Eat Your Veggies and Get Some Sleep
As a child, you were probably asked to eat your veggies and drink water. They seem like simple practices, but they are easy to fall out of as we grow into adults. Lack of time often makes people eat on the go or too frequently in restaurants. Fast food and food that lacks nutrition are also cheaper, so many people choose to eat these quick foods because they have to or because they are trying to save money.
Being whole physically includes eating healthy though and making better decisions when it comes to food. If you aren’t sure what foods to eat for better health, try to buy more fresh foods from the produce section of the grocery store rather than boxed or processed foods.
Better food choices include more vegetables, fruits, and lean meats. You can also throw in some nuts, dairy, and whole grains to complete the diet. Another easy way to make sure your diet has variety and nutrients are to make your plate as colorful as possible
For example, when choosing vegetables, you can choose different ones such as green lettuce, yellow bell peppers, avocados, and tomatoes.
Choosing dairy products that are lower in sugar is also a good health choice. You can choose plain yogurt and add in some honey rather than choosing vanilla or strawberry flavored one.
Intuitive Eating
Part of reconnecting with yourself physically involves intuitive eating. This means eating mindfully and paying attention to hunger cues rather than dieting frequently. Going on diets may work for weight loss or meeting certain nutrition goals, but they often don’t give you lifelong health. Part of eating intuitively involves paying attention to your body and rejecting the mentality of needing to diet.
Try to also not label food as good and bad. Everything is okay to eat, especially when you are doing it in moderation. So you don’t have to think of cookies or pasta as bad. Instead, view these foods as part of an overall diet. Being free to eat anything gives you more power over your body and food choices.
Keep in mind that intuitive eating is not the best for weight loss. Instead, use intuitive eating as a way to monitor your mental and physical health. People who practice intuitive eating often have better body image, lower levels of depression, and better self-esteem. This is because they feel more in control of their minds and bodies.
Learning to Know Your Internal Signals
You probably already know that your body tells you when you are hungry or full. Because of busy lifestyles, people often ignore these signals and eat only when they have finished working or when the kids are in bed. It’s also easy to find yourself gorging on one meal a day because of lack of time or maybe even money.
Try to learn your body signals and respond to them. Even if you are busy at work, try to take a few minutes to eat something small or ask your boss if you can take your lunch break early. You might also need to better manage tasks and goals so that you have more time to eat at work.
Part of knowing your internal signals also involves stopping eating when you are full. The main part of intuitive eating involves knowing when to stop eating. Not only does this keep you from overeating, but it also allows you to be more in tune with your body and the way you are feeling when you are eating.
Starting Intuitive Eating
if you have never tried intuitive eating before, it can be hard to start. You will also need to take some time to discover your eating and food habits. If you find yourself having negative thoughts about food or eating, you might want to consider talking to a nutritionist or dietitian.
You can also join a group for intuitive eating so that you can support one another and share strategies and tips.
Make sure none of the intuitive eating approaches you are taking is dieting. For example, don’t start cutting foods or counting calories. Just try to eat foods that matter to you and make sure you are eating when you feel hungry and cutting back when you are feeling full.
The Importance of Sleep
With busy lives and work and school, sometimes getting enough sleep is impossible. While cutting back on sleeping is okay if you need to for a few days, it’s not good to lack sleep for long prolonged periods of time, even if it’s for school or work.
Part of getting enough sleep means prioritizing sleep and ensuring you are meeting goals and tasks so that you can get enough sleep at night. This also involves a better work-life balance. If you are overworking yourself, you will never be able to get enough sleep.
Sometimes sleep doesn’t have to do with how much you are getting, but rather the quality of sleep you are getting. Even if you lay in bed for 8 hours a night, you won’t be well-rested if you are waking up every hour or if you are having insomnia.
Lack of quality sleep often stems from anxiety or having too much on your brain. This might cause you to wake up frequently or to dream often because you are thinking about things that make you anxious even when you are asleep.
You also need to create a sleep schedule for better sleep. This involves going to bed and waking up every morning at the same time. You can also try meditating or drinking tea before bed. Try to limit screen time before bed as well so that you aren’t distracted when trying to fall asleep.