUITS AND VEGGIES. Many people also don't eat enough fruits and veggies. And of course, eating them is another great way to support the gut due to all of the fiber, phytonutrients, vitamin, minerals, antioxidants, etc that come from them. Really to improve gut health, you need a healthy diet alongside a probiotic, otherwise you will just be working against yourself!
- AVOID PROCESSED FOODS. Foods high in sugar and artificial ingredients are just not good for us. I think we all know this, but it can seem hard to avoid when many products at the grocery store contain them. Some ways to make it simpler are making homemade meals and snacks as much as possible, checking ingredients when purchasing products (this also requires some learning of what is good and what is not so good), and focusing on an 80/20 lifestyle where 80% of what you eat is nutrient-dense and the 20% is wiggle room for foods that may not be the best but are just delicious.
- SPIRITUAL GROWTH. Daily Bible reading, prayer, silence, meditation are all crucial to overall well-being. It is also important to be in community with other believers to continue learning and being held accountable.
- PERSONAL GROWTH. This could be reading books, listening to podcasts, journaling, goal setting, continuing education in your field of work, volunteering, mentoring or being mentored, starting or joining a group/club.... whatever helps you become a better you!
The list could go on, but I hope this gives you a starting point and you get the gist. Depending on where you are in your journey, you may focus on incorporating or improving one thing/area/habit at a time then continue the process once you feel comfortable or like you have made progress.
Accountability
We all can benefit from accountability so feel free to let someone know what it is you are working towards and how they can support or challenge you! Let me know below what it is that you personally would like to work on over this next month.
Area of growth or focus for March?
{I help ambitious people wanting to live an active and generous life find financially rewarding and purposeful work so they can live life to the fullest.}