by Linda Joyce

Created on: December 29, 2009

From the time we’re born, we’re marching steadily to the grave.  That may sound depressing, but we can’t get away from it: we’re all getting older every day.  There may be nothing we can do about our chronological age, but there are steps we can take to make ourselves feel as well as possible while we are here.

Keeping that in mind, there are seven steps that everyone can take to help them to a healthier future.  None of them are difficult, and as far as cost goes, it’s pretty negligible.  So let’s take a look at what we can all do to help ourselves stay healthy as long as possible.

Eat right

You don’t have to be a vegetarian or live on roots, nuts and berries to eat right.  Besides eating a variety of foods and trying to cut out, or at least down on, junk foods, the real secret of eating right is to eat everything in moderation.  If you like sweets, try not to go for the refined cakes and cookies as much.  Make yourself eat fruit, even if it’s only an apple each day.  And it goes without saying (but I’m going to say it, anyway) eat your vegetables.  If you hate certain ones, don’t eat them.  Find others you do like and try to eat at least two or three helpings a day.

No harmful substances

If you have to drink alcohol, do so in moderation.  You don’t need any mind-altering substances, period.

Exercise

It’s often difficult to fit exercise into our busy lives, but it’s necessary.  Even doing only a half hour of walking on most days is said to be beneficial.  If you can do more, that’s even better.  It’s true when we walk or keep our bodies moving, it helps cut down on the aches and pains we all seem to have as we start to age.  Make it a goal to start exercising.  Find something you like to do and stick with it.

Meditate

Meditation can be as simple as resting and letting your mind drift to wherever it wants to go.  There are many types of meditation, but you don’t have to have special training to learn how to do it.  If you can do it twice a day, for 20 minutes, that’s better than only once; but if not, once is still pretty good.

Lose your anger

If you have baggage you’ve been carrying for years, it’s time to let go of it.  Holding a grudge or feeling hatred toward someone or something is hurting you much more than it is them, so help yourself by getting it out of your system.

Have friends

If you don’t have any, find a way to make some.  It will help you live longer.  Having a laugh with someone is a good thing.  Try to do it each day.

Believe in something

It doesn’t matter what you believe in or who; whether it’s Jesus, Buddha, whoever, give thanks for being placed on this earth and for what you have. 

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