Today I’m not going to overthink it. I’m not going to overcomplicate it. We are going to go back to basics. No general chit chat, not debating and pondering, just the facts of life right here in black and white.
What you will find in the proceeding words is a plethora of really practical, thought-provoking, actionable things you can integrate into your day. Utilise them and you can be sure to increase your positivity, improve the trajectory of your day right from the moment you wake up in the morning, and might I be as bold as to say, improve your whole experience of life.
Come on though, I’m not Jesus (also not religious so sorry if that offends, that’s not my intention!), you’ll have to take the action to make it all work. But give you the info I will, and believe in you - yes in droves.
So…
There are some things, as humans, that if we did on a daily basis it would not only make us feel better, it would improve our whole experience of life. Big claim? Yes indeed, but also FACT.
Really, we are simple beings, with basic needs. However, modern-day life has complicated things somewhat (for the most part I’m grateful for its offerings and opportunities), but we now search high and low for the magic bullets to fix all ills, when really the answers lie in simplicity and stuff we’ve known for thousands upon thousands of years.
And I’m going to give you lots of them here.
Basic Lifestyle Guidelines
- There are 24 hours in a day. Apply work and rest appropriately. Really focus on prioritising a regular sleep schedule. Humans need between 7-9 hours to ensure our body and mind are well-rested and able to recover. Time chunk/allocate specific hours for focused work. Then reward yourself by taking short breaks to recharge - you’ll be so much more productive doing it like this! And dedicate (yes I said dedicate!) time for some form of enjoyable physical activity, relaxation, and stuff you just enjoy because you enjoy it. This will really work to reduce stress and increase your overall health. Honestly, not only will this increase your productivity, but also create a far happier, healthier, more fulfilling life.
- You will die one day, that’s for sure, so get really living! Nuff said.
- Water. Hydration. Yeah, yeah, you’ve heard it before. But do you actually action this? Listen in…. We are around 60% water. Water is essential for life. It supports all our key bodily functions, like regulating temperature, helping our digestion and transporting all those essential nutrients and oxygen to our cells. It lubricates our joints, facilitates waste removal, and maintains our whole cellular structure. Water also supports our metabolic processes, balances electrolytes, produces saliva and mucus, and cushions our vital organs. An added bonus, staying hydrated also ensures optimal skin health, muscle function, and overall well-being. What’s not to love? Oh, the loo trips. Yeah, can’t argue with that, but surely those benefits outweigh that slight inconvenience? As a starting point, aim to drink about 30 millilitres of water for every kilogram of your body weight (that’s 1.5ml for every lbs!)
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to maintain a great circadian rhythm. Game changer.
- The earth spins, and the sun and moon correlate with our energy patterns; we need sun exposure (yeah OK, in the UK it’s not ideal, so when that sun is out - get out there and bask!), we sleep with the moon. Try it.
- Water, moving blood and proper digestion are essential daily routines. I said ESSENTIAL and I mean it.
- Recovery (from anything, mental or physical). Blood flow facilitates recovery and healing faster. Get moving, in some way, every single day. Recover. Thrive.
- Digestion: Food is a 36-44 hour investment! Sit down, chew your food (recommended is 30 times per mouthful, urmmm well I’ll try), get rid of the phone, have a conversation and enjoy (and yes, even if that means breaking the rules and talking with food in your mouth - unpopular suggestion but hey - as long as we say it don’t spray it).
So that’s the basics. But life also happens. So just do what you can (I said do what you can. Not just what you can be bothered doing - you have to make an effort to make a change!). Really commit to staying as much in line with these guidelines as possible. It sounds boring, it sounds unsexy, but the results it gives are the results we are all spending fortunes trying to achieve. This little lot, in the most part, is completely free and available to us all.
Before I pop off,
I’m going to give you journal prompts to make integrating a simple gratitude/reflection practice into your day really, really easy. I will give you five for the morning and five for the evening. You can choose how many you do.
I'm also going to give you five powerful affirmations that I use and truly believe in. Repeat these as often as you can to override negative chatter with much more powerful, positive thoughts! Did you know that your brain can't distinguish between what you're imagining and what's real? So, let's start imagining all the good stuff and watch it begin to happen!
5 Morning Journal Prompts:
- These are three things I am grateful for this morning.
- What is one thing I am excited about today?
- What is one thing I can do today that I will thank myself for tomorrow?
- What is one thing I want to achieve by the end of the day?
- What am I ready to welcome more of into this world?
5 Evening Journal Prompts:
- What was the very best thing that happened today?
- What did I learn today?
- What conversations did I have today that had a positive impact on me?
- What is one thing I am looking forward to tomorrow?
- Can I reflect on any moments I felt truly present today?
5 Powerful Affirmations:
- Today I am prepared. I am prepared for success, love, happiness, peace, joy, and abundance. I am prepared for my wildest dreams to come true.
- I am stronger than all the challenges and hurdles that lie in my way.
- I am blessed to have everything in my life to make it successful.
- I believe in myself.
- Today I am going to release old bad habits and welcome a positive change in my life. This is my decision.
Have the best week, you lot.
