The past couple of years have been tough, both mentally and physically. Get back to your best self by adopting these 4 everyday practices.

Everyone moves, including you. You walk from one place to another, swing your arms in the kitchen, or walk up the stairs of your porch. Moving naturally is as simple as that. It is all about being active in ways that you do not even realize. Moving is a part of your daily routine, and it is a very important aspect of it. Therefore, it is important to create as many ways possible to be active in your daily life. Start out small by creating a little garden or start out big by building a fence. Many people who live to be almost 100 years old stay active, not by going to the gym, but in the way they live. They tend to walk more places, have big gardens, or just have activities throughout the day that keep them moving. Staying active in your life keeps you healthy in a variety of different ways. 

Resting is essential! It boosts your immune system, helps you focus, and reduces stress. Stress is important for your survival, but too much can have negative effects on you mentally and physically. It is important to develop routines to help you rest and reduce stress. Implementing a sleep routine, scheduling down-time and reflection time in your calendar, planning and taking vacations, napping, recreational time with friends and family, and meditation or prayer time are just a few ideas of strategies for rest. Also included in resting is taking time to identify your true objectives in life. What motivates you? What do you aspire to do or be? What are your ambitions? Once you identify these objectives and aspirations, you can work to achieve them. Many times, the most meaningful, important objectives include other people in your life.

Cultivating a nutritious lifestyle in conjunction with other daily activities of living will help you feel more energetic in all that you do! Consuming a plant-based diet not only ensures that you are nourishing your body with adequate nutrients, but it also gives you the freedom and peace of mind to move the way your body is meant to. Eating intuitively also allows you to be more conscious about the foods you put into your body and creates a greater awareness of how these foods and eating habits really make you feel. Are you a person who wants to play a friendly basketball game with your friends and family? Or seek out an adventurous hike with your grandkids? It all starts with a plant-based lifestyle centered around intuitive eating practices that gives you the energy you need to keep your body stronger for longer!  Don’t worry, you can still indulge on a glass of wine every now and then! Studies have shown that drinking red wine in moderation can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other severe diseases. Pairing wine with a group of good friends or a plate of fresh food, also helps to decrease stress levels. 

Connecting to other people is extremely valuable for your health and can add years to your life. This can include being part of a group of like passions such as a bike riding group, or a faith-based group, such as a local church group, campus organization, or small study group. Additionally, connecting means investing a lot of time in your family. You can do this by spending quality time with your children, potentially around the dinner table or being active together; working on your relationship with your significant other; and being present with and caring for your elderly family members. The final piece of connecting is being physically with friends and social groups. Loneliness can have negative health effects, and the antidote to loneliness is having people you can depend on, that depend on you, and that encourage you towards mental and physical health. Belonging is a human need regardless of age, gender, ability or cultural background. Belonging is the desire to feel valued, accepted, welcomed, and embraced by others in one’s community, and there are positive benefits to the body, soul, mind, and spirit. You can provide that sense of community by serving others as well. Some examples are volunteering and generally caring for others. Seek to be nice and kind to each other. Like the adage goes, treat everyone like you will want to be treated.