I always know how much damage I have inflicted on my body by how I feel
when I wake up the next morning. If I rise early and feel like I can
run a cool two miles, then I know I have been good to myself. But if I
want to slump back into bed, pull the covers up to my eyeballs, and
stay there for eternity, then I instantly know I have done some damage.
Of late, I have been feeling more like the latter than the former and
that worries me. Heavens knows, I am not getting any younger, and with
each passing year my body is shifting in places that were once
fabulously firm and terrifically taut. My taste buds seem to only want
french fries and hamburgers, and getting to the gym or out for a walk
is increasingly difficult to swing as a mom with a hectic schedule.
On days when I eat healthy and exercise though, my body gladly rewards
me with abundant energy, beautiful, clear skin, a happy disposition and
a positive outlook about life’s endless possibilities. On the other
hand, when I eat junk food and sit on my tuff all day I feel as if the
weight of the world is quickly falling in upon me.
These five steps make up a very simple formula for waking up refreshed
each day. Every time I stick to this simple and effective recipe for
wellness I wake up feeling like the beautiful woman I am and so can you.
Drink Water: I know; drinking water can be one of the biggest chores on
earth. But when I drink eight glasses of water a day, although it seems
as if I spend more time in the bathroom than being productive, I always
feel instantly lighter and abundantly happier. Drinking water is well
worth it, even though invariably I am "lighter and happier" in the restroom
all day.
Exercise: If you want to feel better about yourself in a flash, the
simplest thing to do is exercise. To get in adequate amounts of
exercise each day, you do not have to join a pricey health club or sign up for
trendy yoga or Pilates classes, you just need to get moving. When I am
feeling down and zapped of energy, I will do jumping jacks or leg lifts
for about four minutes and it immediately lifts my spirit. And then
before the day is through, I will take a brisk walk in my neighborhood,
or hop on the elliptical machine at the gym for 30 minutes. There is something
uniquely magical about the connection between making our bodies move
and the glorious after-effects. Exercise is a must.
Eat Raw, Organic Fruits and Vegetables: For me, eating right
entails a heavy dose of raw, fresh, organic fruits, and vegetables. I
have eaten organically for so long now that I can tell the difference
between conventional and organic produce, and by far, organic produce
gets my vote.
Consuming organic fruits and vegetables make me feel great for two
reasons: I know I am making the right choice for myself and for my
family by eating organically. Plus, my body responds magnificently to
foods from the earth that are not pumped to capacity with pesticides
and harmful chemicals. When I treat my body to organic foods, it
instinctly knows how to process and use these foods instead of
rejecting them by making me feel horrible.
Do Something You Love: I love to read. Reading relaxes me and
gives me a keen sense of accomplishment. I like that. Maybe you enjoy
running or knitting, or painting or collecting antiques. Whatever your passion is, make certain that you
carve out sufficient time to engage in it. You do not have to treat
yourself to your favorite pastime for a whopping two to three hours
each day, but be sure to at least get in 20 to 30 minutes of daily
“you” time. You may find that this is easier to do when the children
are fast asleep like to do. Whether you take time for yourself during
the day or at the very end of the evening, make sure you do not
compromise your wellness by taking care of a task on your to-do list before nourishing yourself.
Limit Media: I love watching the news as much as the next mom,
but there is a time when you have to declare" “Enough is enough”. Media
of all sorts from the television to downloaded podcasts zap us of
valuable time and energy that we could effectively use elsewhere in our
lives. While I am not purporting that you become a media recluse, do
limit the amount of media that filters into your brain each day. You
may choose to get your news solely through email or opt to read it
online. We are becoming so inundated with constant media that we have
to cut back or it will eventually consume us. Be good to your senses
and to your health by cutting back on media influences. And be sure to
wind down your day in silence and in peace instead of to the blaring
noise of the T.V.
Take it from me, when you implement these five ingredients of this
wellness recipe into your life, you will wake up every morning
rejuvenated, refreshed and renewed. This is especially crucial for moms
because we need the stamina to run around after our children or drive
them around to their activities all day. When we wake up renewed, we
have sufficient energy to be masters of our day.
I will be doing my good-living rituals from this point forward,
especially now that the summer months are slowly drifting into the
fall. We only have this one life to live, so we should live the most
enjoyable lives we can and that starts with waking up feeling like a
million bucks.
Docia Lynn is the editor and founder of She's Going Green, a site that helps ordinary women make green decisions.
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