- One of the easiest ways to ensure you are living an active, healthy lifestyle is through sneaking exercise into your daily routine. Exercise does not need to be routine, boring or only done at the gym. If you have the option to walk rather than drive, choose that option. When spending time with your children or pets, choose the most high-energy activities possible, like playing a game of Frisbee. Doing these small things and realizing your other motivations for doing them, such as saving gas or bonding with your child, might be the extra motivation you need to keep exercise a part of your life.
- One of the biggest deterrents to staying fit and healthy is allowing temptations in your home. Try to keep only healthy foods at reach. In addition, you may want to line your refrigerator and cabinet doors with images of healthy bodies and delicious healthy foods to remind you of how you want to start living. Furthermore, you can keep healthy mantras taped up as well, such as this variant on Oprah's favorite: "Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels." Making meals into an eating experience can add some fun and luxury into this daily task. Taking the time to set the table, prepare a healthy meal, and sit and relax while you eat makes you look forward to the meal and motivates you to eat healthy instead of something quick, fast and fattening.
- It is important to take just as good care of your mind and heart as you do your body. Keep up your mental strength by reading the paper each morning or playing Sudoku or crosswords. Taking time to meditate and focus your energy once a day can help keep you relaxed and happy, making it easier to keep the other aspects of your life on track. Take guidance from Benjamin Franklin, who had a list of thirteen virtues he deemed crucial to living a high-quality life. Each day he looked at the list and evaluated how well he was living up to these virtues; you can make your own list, focusing on living a healthier life. Take a look at it each day, asking yourself how well you are doing.
