Revitalizing - Joie de vivre!

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." Ralph Waldo Emerson

10 Tips for Living a Joyful Life

1. Stay hydrated: Drink one 16-ounce glass of water upon rising each morning. If you can’t drink it down completely first thing in the morning, sip it over an hour. Leave the glass filled each night before you go to bed and drink at room temperature the next morning, squeezing ¼ lemon into the glass stimulates digestion. Aim to drink ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day (unless your physician suggests otherwise). Wear a watch that beeps on the hour and use the beep as a reminder to drink. Ex: If you weigh 100 lbs., try to drink at least 50 ounces of water each day. This will provide you with more energy, removes toxins from the body, reduces hunger and assists in weight management.

2. Keep it alive: After you have the morning glass of water, skip the coffee or tea and head right to the blender to make a smoothie or green drink. This will provide your body with wonderful energy producing vital micronutrients to kick start your day. Forget about buying vitamins, head right to the fresh organic (if possible) produce section. Stock up, and pop the surplus in the freezer. Buy pears, peaches, apples, grapes, bananas, kale, celery, parsley, watermelon, dates, apricots, oranges, carrots, etc. and blend your favorite mixture together with a little water and ice, and add some flax seeds, scoop of almond butter, walnuts, a sprinkle of psyllium husks, or oats, and if you’re a yogurt lover you can add a scoop of organic yogurt or some almond, rice or hazelnut milk, although not needed. Pop a straw in… and enjoy! Say good-bye to aches and pains and sleepy afternoons.

3. Stay centered: Next find a quiet spot in your house that you can be alone for 10 or 15 minutes to relax your mind and perform stretches, while you hold each stretch take in slow deep breaths and exhale slowly, stretch your neck, arms, back, legs, forward bends, side bends, etc. Then lie down and close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths, fill your lungs with air and hold the breath for 4 – 5 seconds then slowly exhale. This will center your energy and help you stay focused all day.

4. A daily dose of nature: Then put your sneakers on and head outside to take a walk, or ride your bike. Get outside and get some fresh air and sunshine. Start a walking club, exercising together keeps everyone motivated. On rainy days go to the gym, or meet some friends at a mall and hike around the center. There’s great music playing, public bathrooms, and it’s a lively place to be, much better then skipping exercise because it’s raining outside.

5. You really are what you eat: When eating really take the time to taste each bite, chew slowly, appreciate all the work that went into that piece of food, from farm, to table to you. Don’t drink anything 30 minutes before or after each meal, liquids diminish essential digestive enzymes. Remind yourself that you’re eating to nourish your body, to create a healthy, energized body.

6. Food is life: Try eating only whole foods, don’t eat anything processed for a whole week and see how you feel. Remember dead (cooked) foods drain our vital energy, and raw fruits and vegetables energize us.

7. Avoid the Sugar Blues: Aside from #6, remove all sugar from your diet, and never eat any chemical sweeteners. If you struggle with sugar cravings…bake an apple with some cinnamon on it, a sweet potato with cinnamon and cardamom, or some frozen banana slices. Delish!

8. No negative Nelly’s here: Avoid negativity at all costs, change all negative thoughts into positive ones, negativity drains energy. Be thankful for each new day. Avoid acquaintances that bring you down; don’t let anyone zap your precious energy, if someone starts complaining excuse yourself from the conversation. Life is a beautiful gift, enjoy and treasure each and every moment.

9. Stress is so…… retro: Reduce stress by getting a good night’s sleep, planning, and staying organized. Get into the habit of keeping a notebook with you at all times, even on the nightstand. Many clients tell me that they wake in the middle of the night thinking about what they forgot to do, or what they have to do the next day. Having a notebook at the bedside enables you to scribble down what disturbed your sleep, then tell yourself you’ll take care of it tomorrow. DON’T turn a light on to write, you’ll be able to read what you wrote in the morning. Forgetfulness is a symptom of a body that is sleep deprived or overstressed; prevent the perpetual cycle, the more you forget the greater you’re stressed, the more stressed out you are, the more you’ll forget…and around and around it goes…….yikes!

10. Live life with purpose: Become reacquainted with an old hobby or passion, if you loved to dance, garden, knit, or paint when you were younger, go give it another try or find a new hobby. Creative expression revitalizes the soul.

For more information on how to live life to it’s fullest contact Karen Quiros at: Karen@balwell.com. Check out my upcoming retreats and workshops here: www.balwell.com and sign up for my updates and receive an e-book with my favorite summertime drink recipe... it's the best sports drink replacement recipe.