Healthy Lifestyle: Inject More “Me” Time into Your Day

For many of us who strive to build a happy, successful and healthy lifestyle, integrating all of the different aspects of who we are and the roles we fill can be overwhelming.

Especially, when you consider the increased presence of social media and mobile technology, it can seem as though we are in danger of drowning in our digital lives.

But here’s the common denominator in all of your daily tasks: YOU.

You, through your choices, are always in control of how you react to the numerous demands on your time.

How can you establish a healthy lifestyle and sane balance when it seems as though the world is getting more cluttered than ever?

Here are five simple tips that are guaranteed to help you carve out some sanity and “me” time throughout your day: 

1. Learn How to Meditate

Meditation is the number one way to regain your equilibrium. Study after study has shown the benefits of learning how to clear your mind and focus on, well, nothing to move slowly towards establishing a healthy lifestyle.

By spending as little as 15 minutes per day in focused clarity, you will create “empty” space in your day. This respite will give you renewed energy to tackle whatever comes.

Also, you might want to try to discover health benefits of yoga for yourself.

2. Hide

No kidding: If you work at an office, find a place on site where you can be undisturbed for at least 15 minutes a day.

Wherever it is, find a space where you won’t be bothered for a small sliver of your day.

If you are a stay-at-home parent, exchange babysitting services with a parent group to ensure daily quiet time. It’s that important.

While you hide, use this time to practice meditating.

3. Turn off Your Smart Phone

This one may make you twitchy the first few times you do it, but the world will not stop spinning if you shut off your digital inputs for 15 minutes.

Promise. In order to inject quiet and time for reflection, you must disengage from the chatter of the world. Take some time to breathe and practice meditating.

4. Take a Hike or a Walk

Healthy lifestyle is unthinkable without a healthy exercise routine. The health benefits of walking or any small amounts of exercise are indisputable. Check out this brain-mapping image that shows the benefits from even a 20-minute walk.

While you walk, pay attention to your breathing. Notice details: birds in the trees, flowers blooming, the shape of the clouds. Stretch while you walk.

If you cheat your body, you will pay the price in a number of ways: decreased health, poor performance, quality of life issues. You are worth 20 minutes — take them!

5. Love Your Work

This one is technically not a “balance” issue, but if you are living a work life from which you feel you must always escape, you are living the wrong life.

Yes, there will be challenges even when you love your work, but when you are engaged in an activity that you truly enjoy, it generates energy.

Your enthusiasm and interest in learning, growing and perfecting your chosen line of work is a reward in and of itself. 

When you reach a level of work-life balance, your activities will become integrated into your healthy lifestyle experience and an extension of what makes you happy.

This in turn will help you become successful.

Remember: Taking the time to invest in yourself throughout the day pays dividends in every area of your life!

What do you do to ensure a happy, successful and healthy lifestyle on a daily basis?

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We hope to see you again. Check back later for the new updates to our Healthy Lifestyle Section of the Blog. There is so much more to come!

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Article by Erica Moss

Erica Moss is the community manager for Georgetown University’s Masters in Nursing online program, offering one of the nation’s leading ACNP programs. She enjoys blogging, TV, pop culture and tweeting@ericajmoss.

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