The start of a new year gives each of us pause for reflection. All forms of media offer tips and advice on how to improve our lives for the better.
Here are some words of wisdom worth considering provided by Lindsey Romain and Ben Larrison of CTW FEATURES …
- Develop a financial plan. Choose a plan that works for you. Consult with a financial advisor if needed. Increase your savings to strengthen your safety net and minimize financial worry.
- Pay yourself. Pay yourself first. This should be part of your budget.
- Don’t let the past get you down. Let go and move on.
- Clean up your relationships. Work at making things better in your current relationships. Let go of connections that are not healthy. Make new friends.
- Maintain a well-balanced diet. Knowing what foods are best for your health and including them in your diet is important. Seek the assistance of a registered dietician for guidelines and support.
- Sneak in your nutrients. Stock up on frozen veggies and include them in your traditional meals. An old friend put chopped spinach in her mashed potatoes and convinced her children for years that the green stuff was parsley!
- Eat your vitamins. Buy snacks that are made with fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetable and plant extracts. Eat more fruit, which is high in dietary fiber and water content, so that you fill up without too many calories. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that may reduce a person’s risk of chronic disease.
- Replace junk with nutrition. Give up sweet and salty snacks. Go for the fruits and veggies when you have the urge to munch!
- Get moving. Choose activities that can be done consistently. Some small activity done weekly can become habit. I now look forward to Monday morning yoga class despite the fact that it was tough to push myself to keep at it!
- Get moving, gym or no gym. Check out at-home programs that cater to your interests. Fresh air walks are generally available to us. Carry and umbrella! Dance to favorite music in the kitchen!
- Protect your sleep. Avoid excess exercise, caffeine, alcohol, carbohydrates, video games, computer programs and action-packed movies or TV shows just before bed. This minimizes overstimulation. Self-care prior to a relaxing bedtime routine, combined with a comfortable and restorative environment, can set the stage for a restful night of sleep. Claiming the quality of sleep you deserve is also an example of paying yourself first…