Simplify Your Life

Here we are again, another week, another article. Hopefully some use to you, the reader. What can a healthy diet and a regular exercise do to better your life? We’ve all read and probably reread or read in redundancy the writings of repeat copycats when it comes to these topics. So today, I’m going to try and inspire some of you with mere words in a way that others haven’t yet done for you.

When it comes to diet and exercise my motto is “simplify, simplify, simplify”. No matter what diet you are on, no matter your workout regimen, simplify it. For example: If you pick a few sources of healthy meats and a few sources of green veggies and healthy fats, voíla- you’re well on your way.

When exercising start with body weight workouts that are functional (meaning you do these movements in every-day life). Body weight squats: getting up out of a chair, lunges: walking up stairs, straight arm raises: putting groceries away in high-up cabinets, going for a walk: walking in general is a very important basic movement. Then invest in some workout bands (they sell on amazon for about $20) and start adding more resistance to these basic movements.

There’s a plethora of free online apps like YouTube that teach proper form of movements and easy recipes for healthy living. Use them. People pay me (a personal trainer) mainly for accountability, not because I’m more capable than them when it comes to learning about health and workout regimens. If you have the money, by all means, use it to invest in your health and well-being. If you’re strapped, as many of us are right now, then I implore you to invest your time in researching simple and effective ways to get healthier. Which I assure you, everyone can become healthier.

Skip the gym and go for a walk once a day. This is not only good for the body, it’s good for the soul, even when it’s chilly outside. The outdoors has a way of reminding us what’s really important and helps us slow down our racing and overstimulated brains.

Lastly, and by far the most important, regulate your time on your phone or watching the news. I promise you that this change alone will make your life better and less stressful. Use the time you would normally scroll mindlessly on Facebook or watching another gut-wrenching or over-exaggerated (if not completely made-up) story on the news, to learn about what foods contain refined sugars so you know what to stay away from when starting to eat healthier. Watch a quick YouTube tutorial on how to do a proper squat. Read a book... an actual book, with a cover and pages to flip through. Audible is great but it still tends to overstimulate you when you use it to multitask. Reading a tangible book forces you to sit and focus on the one task at hand, reading. In fact, stop trying to multitask so much and try giving your undivided attention to whatever it is you’re wanting to accomplish. Maybe even use your time to create new traditions for your family and spend some quality time together.

Having a better life doesn’t have to be about having the best resources. You can use what you have right now to learn to help yourself. Happiness isn’t a gift, it’s a reward. It’s not something someone gives to you, it’s something you experience when you make positive changes in your life. Take it upon yourself to prioritize your health. We all think we have time to put it off until tomorrow, but why would you wait when you can start today or tonight and be that much closer to a better life tomorrow?