3 steps to a healthy you

I don’t know about you, but my mind is constantly racing. Thoughts about whether or not I should eat that piece of chocolate cake or if I might catch my favorite TV show today are endless. Sometimes it feels like there’s not enough time in the day to have a thought, let alone a good one.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s time for a change. The magic word is “balance.” If you want to be successful in life, love and work (which who doesn’t?), then you have to find balance. This means finding happy mediums in different parts of your life. It also requires taking responsibility for the things you can control and doing your best to manage the things that you cannot. The truth is, no one will care how much stress you are under as long as they don’t see a dent in your work product or services.

The following three steps provide great guidance on how to be successful and find balance:

1. Sleep

I know, it’s tough to find time to sleep. But the fact is that you need it. Don’t get into the habit of pulling all nighters every weekend, and don’t stay up until 2 am studying for a test only to wake up at 6:30 for work or class. It’s not worth it in the long run. You’ll be a zombie, and your grades and work product will suffer.

2. Exercise

I know that when I get stressed it is easier for me to make excuses why I shouldn’t work out than to actually go take care of myself and do what’s best for my body and mind. Don’t think that you have an excuse not to work out. Just get up and do it.

3. Eat right

This can be tough, too, but you need to fuel your body with the right stuff. If you don’t eat well and exercise, working out is really not going to make a difference in how you physically feel or perform on a day-to-day basis.

Remember the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If in doubt, think of it this way-if your best friend was experiencing these things, would you tell them to snap out of it? I don’t think so. Instead, try taking a deep breath and being patient with yourself because it won’t happen overnight. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are healthy habits.