This is a collaborative post.
The food and drink that you consume and the way that you take care of yourself is reflected in how you feel and what you are able to accomplish each day. Mistreatment of one’s own body can lead to negative self image, which in turn will allow the cycle of malpractice and low self esteem to continue spinning. It’s up to you to make the decision on your own to start treating yourself with the respect and nourishment you deserve, in order to work towards ridding yourself of negativity and be the very best version of you.With these simple steps you can get set in the right direction, and begin your journey of health and positivity.
Avoid Processed Junk
It may seem like an innocent choice back up with relevant reasoning, but opting for fast food instead of taking the time to prepare yourself a fresh meal from wholesome ingredients will do your body a world of damage. Lack of time is an excuse many people use when questioned about their absence in the kitchen but frequent visits to the drive thru, but this can have many negative impacts on your body. The artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives inside these foods have been proven to alter mood and hyperactivity in children, and though it is still unclear, it’s thought that overconsumption could lead to cancer. Foods containing an excess of fat or sugar will also harm you in more ways that one, as on top of gaining weight and opening yourself up to a range of health issues such as diabetes and obesity, you will also be negatively impacting on how you feel mentally. When you get a rush of sugar from a chocolate bar or fizzy drink, you receive a buzz of energy for a very short burst of time and end up ‘crashing’ soon afterwards. This can leave you feeling exhausted and very low in mood, and failing to keep your blood sugar levels at a regular and steady level long term can eventually have the potential of impacting your mental health and memory. On the other hand, maintaining a healthy diet based on fruit, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats like nuts or avocados can work to lift your spirits by providing you with all of the vitamins and minerals you need to thrive. Focus on the benefits that each meal will offer you, and if there isn’t anything positive think twice before picking up the fork.
Enjoy Yourself Differently
Treating yourself is often associated with allowing yourself to have things that you shouldn’t, usually classified as ‘guilty pleasures’. Alcohol, cigarettes, even drugs; these things provide you with short term happiness but nothing more. If you find yourself reaching for a glass of wine or 2 when celebrating or as a reward, you may need to consider finding some information on how to stop drinking as this is negative behaviour that has the potential to affect your health. Alcohol is a depressant and although it’s relatively fine when consumed only on occasion and not in massive amounts, drinking too much can lead to liver and kidney diseases and a distorted mental state. Instead of treating yourself something detrimental, try a different option that will provide you with some kind of benefit and push your positivity even further. Try treating yourself to a massage or a long hot bath, your favourite fruit smoothie or a blissful meditation session. Going out with friends doesn’t mean you have to make bad decisions, keep a clear head and stay fresh whilst still having the confidence that you don’t need to drink to have fun.
Practice Self Love
Loving yourself is key to leading a positive life. It can be applied to every aspect of your existence and in every decision you make, and can take a long time to master. The experience will be different for every person, and it may seem like a confusing process to begin with. Start of with small steps, feed your body with what it really needs and take time to listen and acknowledge how you feel when eating and after a meal. Establish your true boundaries and learn to say no to things you aren’t sure about, whilst trying to take steps in order to put yourself and your own needs before other people. If something is not allowing you to thrive and grow, you do not need it. Be sensible, and think of the long term effects of your decisions. Being mindful will help you to establish which decisions are right and which are wrong, and the lyrics ‘every little action, has a reaction’ written by Bob Marley sum up the scenario perfectly.
Sleep Well
The amount of sleep you get will have an impact on your body and the way that you feel. Sleep is the time in which you are able to restore energy levels and work on repairing yourself. Ensuring you get enough rest will help to build a strong immune system, ableing you to fight off disease and illness much easier. It can also have an effect on weight levels, as sleeping regulates certain hormones that can impact on how hungry you perceive yourself to be and when you begin to feel full when you do actually eat. A bad night’s sleep can leave you with negative mental side effects. After a few poor quality nights, you’re likely to feel irritable, unfocused, and increase your risk of having an accident and causing even more damage to yourself.
Hopefully this information can act as a guide and help you choose which options are the most beneficial to you longterm to help lead a positive and healthy life. Taking time to rethink the small daily decisions you make, and treat your mind and body with respect and love. A positive mental attitude can have a huge impact on your life, and backed up with a healthy diet and quality 8 hours of sleep you can conquer anything life throws at you.
