Then more I read about aging gracefully and beautifully, the more I understand the importance of adopting healthy habits. It’s not just for your present-self, but for your future-one, the one that will be grateful for the decisions you make today. Of course we can’t stop time and the process of aging, but we can certainly choose how to do so, and the choices we make today, along with habits and routines, certainly determine how the whole process will unfold for us.
I believe there are many things we can do everyday to nurture our mind, body and soul, but if you ask me the top 5 things we should include in our daily routine I’d say, without hesitation, staying hydrated, staying active, following a balanced diet (nothing crazy or extreme as I don’t think that’s something one can sustain for long, just a healthy diet that includes nutrient loaded foods with the occasional cheats), taking care of our skin, and nurturing our mind and soul with meditation, and a positive attitude towards life.
These are things that will definitely improve your day-to-day and most importantly, the foundation for a healthy and confident future self!
I think we all are aware of the importance of staying hydrated and how good water is for your body and skin, right? Not only does it help eliminate toxins but keeps your skin glowing. I find that when I’m mindful about drinking water I feel better and healthier, so I always keep a glass of water near me or carry a bottle wherever I go. If you’re one of those who doesn’t like the taste of water (or the lack of it) there’s nothing more refreshing than naturally infused waters. Lemon water is super basic but so good! I love throwing in some lemon wedges in my water, but I’ve also tried different recipes, here are some ideas 😉
I’m not a big fan of fad diets and I don’t think there’s one diet or a particular set of eating habits that works equally for everyone. We all have different needs, lifestyles, and metabolisms, so what may work for someone doesn’t necessarily mean it would work for someone else. Having said that, I do think that incorporating healthy foods in your diet and adopting a 80-20 diet is the way to go. Eat healthy as much as you can, introduce foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients as much as you can into your diet, and have your “cheats” (I don’t like calling them “cheats” because in my opinion, when you achieve balance there’s no such thing as cheating). I really believe in that whole 80-20 principle (eating clean 80% of the time and allowing not-so clean foods for the rest), but as far as diets and whether you decide to eat 3 times a day or 5 times a day, is all up to your metabolism and how you process food. Just strive for balance and don’t go for extremes as they are not easily sustainable. That’s my thought.
Lastly, social relationships and meditation have a direct impact on how you live your life and your ability to live mindfully. Staying positive and always looking at the bright side of things keep your mental health, whereas being negative doesn’t help any areas of your life. Whether you meditate at home, take yoga, spend 5 minutes each day to practice mindfulness, go to church, read…. anything you do to acknowledge the present and the blessings you receive each day, cultivate both your mind and soul. I read this book a long time ago and I loved it (started reading it again after writing this post!) I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something that is going to add benefits to your day-to-day and if you want to improve yourself and how you live your life 😉
* I big thanks for La Roche Posay for sponsoring this post as I think these are important reminders we should all have present. All opinions and thoughts are my own! 🙂
