Good Habits

 

When I first started this blog I was in my twenties, and now I'm in my 50's. I'm fortunate my parents instilled in me good health habits, which I've generally kept since I was a youth. But passing the half-century mark, I've really tried to lean into intentional efforts to prioritize my own wellness. Don't consider this a self-help post as much as it is my own documentation of what I've tried to commit to (as well as some commentary on how well I'm doing with that commitment). In no particular order:

1. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Regardless of nutritional benefits, these substances mess with the quality and quantity of your sleep. I was never a coffee drinker but have also tried to stay away from caffeinated soda. I’d probably score myself 9 out of 10 on this. 

2. Eat better. More fruits and vegetables, less sugar/bread/dairy. Keeping a food journal on Insta is a good accountability hack, not only to think twice about bad foods but also to encourage a more colorful palette. Alas, I still have a sweet tooth and gravitate to snacky foods. 5/10. 

3. Eat less. Smaller portions and sticking to meals. As my metabolism has slowed, my appetite has shrunk, making this easier. But it still requires intentionality to break old habits. 7/10. 

4. Go for walks. I get plenty of exercise (see below), but breaking up long periods of sitting to get some fresh air and get the heart pumping is critical. I tell my co-workers to do this but too seldom do it myself. 5/10. 

5. Have a hobby. Golf is the first true leisure pursuit of my adult life. But it’s taking time to get to a good mental place where I am enjoying the activity rather than cursing every bad shot I make. It’s also stressful to compensate for the long time commitment by hustling before and after. Still, I’m glad to do something for myself that is truly pleasurable. 7/10. 

6. Keep the phone in the pocket. In general, but definitely right before I go to bed. Oops, I love doom-scrolling or playing Scrabble all the way until the time I close my eyes. More work needed here. 3/10. 

7. Make exercise non-negotiable. I used to sleep in and skip my morning exercises if I was up the night before. I now realize I am better off sleeping less but keeping my morning routine. Even better, of course, is to get a good night’s sleep and get to the gym. 9/10. 

8. Sleep better. It’s hard for me to leave things hanging, so I used to stay up late to tie things up. It feels good to prioritize getting to bed early, even if I know I should be drawing an even harder boundary on this. 5/10.