No matter what age you are, it’s never too late to make healthy changes in your life. Making excuses won’t get you anywhere. You’ll always be busy so when is the right time? The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes to undo bad habits. If you are serious about living a healthy lifestyle, start with baby steps.
1.Make the time
A few minutes a day of movement is better than none. Exercise doesn’t necessarily have to be an hour. Start with 5 minutes and work your way up. Do some light exercise before work. Move around if you’re sitting all day long. Take hourly breaks from your desk to release your spine. Take the stairs or go for water breaks. Get off at 2 stops before your regular station so you can walk more. Hit the gym or take a fitness class after work to stay motivated. Make a date with a workout buddy or hire a trainer if you need extra motivation. There are only options, not excuses.
2. Keep your brain healthy
According to Henry Ford, “anyone who keeps learning stays young. Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty.” A study at the University of Texas found that older adults who engaged in challenging mental activities actually improve their cognitive functioning. Learning stimulates the brain and can improve memory. Go out there and learn how to play an instrument, sing, paint, or whatever your heart desires! The great thing is that you have plenty of things to choose from so have some fun with it and make a list of things to try.
3. Make a commitment to yourself
This is non-negotiable. You are in charge of taking care of your mind and your body. You know what you need to keep yourself sane and balanced. This does not mean you need to be perfect, but you do need to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Drink water, get sleep, exercise, stretch, meditate, relax, recover and eat well. That’s pretty much what you need in a nutshell. Everything else will fall into place. Don’t work yourself to death because you will deteriorate over time in the form of illness or disease. It’s not worth it.
There is always time to be healthy. Make the changes necessary to improve your lifestyle today. It won’t happen overnight but with consistency, you will get there. I saw this video of 79 year old Deshun Wang today which was so inspirational that I had to watch it a few more times. Some of the people who inspire me the most are the older folks because they understand how important it is to make the most out of their lives. They have a positive attitude when it comes to their health and wellness and this is something we can all learn from.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX4saxIfPYw
