That’s probably one major resolution on many people’s lists. Though I am no expert of any sort on how to become a better person, I would like to share with you some ideas/steps everyone can take towards getting there. This will be a multi-part series where I’ll try to post often.
1) Be Good to Yourself (yes, think of the song by Journey while you read)
At first thought this may seem like a very obvious thing to do, but you’d be surprised how often we don’t treat ourselves right.
a) You know the long nights we spend staying up on the Internet or watching TV? This can really take a toll on our bodies, let alone mess up our sleep cycles. Our bodies need time to repair each night and our brains need rest too. I am guilty of this as much as everyone else is.
–> What we can do about this:
Set a certain time you want to be in bed by every night. Know how many hours you need to be fully rested. I know I need at least 7 or 8 hours. Take a nap or two during the day if you didn’t get enough sleep. Also, it’s worth mentioning that sleeping on your side with a pillow between your thighs helps to straighten your spine. Sleeping on your stomach will help you digest your food better while you sleep.If you can’t fall asleep, try a hot shower or a watching a boring TV show.
b) America is known as the “fast food nation”. We are always in a rush to get to work, to get to class, to get to an event, etc. We don’t put aside the time to eat healthy. We’re always on the go, which also means that oftentimes our food is on the go too. These days, most on-the-go foods we buy are relatively inexpensive (i.e. $1 for a Double Cheeseburger or a Burrito). Why is this? I believe that most fast foods costs less because they sacrifice quality for quantity. Cheaper goods allow for cheaper prices. Imitation cheese is a great example of this. In the end,
–> What we can do about this:
Eat a balanced meal throughout your day. Have the recommended daily amount of fruits, veggies, meat, and grains each day. Eat less junk food (Doritos, candy, etc). Eat less processed foods (ahem, McDonald’s for example) and more wholesome foods (such a home cooked steak). Prepare and pack food-to-go at home the night before a busy day. No matter how busy you are, always, ALWAYS make time for a good breakfast. Your body will thank you later. If you must buy food on-the-go, aim for healthy foods with minimal processing–deli sandwiches, sushi, or salad to name a few. If you’re a burger fan like me, buy food from places that make their own burger patties fresh and not frozen.
c) Life can really come at you sometimes. One day everything can be easy and laid back and the next can be extremely overwhelming. People get on your nerves, your plans fall apart, time gets wasted away, or something bad happens to you. Life just doesn’t play fair.
–> What we can do about this:
Be positive. There’s no reason to beat yourself up over what life throws at you. Try and enjoy each day of your life. A positive outlook on life allows you to focus on the things that make you smile and think, “Life’s not so bad after all.” If your day hasn’t been going very well, it doesn’t mean it’s over. Make the best out of what you can. You never know what you may find. 
