For The Health Of It: Part 3 "Staying Organized"

Being organized can be fundamental to your life. Not only does it keep the house clean and tidy, but also it keeps your head clear and focused. Staying organized isn’t easy for everybody though, but that doesn’t mean you can’t obtain a more orderly lifestyle. Here are some easy habits and methods for you to follow to organize your life. 

Take Care of Things Right Away

There is nothing worse than having something you need to take care of weighing on your shoulders. This could either refer to physical items or tasks. Even though this idea may seem simple, it is easier said than done. The best way to take care of things right away is to just do it. You’ll feel much better once it’s completed!

Make a To-Do List

There are two kinds of “to-do” lists. One is a daily, and another is a long-term list. By breaking things up into categories, you’ll be able to prioritize and complete more tasks. Start with smaller things that won’t take much time or effort and then work your way up to larger tasks.

Out With the Old…

Letting go can be hard, but when you’re still holding onto your Britney and J-T inspired matching denim suite and dress, chances are they are better off not taking up space in your closet. Regardless of the size, homes should be a place of zen, and when it’s packed to the brim, it’s hard to unwind. Do yourself a favor and go through your things and start weeding out the old. Try tackling little portions of the house at a time to make it less of a hurdle.

Set a Deadline

Deadlines aren’t just for work, they can be used for any chore from as little as taking out the trash, or as large as renovating the basement. When you set a deadline for a bigger project, remember to not procrastinate with the smaller steps leading up to the end goal. Within each project, try to map out all the little responsibilities along the way. With this method, you won't be surprised when the deadline sneaks up on you when you haven’t even started.

Reward Yourself

When you complete something, go ahead and celebrate! Even if you just cleaned the house, go ahead and have that glass of wine, or whatever your guilty pleasure may be. By rewarding yourself, it gives you some incentive to complete whatever it is that you don’t want to do. 

Now these are just small steps to your journey to live happy and healthy. If you apply these tips to your every day life, you can achieve a more productive day and a much more organized life!

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For the Health Of It: Part 2 "Clean Eating"

The concept of clean eating has been around for a while, but has recently received a lot of attention by the average consumer.  There are a lot of different definitions of “clean eating” floating around out, but the basic principal is all the same: a well-balanced, natural, nutritious diet.

Cut Down on Processed Foods

Many may argue that all processed foods are bad, but that isn’t necessarily the case. The definition of processed food is simply food that has been altered from its natural state. Even though not all processed foods are unhealthy, most aren’t good for you either. Many companies add ingredients like sugar, salt, and fat to their produces to increase the shelf life and taste. Your best bet is to read the label and use your best judgment when you do need to purchase processed food.

Read more about processed foods

Understand Good Fats From Bad Fats

Most of the time, when you hear the word “fat” you automatically assume it’s bad. Our bodies actually need fat; it plays an important roll for our heart health along with giving us the energy that we need. Being able to decipher between the good and the bad is very important. Trans fat and saturated fat can increase your chances of clogged arteries and developing type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Examples of good fats are avocados, eggs, nuts, and fatty fish. 

Read more about good and bad fats

Eat More Fruit and Veggies

Being an independent adult means you have to make decisions for yourself. Eating your daily-recommended fruits and vegetables might be harder said than done for some people. We should be eating 1.5-2 cups of fruit and 2.5-3 cups of veggies every day and a majority of us aren’t. Both fruits and veggies can be delicious and eating them doesn’t have to be a chore! They are packed with vitamins, high in fiber (which makes you feel fuller), and helps control blood pressure and a healthy immune system. Plus fruit are naturally sweet, and can be a great substitute for any dessert.

Read more on how to add more fruits and veggies into your every day life

Eat Less Meat

Meat isn’t bad for you per se, but we tend to eat more than the recommended portions. A single serving of meat is only 3 ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards. Eating more than a serving can add extra saturated fat and sodium to a meal that could be avoided. If more protein is what you crave, try adding tofu, beans, or tempeh to your dish. It should be more about the quality of the meat, rather than the quantity. Famous chef Nikki Dinki has a wonderful philosophy called “meat on the side”. For some of her innovative recipes, click here.

Reduce Salt and Sugars

The daily recommendation of sugar is no more than 6 teaspoons for women and 9 for men and the daily recommendation for salt is 2,300 mg of sodium (1 teaspoon) a day, but there is a good chance we are exceeding these numbers without even knowing it. Many processed foods, for example, have added sugar to enhance taste and salt to help preserve the food to increase the shelf life. Try to take a moment and looks at the ingredients before buying products with excess amounts of salt and sugar.

Replace Refined Grains with Whole Grains

We hear that whole grains are better for you, but most people don’t really know why. Whole grains are unrefined and haven’t had their bran and germ removed by milling. This makes whole grains a great source of fiber and other nutrients like selenium, potassium and magnesium. Refined grains are milled which gives it a finer texture, but strips it of most of its nutrients and fiber.

Limit Alcohol

Recent studies have shown that a glass of red wine or beer can be good for your heart, but overindulging can leave you dehydrated and sick. They recommend one drink a day for women and 2 for men, but having a few more every so often is okay. Watch out for some mixed drinks, as they are packed with empty calories and sugar.

Snack Smarter

When you think of snacking, most likely potato chips and chocolate bars come to mind, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Some people, myself included, feel better eating 5-6 small meals a day rather than the traditional 3 large ones because it keeps your blood sugar consistent and prevents over eating. Try snacking on sweet fruit, lightly seasoned veggies, nuts, or even a little bit of dark chocolate.

Read more about healthy snack ideas

Learn How to Cook

Learning how to cook can open the door to a whole nother level of food opportunities right at home. Restaurants tend to serve larger portions and lather everything in salt, grease, and sugar… that’s why everything tastes so good. Let’s be honest though, it doesn’t really make you feel all that great afterwards. Cooking from home can help you take control of your favorite dishes down to every last spice.

Read more about benefits of cooking from home

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