Happiness - Day Seven - Our Health

This post is part of a multi-day series on fostering happiness in your life.

Taking Care of Ourselves – Our Health

The longer I live the less confidence I have in drugs and the greater is my confidence in the regulation and administration of diet and regimen. ~John Redman Coxe, 1800

To keep our body happy and healthy and humming, we need to attend to three main things: sourcing and eating nutritious, high energy food; keeping our body moving: and spending time outdoors. We all know this. So, why aren't we doing it? The slide show here shows the scary increase in obesity since 1985. Given that the government is considering a universal health care system, our obesity could get expensive for taxpayers everywhere. But, related to this foray into what you can do to increase your happiness, obesity and poor health cost you greatly from a happiness and productivity standpoint. This is all common-sense stuff that your parents taught you growing up but it bears repeating and reminding. Remember your goals for 2009? Many of you mentioned working out and getting healthy as a goal. If you're not healthy on the inside, it's difficult to feel content and yes, happy with your current place in life.

Eating - try to incorporate one or two suggestions for tangible benefits.
-Eat plain, healthy, nutritious food. Try to find organic when possible.
-Eat local food – it’s more fresh and more nutritious – and tastier.
-Eat lots of veggies and fruits.
-Eat whole grains and nuts. Take a pass on white bread, crackers and pasta.
-Cut way down on prepared foods and drinks. They’re full of cheap oils and fats that your arteries can’t deal with, and all kinds of chemicals that were never meant for human consumption.
-Don’t diet; just eat healthy, nutritious food, including lots of vegetables.
-Eat deep water fish like salmon, tuna and halibut (before they’re all gone).
-Start your kids off young with nutritious, natural foods. Teach them good habits while they're young.

In minds crammed with thoughts, organs clogged with toxins, and bodies stiffened with neglect, there is just no space for anything else. ~Alison Rose Levy

Employees who are moderately to extremely obese have reduced productivity on the job, even compared to overweight or mildly obese workers, reports a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). If you are reading this blog, there is a good chance that you are self-employed or seriously considering it. You will be your own boss. Your reduced productivity will only hurt you. Since reaching goals and moving forward in life is one of the proven ways to increase your happiness quotient, becoming physically healthy enough to do all the tasks you need to do is key to keeping your happiness levels up.

Exercising - try to incorporate one or two for tangible benefits.
-If you aren’t exercising regularly, think about what kind of exercise you’d have fun doing and who you could do it with. Exercise should be fun and it’s more fun if you do it with a friend. Or join a hiking or walking or cycling group or find a gym with spinning classes or dance classes.
-Make a realistic, long-term exercise plan, including adjusting your schedule so you have time in your life for exercise.
-If you fail to keep to your schedule, forgive yourself and keep going. Celebrate when you get in the groove.
-Exercise with your kids – throw Frisbees and climb mountains.

When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease. ~V.L. Allineare

Working out is key to keeping your energy levels up during the day. It helps to fight fatigue and tiredess so if you're too tired to get to the gym, paradoxically, it may because you haven't worked out for the day. Getting outside also makes you feel better. Studies show that being outside in nature lowers people’s blood pressure, reduces stress, and improves focus. All of these reduced health risks will help lead you to a happier, more content life overall. So, try to give Mother Nature a chance to nurture. Take a walk today and get two birds with one stone: a work out outside to increase your happiness factor.

“Join the ‘movement’ movement. An avalanche of research reveals that
aerobic exercise can relieve mild depression and anxiety as it promotes
health and energy. Sound minds reside in sound bodies.
Off your duffs, couch potatoes.”
-- David G Myers, author of the Pursuit of Happiness