CHOOSING THE SAFE ROUTE

As I offer perspectives to people that live all over the world, it becomes difficult to find CONCEPTS that ALL OF US can accept and live by. There are very few universal “truths,” but the concept of CHOOSING THE SAFE ROUTE is one that can reduce the STRESS in decision making and result in a better quality of health.

While attempting to live healthIER lives we make decisions regarding our food selections, exercise methods, sleep aides, water sources and methods to reduce stress. There are multiple opinions from multiple qualified sources that suggest the “best methods” in each of these different categories.

Rather than suffering, “paralysis by analysis,” I suggest instead to base your starting decisions on the SIMPLE CONCEPT:

The idea is to create new healthy LONG TERM habits we can implement safely and reliably while effectively achieving results. This approach is for the AVERAGE male and female recognizing the need to incorporate qualitative changes to improving their current health status. Whether a person currently is experiencing, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, anxiety, weight problems, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, etc… this concept provides a quick simple answer to whether or not a person should incorporate ANY COMPONENT into their new LONG TERM HABIT. If the complexity of the component (at a particular stage in life) exceeds the likelihood of LONG TERM SUCCESS, choosing the safe route would redirect our energy back to the basics that keep us focused on healthy lifestyles.

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The following five basic components provide a sound starting point to achieving HEALTHIER LIVING:

EXERCISE: Choosing the safe route focuses one’s attention on activities that are simpler and easier to perform. There is usually less discomfort associated with them preventing a sudden loss of motivation from an over zealous attempt to exercise a deconditioned body. Basic walking for 20-30 minutes outdoor or indoor approximately 3 times per week provides a simple safe approach. Purchasing inexpensive exercise bands from a Walmart or Target or similar outlet can provide a safe choice to incorporate resistive exercises to help with muscle tone and functional strength. They come with simple to do exercise charts to show the beginner how to use the bands correctly and effectively.

FOOD: Choosing the safe route simplifies the emotional decision making process by removing harmful, processed, GMO, chemical and sugar laden products from the grocery store’s available options. Instead, we choose to fill the cart with simple, safe, real foods void of harmful pesticides, antibiotics, hormones and other toxic residues.

WATER: Choosing the safe route STARTS with consuming adequate quantities. Each person may require different quantities based on lifestyles, but consuming approximately half your body weight (in ounces) is a good starting point. To keep this simple, while adding additional safety, one could use a commercial filter to remove sediment from standard tap water. Are there better methods to consume cleaner water? YES. Our goal in this article, however, is to CHOOSE A SAFE ROUTE creating LONG TERM healthIER habits.

SLEEP AIDES/TECHNIQUES: Choosing the safe route avoids OTC and prescription medication and incorporates simple factors which promote sleep. These might include darkening the room, avoiding TV viewing in the bedroom, going to sleep at a similar hour each night and creating 5 minutes before bed to create quiet (uninterrupted) relaxation.

STRESS REDUCTION: Choosing the safe route to stress reduction places the individual in the center of activities that create and/or inspire PURE ENJOYMENT. It is difficult to experience stress while doing “something” that brings great pleasure and satisfaction to one’s life. The biggest question one must ask is, “what can I turn to (on a regular basis) in life that elicits this emotional level of satisfaction. If you don’t have an answer, find JOY IN DISCOVERING ONE (OR MANY.) Remember, we don’t need a NEGATIVE catalyst like stress to initiate a reason for joyful living. Finding joy each day helps to motivate a positive attitude while keeping stress in check.

Approaching these five aspects of healthIER living from this perspective helps simplify a life already complicated by so many other factors. Why not approach life by:

CHOOSING THE SAFE ROUTE

and see if transitioning toward BETTER HEALTH LONG TERM is made simpler.

Tags: attitude, diet, emotions, exercise, happiness, health, lifestyle, quality of life