5 Steps Toward Happier Living

5 Steps Toward Happier Living
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Any reader of this blog knows that I’ve spent the past few years developing a healthier attitude of appreciation toward my body and wellness. Trust me, it hasn’t always been easy to do, but every day is one step further along the journey.

Like so many other people,I lived with a toxic self-image. For years I put too much emphasis on my self-esteem on what the bathroom scale said rather than what I did, accomplished, and worked toward. 

Over the years, I documented and shared my struggles and successes with my health in overcoming my toxic self-perception with readers of this blog.

I achieved it because I turned my attention away from my weight, the struggles with eating lower caloric foods, substituted sugar for other sources, and just decided to focus on my overall wellness.

By focusing on my overall wellness and not on any particular attribute, I’ve become healthier, happier, and more comfortable in my own skin. Of course, at times, life can be stressful, so finding ways to manage that stress is crucial. Exercise, eating right, stimulating the mind, and finding alternative therapies are great ways to balance stress and enjoy life a little more. You can also consider alternatives to drinking as a stress reducer, such as using CBD products.

CBD products are byproducts of hemp and can alleviate pain, reduce anxiety, and help you maintain a sense of wellness in your life, all without the intoxicating effects from other hemp byproducts. In fact, in most states, it’s pretty easy to find CBD gummies for sale along with other remedies to help you when you want that little something extra. 

To live a happier and full-life, there are five recommended activities to focus your attention on.

  • Exercise and Physical Activity

Every day you should do some form of activity that stresses the body either moderately or vigorously. It’s recommended that average adults exercise for 150 minutes a week at minimum, or you can do if you don’t have that much time or wish to do more, then 75 minutes of strenuous activity a week.  I’ve discovered how much I like to run, but if that’s not an option for you, try doing low-impact activities like taking a walk or hike, swimming, biking, yoga, or Tai-Chi.

Strength Training is another highly recommended activity as it strengthens your muscles and bones and increases cardiovascular and respiratory function. An added bonus is that more muscle tissue requires more calories to be burned to maintain them, meaning even when you’re resting, your improved muscular-skeletal system burns fat at a higher rate!

Just remember that to prevent injury, start slowly, and don’t overdo it.

  • Maintain A Healthy Diet
    Focus your nutrition on eating balanced meals based on a plant-based diet and encourage moderation. Combined with exercise, your diet will help you maintain a healthier weight, and a happy body makes for a more joyful mind.
  • Mentally Exercise
    The brain needs daily flexing, just like your body. Develop an attitude of open-mindedness and lifelong learning. The stimulation you take will help you balance the stresses that occur in life, make you calmer and happier. Whether you choose to enroll in a class, learn a hobby, or try your hand at something new and enriching, the key to living well is to be growing intellectually constantly.
  • Get Enough Sleep
    As Americans, we value the rugged individual, the puritanical work ethic that our country was founded on, but the problem is that we sometimes sacrifice those things necessary to our health to embrace that ethos. Too often, we don’t sleep enough for our bodies and minds to rejuvenate themselves, making us cranky, tired, and easily distracted. On average, an adult needs 7-9 hours of quality uninterrupted sleep.
  • Be Mindful
    The practice of being mindful is based on being focused on the right-here and right-now rather than reflecting on the past or worrying about the future. The mindfulness method is one that you focus on breathing to create a calm, relaxed mind and push away any thoughts not centered on the moment. Yoga, relaxation techniques, Tai-Chi are all great examples of mindfulness in action.

So much of living a happier life is learning to let go of toxic things and focus our attention on the things that bring positivity to our lives. Sometimes we may need a little alternative to mindfulness, and exploring other healthier options like CBD oils and edibles may be a better bet than picking up a glass of wine.

The goal is just to get started, the rest will come, we’ll figure it out as we go along, being present in this moment of time.


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Jeffrey likes to write about health and fitness topics, being a champion fitness instructor in the past.

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