Creating the Lifestyle of Your Dreams: 8 Tools for Creating a Life of Health and Wellness

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1/3 of U.S. adults are obese and one out of three U.S. adults – 31.3% has high blood pressure. Both of those factors put you at risk for heart disease and stroke – the first and third leading causes of death in the United States. These statistics are a small representative of how fat and unhealthy the people of the United States have become.

I am passionate about empowering people to start to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing. As a lifestyle wellness coach, I believe that you already have the answers inside of you. It is my job to bring out the best in people by empowering you with tools that are going to take you to the next level of health and wellness.

The eight tools below will serve as a basic guide to help you get started on your journey to total health and wellness.

1. Give Back

I am not saying much that is new here. Give a little of your time by volunteering with an organization. Help out a friend or a loved one in need. Do this without the expectation of something in return. When you give a little of yourself the universe will return the favor and reward you.

2. Be gracious with everyone you meet

This includes people who you may not like or particularly care for. Greet everyone with a smile and a hello. They may or may not return the favor. Just do it for yourself. You never know how much of an impact that simple act of kindness may have on someone.

3. Don’t worry. Be happy.

Turn your attention to what is going well in your life as opposed to what is going wrong. Put this into action by writing a gratitude journal and each day write about the things that you are grateful for. Challenge yourself to do this daily for 21 days and 20 minutes at a time.

4. Have some “me time”

This is a phrase that I use when I am in need of some time to myself. You are allowed to adopt this phrase for yourself. By taking time for yourself, you are better able to serve the needs of others. Do not apologize or feel guilty for honoring yourself.

5. Get it together–physically

Not having enough money or time is never an excuse for not getting shape. Exercising does not have to be a daunting task and you can have fun while doing it. A couple of ways you can incorporate exercising into your daily routines includes:

• Using your lunch breaks at work to go for a walk
• Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
• Park your car and walk or take public transportation.

6. Keep your home in order

A healthy home makes a healthy heart. Take some time each day to organize and clear your living space from clutter and unwanted debris. A good rule of thumb to consider is if an item is unrecognizable to you that means it needs to be discarded.

7. Reduce Television and Social Media

This can be such a challenge in the era of reality TV shows, Facebook, and Twitter. I challenge you to spend one day a week and go on a media fast. Use this time to complete projects, catch up on some reading, or use that time to mediate. You will be amazed at how much you will accomplish.

8. Always be kind to yourself

At the end of the day this is the most important step to consider.