Healthy Habits – Page 2 – Renew Inspiration Mind Body Spirit

Keep Life Simple

LatishaMay 5, 20195 Replies

flowers, beats, music, laptop, simple — pixabay

The simpler my life, the happier I become.

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Thought for the week – A simple life is a beautiful life.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Keep Life Simple”? Well, I strive to keep life simple every day. Remember, to keep a simple life may not be easy. Some of the simplest things to do are often the most difficult. Sometimes we need to just STOP everything and take a break. Let loose, slow down, and unwind. Turn inward and rethink about your life. Ask yourself hard questions and connect to your inner voice. In order to live better, simple lives, we need to create a safe space to breathe, and to think.

WAYS TO KEEP LIFE SIMPLE

Be kind, be happy, be peaceful, live well.

• Be Present – Live in the moment. Be aware of everything that you’re doing, feeling, and telling yourself. Learn to fight through it. Learn to stop making excuses every time your body feels discomfort. Learn to do this with everything that you do.

• Don’t Expect Too Much – There may be times where something may not go your way. It seems like there’s something missing. Take time to expect the worst, the best, and at the same time, nothing at all.

• Be Kind – It takes less energy to be kind to those people who are around you.

• Redefine Everything In Your Life – It’s important to define what matters most in your life. What makes you happy? What does success really mean to you? The American Dream philosophy may not work for you (college, good paying job, nice car, 6-pack abs, etc.), but it may work for someone else.

• Do You – Stop focusing and worrying about how other people live their life. Life will become a whole lot better when you learn to shut out the outside noise, and focus on the most important noise inside your own mind.

• Cultivate Morning Rituals – Practicing a morning ritual can help you create a positive mood and increase energy for the day. It’s a great opportunity to take care of your body and mind, and start the day with a healthy breakfast, some stretching or light exercise, a warm bubble bath, prayer and meditation, or planning your day by writing down the three most important things you need to do today.

HEALTHY HABITS TO INCREASE HAPPINESS

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. – George Bernard Shaw

• Meditate – Practicing daily meditation will help to increase focus, better memory, and emotional resilience. Also, meditation has a positive effect in treating anxiety, depression, obsessive thinking, and hostility.

• Exercise Regularly – Exercise helps is essential for a happy and productive life. Our bodies were made to move throughout the day. Get up and go for a walk. Stretch while at your desk.

• Eat Better and Healthier – The foods/drinks that you put into your body not only affects your health, but also your attitude and mood. Drink more water, increase whole grains, increase vegetables, decrease sugar and junk food.

• Sleep More – Sleep is needed for restoring energy and emotional well-being. Sleep is essential for learning and memory, metabolism and weight, and to improve your mood.

• Keep a Journal – Some people like using paper journals and others like using apps. How much and how often to write is up to you. Write about random creative ideas that come to you, things you are grateful for, your goals and aspirations, internal stuff that you need to process better, foods you eat, and other habits you are building or breaking.

• Practice Smiling – Smiling is healthy and also improves your well-being. Believe it or not, smiling makes you live longer, look more attractive, and be more productive at work.

• Write Down Goals – Take a moment and write down your three most important long-term goals in life. Are they translated into short-term goals and present actions for you? This process will highly increase the likelihood of you creating the simple life you want.

• Nurturing Close Relationships – Nurturing meaningful and close relationships will bring you much more happiness and satisfaction in life.

• Spend Time in Nature – Spending time in nature, even a 20-minute walk in the park, can improve your happiness and overall well-being. It also helps to increase your exercise and concentration.

Believe it or not, you can improve your productivity while keeping life simple.

TIPS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY

Inhale the future, exhale the past.

Tip 1 – Don’t watch a lot of TV in your spare time.

Tip 2 – Identify all the distractions in your life and eliminate them.

Tip 3 – Schedule time to spend on your social media accounts and stick to it.

Tip 4 – If you attend or schedule meetings, keep it short and simple.

Tip 5 – Exercise your craft daily, whatever it may be.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Life is joyfully simple. Let’s keep it that way. – Paul Jun

Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track.

• How can I simplify my life in little ways?

• What are my priorities in life?

• What is on my mind right now, in this very moment?

• What do I need to let go of to make my life better?

• What is a short-term goal I’m confident I can achieve?

• Replace entertainment for prayer time for one day and write about it.

• Write about an experience where you heard God’s voice.

• Describe what God’s presence feels like.

• What is my favorite part of my daily routine?

• What am I most looking forward to this week?

• I am incredibly grateful for ____________________.

• When I am alone I love to ____________________.

My prayer for you today is that you will make your life a priority and choose to keep life simple. Focus on the things and people that help you grow as a person. Be productive throughout your day. Include time to learn, read, write, gain experience from others, share your thoughts and feelings with others, etc. Remember, your success is found in your daily routine so make a plan and stick to your plan. If it doesn’t seem to be working for you, re-evaluate your plan and make the necessary changes.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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Getting Organized

LatishaJanuary 1, 201917 Replies

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

Getting organized is a sign of self-respect. – Gabrielle Bernstein

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration and Happy New Year! Let’s get organized in 2019. Did you know that the secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine? If you take the time to organize and commit to your daily routine, you will become happier, successful and strive to keep and/or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Now, let’s define a healthy lifestyle as a process and a personal journey created by focusing on various healthy choices or habits each day.

When we clear the physical clutter from our lives, we literally make way for inspiration and good, orderly direction to enter. – Julia Cameron

Remember, this process is personal so think about what you want different in your life or how you want to change your current situation. Then, build your healthy choices or habits on a strong foundation (your goals, beliefs and values). In addition, take time to learn more about your life, nutrition, fitness, spiritual-being to help you become a better version of you in 2019. Have fun and make the best of it!

Getting Organized, Renew Inspiration, Desk, Work Area, Writing — pexels

KEEP IT SIMPLE

For me, a calm house equals a calm heart, equals a calm life. – Erica Layne

Let’s start with getting our house organized. A cluttered home can drain your energy and have you living in a chaotic state of mind. Take a moment from your busy schedule and go to every room in your house to place everything in its correct place. You may need to create a new space for some things as well to become more organized.

Here’s some organization suggestions:

• Toss old or broken items in the trash.

• Donate slightly used items to your local charity.

• Store, sort and label items for easy access.

• Clean, organize and purge your desk/work/closet areas.

For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned. – Benjamin Franklin

Do you find yourself constantly rushing through your day or forgetting things? If so, you need to focus on organizing your time. Getting organized and proper time management can impact your life in a positive way and help you cross things off your daily to-do list.

Here’s some organization and time management suggestions:

• Use one calendar or planner to manage your daily activities.

• Don’t overbook yourself. Don’t be afraid to say no sometimes.

• Use a daily to-do list as a quick checklist and make necessary adjustments.

• Schedule in “ME” time or time to just relax just like any other appointment.

MIND

When we throw out the physical clutter, we clear our minds. When we throw out the mental clutter, we clear our souls. – Gail Blanke

Here’s some positive ways to organize your mind throughout this process:

• Think Positive – read inspirational quotes or positive affirmations daily

• Spend Time in Meditation – quiet your mind, calm your spirit throughout your day

• Set Personal Goals throughout the process.

• Track Progress of your personal goals throughout the process.

• Keep a Personal Journal or Blog capturing your thoughts and feelings.

BODY

Organization isn’t about perfection, it’s about efficiency, reducing stress & clutter, saving time & money & improving your overall quality of life. – Christina Scalise

Here’s some positive ways to organize your body throughout this process:

• Schedule “ME” time often.

• Practice Self-Care activities, such as haircut, manicure, pedicure, facial, warm bath, etc.

• Create a Daily Ritual. For example, reading before bedtime or exercising in the morning.

• Exercise Daily, no exceptions.

• Planning and Cooking Healthy Meals.

• Schedule Time to Relax. For example, read a good book, dance, write or family outings.

SPIRIT

Seek God first. Everything else will fall into place. – Unknown Author

One of the tactics the enemy uses against believers is to keep us disorganized and feeling scattered throughout life. The enemy wants to replace our godly priorities with worldly distractions.

To avoid feeling disconnected from God, you should do the following:

• Read and Study Scriptures Daily – sacrifice time to read and study scriptures

• Hide Scriptures in your Heart – know scriptures so you can speak to your situation

• Keep a Journal – scriptures, prayers, thoughts or feelings, notes from scriptures or books

• Pray and Meditate – be in constant communication with God

• Listen to the Holy Spirit – stay connected with God so you can hear His voice

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Be patient with yourself. Nothing in nature blooms all year. – Unknown Author

Take time daily to repeat these positive affirmations:

• I am whole, feel complete and I continue to believe in me.

• I acknowledge my own self-worth and my confidence is soaring.

• I can do anything I put my mind to.

• I give myself permission to make choices.

• I deserve love, compassion and empathy.

• I honor my commitments to myself.

• I choose to be happy and positive each day.

• I am open and ready to learn.

• I have the power to make all my dreams come true.

• I am free of worry and am at peace with who I am.

Getting Organized, Renew Inspiration, Journal Prompts — pexels

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

A little progress each day adds up to big results. – Unknown Author

• What is your vision for 2019 and beyond?

• What is your priority for the next week? month?

• What did you do today that helped you get organized?

• What are you struggling with at the moment?

• What would you like to change your daily routine?

• What’s holding you back from improving your lifestyle?

• Write about someone who inspires you and why.

• Write about your favorite way to recharge your energy levels.

• Write about what’s on your mind right now.

So, the best way to get things organized in your life is to simply begin. It’s important to remember that getting organized is your personal journey. Your personal roadmap to a successful and prosperous life.

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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Shifting Your Mindset

LatishaDecember 23, 201810 Replies

Shifting, Mindset, Reflection, Healthy, Habits, Vision Board, Resolutions — pixabay

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).

You don’t need a new day to start over, you only need a new mindset. – Hazel Hira Ozbek

Special Thought – Life is only as good as your mindset.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I cannot believe it is two days before Christmas and 9 days before the new year. Time really flies when you’re having fun, right? I want to spend some time discussing a very important concept called – Shifting Your Mindset. Honestly, I feel it is necessary to not only shift your mindset, but also you should evaluate your life from time to time. It is important to use positive activities, such as practicing self-reflection, creating healthy habits, or maybe even preparing a vision board for the upcoming year.

Shifting, Mindset, Reflections — pixabay

SELF-REFLECTION

Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away. – Barbara DeAngeles

Self-reflection can be defined as meditation or serious thought about one’s character, actions and motives. Self-reflection is a humbling process. It’s essential to find out why you think, say, and do certain things, then better yourself throughout the process.

• Self-reflection allows you to notice negative patterns in your life. Consider alternate approaches to your situation(s) and begin to move away from the stressors altogether.

• Self-reflection keeps you focused on the bigger picture. Identify a clear vision of where you want to see yourself in the future. Write it down and remind yourself of what you hope to accomplish.

• Self-reflection prevents you from worrying about things out of your control. Instead, direct your energy toward things you can absolutely improve within your life.

• Self-reflection helps you face your fears. Recognize and admit your fears to yourself and eventually learn how to handle them.

• Self-reflection allows you to clearly define happiness on your own terms. When are you most happy? Who do you most enjoy spending time with? What accomplishments are you most proud of and why? By recognizing the positive life events, you can apply your knowledge to future goals and endeavors.

Keep in mind, self-reflection is an incredible gift so please embrace it every day. Meditation can make our journey through life more peaceful if you allow it to. In the mirror we find a reflection of our appearance, but in the heart, we find a reflection of our soul.

Time spent in self-reflection is never wasted – it is an intimate date with yourself. – Paul TP Wong

CREATING HEALTHY HABITS

Create healthy habits, not restrictions. – Unknown Author

Well, it is that time of the year when a lot of people set new goals or resolutions to create healthy habits for the new year. People set out with the best intentions but often times fail to keep the momentum throughout the year for various reasons.

Please keep these important tips in mind when creating healthy habits:

• Start with a realistic, small and attainable goal.

• Work it into your schedule and write it down like any other appointment.

• Track your progress in a journal or online.

• Figure out strategies to overcome what might hold you back.

• Enlist a friend to work on the goal with you.

• Reward yourself for small victories.

• Forgive yourself if you slip up and keep trying. Giving up is not an option.

• Use triggers to your advantage. For example, meditate before bed time every night or lay out your workout clothes every morning before you leave for work.

Remember, when you start to create healthy habits your enthusiasm is high, and you’re motivated to see positive changes within your life. Be patient and allow yourself to make mistakes along the way. Our greatest capacity to have influence over our health is with creating healthy habits.

It takes 21 days to make or break a habit. – Unknown Author

VISION BOARD

Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe. – Oprah Winfrey

Have you ever created a vision board for yourself or your family? If not, what better time to think about creating one. A vision board is a visualization tool which refers to a board of any sort used to build a collage of words and pictures that represent your goals/dreams. By placing visual representations of your goals into one space, you can easily visualize them frequently.

Follow these important tips to create an awesome and inspiring vision board:

• Create a list of goals you’d like to achieve in the next year. In order to visualize your goals, first you need to know what they are. What do you want your ideal life to look like?

• Collect a bundle of old magazines with beautiful pictures. Our local library sells older magazines for $0.25 or ask your family/friends.

• Find pictures that represent your goals and inspire you. Focus on how the images make you feel.

• Make a collage out of your photos. Once you have collected enough photos, it’s time to make your vision board.

• Add motivational “affirmation words” that represent how you want to feel. For example, I want to feel joyful, powerful, fearless, loved, strong, healthy, loving and financially free.

• Take a few moments to contemplate your vision board every day. Place your vision board somewhere you can see it every day. Then, make time to look at it once or twice a day.

Don’t forget to write down when you created your vision board. It’s a good idea to create a new vision board each year. As you continue to grow, evolve and expand, your dreams/goals will too. Now, let’s reflect on the concept shifting your mindset for a moment. Hold your vision board in your hands and really internalize the future it represents. Read your daily affirmations and inspirational words aloud. Feel yourself in the future you have designed. Believe it is already yours. Be grateful for the good that is already present in your life. Acknowledge any goals you have already achieved and acknowledge the presence of God in your life.

If you don’t have a vision, you’re going to be stuck in what you know, and the only thing you know is what you’ve already seen. – Iyanla Vanzant

time, watch, book, past, flower, future, present — pixabay

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

Your deepest struggle can, if you’re willing and open, produce your greatest strength. – Oprah Winfrey

• On a scale 1 – 10 my mental health is a ___________ because ___________________.

• What is happening in your mind right now? in your body? in your spirit?

• What does my vision for tomorrow look like? for 2019?

• What are the best choices I have made in life so far?

• What is one of life’s little pleasures that I appreciate?

• What challenged you today?

• What is something I need to be free from and surrender to God?

• Write about an area of your life you need more support in right now.

• Write about a goal or area of your life you need to be more committed to.

• List some new healthy habits you’d like to adapt in the new year.

As we look ahead to 2019, we’ve got gratitude on our minds. Continue to focus on your healthy living and fitness journey. I wish you a new year filled with joy, peace, hope, love, family, friends and laughter!

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS

Make your vision so clear that your fears become irrelevant. – Unknown Author

Becoming more self-aware provides an understanding of what we truly want in life. Now, it may not be easy, but as you can see, it is necessary, so you can make changes that will impact your life in a significant way. How do you plan to shift your mindset for the new year?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!