Everyone desires a long and healthy life yet very few are willing to work for it. Many would rather overindulge and turn an eye on health all in favor of things that frankly aren’t as important. How come the one thing that shouldn’t be taken for granted is the very first to be overlooked by most? Face it, our schedules are packed with excuses and I am not downplaying your busy life. I’m simply stating that most should put health a little higher on the priority list.

While it’s easy to identify obvious areas where change is needed (think of eating too much fast food) there are areas that just seem untouchable. Grocery shopping, commuting to work and helping kids with homework are just three examples of this. Though these are important things that need to be done, one’s own health and well-being should not be overlooked.

Consider waking up tomorrow morning to news that a friend has cancer. At some point, most people will think, “Did their lifestyle do this”. “Will mine?”. Ill health is a state that we avoid thinking about until it actually hits us. The importance of having an active lifestyle need not be restated, yet it gets ignored until us or someone close to us gets affected by it. Don’t wait to make changes until the day you’re waiting for a biopsy result. Make a few minutes in your day today to think of areas in your life that need to change.

Though sometimes there is little you could have done to prevent what life throws at you, in most cases a little due diligence can make all the difference. Here are a couple of simple examples and we’ve linked to several previous articles that will help as well.

• Research Your Doctors
  This is the most important step to ensure your health is in the right hands. Just because the doctor is in your vicinity or is accepting new patients is not a good enough reason to make them your choice. Look into their working history and get feedback from past or current clients to see if they meet your needs. Websites like RateMDs or DoctorScorecard can be great sources of information with forums to discuss concerns or apprehensions. It encompasses valuable reviews from concerned citizens and is an efficient way to learn from others’ experiences. Though opinions can be biased, common traits both positive and negative can become apparent through the reviews and assist you in your decisions.

Utilize Insurance Benefits
Most companies offer great health and dental plans for employees and their families. How many of us take full advantage of it? Not many. Ensure that you utilize the benefits available to you. From visiting the dentist to the masseuse or the chiropractor, why leave anything out? Early detection of the origin of back aches or joint issues can prevent significant deterioration and prove to be a major asset in life. Find time for these little activities and see the difference they can make.

Workout and Meditate
The importance of being physically and mentally active is no secret. I personally love the idea of being fit yet absolutely dread the treadmill. From having no time for it to a thousand other excuses, I’ve got it all. Though at the end of the day, the only thing I’ve learned from all of this is the fact that there is no escape; it’s something you just have to do.

The only solution is to make exercising and relaxing the mind a part of your daily routine in such a way that you don’t get a chance to second guess yourself. It’s like brushing your teeth; you don’t contemplate every morning if you feel like brushing today, or if you have the time to, you simply do it. Here are some resources to consider:

• How to Turn Exercise Into Something You Love
• How to Get Fit When You’re a Couch Potato
• 7 Harsh Truths that Will Improve Your Health
• How To Shape Your Lifestyle to Improve Your Fitness
• Meditation Techniques for the Busy or Impatient

Listen to yourself
Our body is capable of treating itself to a very large extent. Have a cold or a tummy ache? Pay attention to the signs your body gives you; it may want you to slow down or avoid certain kind of foods. Though you may be tempted to take a pain killer to numb the pain and get on with your busy schedule, realize that it’s not the finest solution. How about trying some natural remedies? Why deal with the side effects of fancy medications when all you may really need is a little rest and a warn cup of tea?

Sometimes life gets so busy and confusing that we are unable to pinpoint what takes up all our time and drains us of our enthusiasm. Though such phases are inevitable, be certain that they are temporary and you need to give yourself the time and respect you deserve. Striving towards creating a balanced life is the key, but it cannot happen if you overlook yourself. Great moments in life will not feel as great if the back ache is on your mind, and the last thing you want is to slow down too early, just to see your life fly by in front of you.

Written on 3/9/2011 by Vibha Dhawan. Vibha enjoys writing about life, from questioning the bases of our existence to wondering why we feel the way we do. She’s fascinated by little things in life. It doesn’t take much to make her smile. Visit her at Curious Lounge.

Photo Credit: gothick_Matt

Are You????

There probably will be many more like Mann, RATS

Is there anything left in your pocket????

Meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and happiness are essential ingredients in our lives.
Sometimes getting more of them can seem impossible. We’re plagued by the uncertainty of the future, and we have no idea what our purpose is.

Those are big questions that cannot be answered in the blink of an eye, and today instead of focusing on them, we’ll look at seven simple ways that will improve your body, mind, and soul.

And we both know that the better you feel, the better you can follow your intuition and eventually find your true purpose.

It all adds up.

1. Drink Water
   A no-brainer, right? Still most people don’t drink enough water, and it can’t be just any kind of water. Did you know that the tap water in many of the western countries is filled with chemicals and even drugs in some cases? Here’s just one example.

   You can buy a simple water filter, or get your water from a spring.

   I could tell you to drink 8 glasses a day, but a simpler solution would be to just have water with you as much as possible and sip it throughout the day whenever you’re thirsty.

Eliminate Sugar
Sugar hides in almost everything that comes in a package, and if it doesn’t contain sugar, it most likely contains additives and sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame-k, and so on.

The best way to avoid sugar is to eat a natural diet consisting of organic meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries.

Try going without processed foods for even a week and I guarantee that you will notice a difference.

Gluten-Intolerant?
Gluten is commonly found in wheat, and while many have to avoid gluten altogether, some don’t notice it enough to see that there’s a problem.

The solution?

Go gluten-free on top of eliminating processed foods and supercharge your energy, sleep, and everything else that matters. In order to get rid of gluten, you have to eliminate breads, grains, potatoes, flours, and pasta, just to name a few.

Mini-Exercises
I personally love going to the gym and giving my muscles panic attacks.

But sometimes you just don’t have time. That doesn’t have to stop you from getting exercise in. You can easily do squats, push-ups, and variations of crunches almost anywhere at any time.

Breathe
Work needs to get done, kids need to get shuttled (if you have them), and stuff needs to get read.

It’s easy to forget to breathe amidst all this chaos around us. A simple meditation routine has been proven to lower to reduce stress and increase happiness.
And it never hurts taking a time-out and just being.

Socialize
What are we all looking for deep down? For me it always comes down to connections, relationships, and love—as cheesy as it may sound. Life isn’t worth living alone, and we humans are social beings. We belong in tribes and groups.

Release
We worry, we fear, and we scare ourselves to death.

You might get annoyed at your roommate, or perhaps an avalanche of little things turns your day upside down, which leads to you not being the most agreeable person at the end of the day.

We all have problems, and when we get rid of one problem, another one seems to pop up. That’s the way our brain works. It needs problems to solve. If they don’t exist, it will make them up.

A much easier way to live is to let things go. Breathe and realize that you don’t have to live through the insanity that is your mind, if you don’t want to.

What say you? What’s your favorite tip for improving your body, mind, and/or soul?

Written on 2/12/2011 by Henri Junttila. Henri blogs at, Wake Up Cloud, where he shows you how you can earn money online ethically. You can also get the Passion Blogging Guide, which is free, but really shouldn’t be.

Photo Credit: EverJean

Let’s be honest, work for the most part, sucks. Even if you are part of the 20% of Americans who actually truly enjoy what they are doing, chances are likely that you would rather be doing something else.

Job satisfaction rates are horrendous and one of the reasons is that people are slowly starting to realize that there is a better way to live. We are wising up to the fact that we don’t NEED to work a crappy job and just grind out a living.

There is so much opportunity for anyone willing to take control of their life and commit to living a passionate life.

Is it that simple? I believe it is. Is it easy? Of course not.

Working The Rat Race
hat is it that millions of people wake up unhappy knowing that they have to go to a job they hate? There are a number of reasons including:

1. Fear of failure
2. Fear of success
3. Lack of initiative
4. No clear goals
5. Apathetic towards life
6. Willingness to accept whatever they have

All of the above reasons are garbage. There is no reason for anyone to fall victim to these things. Yet, we do it all the time.

What ends up happening is that we find a job that looks acceptable and get stuck working in it for years. Most of us won’t take the time to find something better and will just drift through life with a sub par job.

The end result is having a job we hate. Now, we can choose to quit and find another job or we can choose to suffer through it. Most of us choose the latter.

Staying Motivated When You Hate Your Job
I am speaking from personal experience here. I have lost all interest in my job and would rather go dig holes in the ground all day. Unfortunately, financial obligations will not afford me the luxury of leaving my job right now.

So, I have had to find ways of keeping myself motivated enough to keep my job and perform it well enough to provide quality work. Not an easy task when my days are spent thinking of leaving.

If you have found yourself in a similar spot, here are 5 ideas to keep you motivated (at least motivated enough not to get you fired!)

1. Know Your Future.
   If you have a clear understanding of where you want to be in 1,3, or even 5 years, then your job will become much more tolerable.

   Having something to look forward to can mean the difference between hopelessness and determination. Make sure you choose determination!

Do not take your loathsome job home with you.
The sooner you can forget about your job the better. Far too often, and I’m guilty of this too, we take our bad attitudes home for the family to enjoy.

Well, they don’t. If you have children, then it’s especially important to leave your misery behind. Our kids do not need to learn that a job equals unhappiness from us.

Enjoy your passions.
If you’re lucky enough to know what really makes you happy, you need to go do it! Even if it’s for an hour each week, you have to.

I’m not talking about a hobby here or shopping at the mall, I’m talking about spending time doing something you love.

Why is this so important? Because it just might keep you from snapping and doing something stupid like bitch slapping your boss and quitting.

If you were in the financial position to quit, you probably already would have, so don’t go and get yourself canned.

Be better than your job.
If your job sucks and you allow yourself to think that you suck too, then you’re sunk. Do not allow yourself to be a byproduct of a miserable job.

Know in your mind that this job is simply a means to an end and that some day you will be doing something better. Also know that you are not your job. You just work there. Don’t confuse the two.

Plan for your release date.
I would imagine that someone serving a long prison sentence would spend an enormous amount of time planning for their release date.

What they’re going to do, how they’re going to do it, and how it is all going to go down, are all things that will probably be consuming their thoughts each day.

A miserable job can feel a lot like a prison sentence. While we are not trapped per se, we can often feel like we are because of things like a poor economy, high unemployment, and too many financial obligations.

Planning for the day you can walk away from your job and do something else should be something you spend a lot of time thinking about. Without a plan, you might just end up working another job just like the one you quit.

Keep It Together
Knowing you have to go to work tomorrow and waste another day of your life is an awful feeling. Doing this for an extended period of time can lead to problems with depression, substance abuse, and marital issues.

You need to keep it together! For your sake if nothing else. If you have a family that depends on you, please don’t let your job become interfere with your quality of life at home.

Find a way to make your job tolerable until you’re ready to move on with your life.

My question to all of you is this: What if we actually took the time to figure out what we really wanted to do with our lives and then did it? Imagine that…

Written on 2/14/2011 by Steve Roy. Steve is the owner of EndingTheGrind.com, a blog about escaping the daily grind of a 9 to 5 job, building an online business, and living your passions. You can also find him on Twitter at @EndGrind.

Photo Credit: thrig

Know any chronic complainers? You may want to pass this on to them … and if it’s you, read on.

I think it’s natural for people to complain. Everyday we’re faced with a lot of reasons to complain: we’re not tall enough, we don’t have the latest and greatest, it’s too hot, it’s too cold, they get everything handed to them, they shouldn’t be doing this they should be doing that, etc.

Having the occasional complaint is fine. To expect a life without complaining (by you or others) is unrealistic.

Why we complain and what we can do about it

• Life’s not fair.
  I think most of us complain because we feel things are unfair and out of our control. Why do they have so much when I have nothing? I’ve worked just as hard, saved harder and I still don’t have as much to show for it. It’s just not fair.

Genuinely unhappy.
Some people are just genuinely unhappy. They can’t find joy in any aspect of their life. Genuinely unhappy people take to complaining to express their dissatisfaction with their life and in many situations it’s used as a coping mechanism as well.

Jealousy
Most times people won’t admit to this as it’s a rather unbecoming trait. They may also not admit to it because they truly don’t recognize it as jealousy. This ties in with the first point of life not being fair. The emotion that can come out of that is jealousy. When you wish you had the new car, or the new job or the high salary there is a tendency to complain, either that the other people are getting this or that you’re not.

Lack of empathy.
A lot of times we complain because we lack empathy for others. Think about this: You complain that someone isn’t doing something “right”, they should be doing it this way because that’s what we would do if we were in that position. When we lack empathy we aren’t able to fully put ourself in the other persons place. We don’t know the thoughts going through their head or what other complexities they are facing in their lives at that moment.

What can we do about it?

• Think before we speak.
  Before blurting out a complaint really give some thought to what you’re going to say. Is it a complaint for the sake of complaining? Are you really unhappy with your situation? Is there any benefit to expressing this view point? If you are looking for insight from the person you’re speaking with then by all means go for it. If you’re mentioning it to spark a debate or initiate a conversation, OK. Just be aware of what you’re saying and why you’re saying it and also be mindful of the person you’re speaking with. Are they rolling their eyes?

Have a plan.
I find it quite irritating when people complain about their job or people they work with or how they’re bored with whatever it is they’re doing at the moment. I find it even more irritating when people have no answer to the question “and what are you doing about it?” Some people have given it some thought and others just stare blankly as if to say “There’s something I can do?” If you’re unhappy with any situation make a plan on how you can change it. How are you going to take control and make your situation better? You can brush up your resume and start applying to new jobs. Look at how you can possibly move within the company you’re in now. Can you go back to school or get specific training for what you’d like to do?

Don’t just moan about it do something!

Change your perspective.
Maybe you’re complaining because you lack empathy for someone. Change your perspective and really put yourself in their shoes (and not just in one particular situation, but overall). Your thoughts, expectations and judgments may change and you may see the other person in a better light and not complain so much about how they’re handling things.

A change in perspective could also be helpful when we’re complaining about what we don’t have or how we don’t measure up. First of all we shouldn’t spend so much time comparing ourselves to others in the first place but if you do why is always with people who have more? Why not compare with those who aren’t as fortunate as you. Look around you and really see what you have. There are a lot of people who would love to be in your position. Which leads me to my final point …

Be grateful.
Be grateful for what you have and for what others have. Life isn’t a race to see who can collect the most money, cars or other shiny objects. Ever told anyone to mind their own business? Well same goes for you. Focus on you and what makes you happy and how you can add value to your own life. Show appreciation for all that you currently have and for what you’ve been blessed with. Don’t worry about all the other people odds are they’re looking at you and wishing for something you have and that you may even be taking for granted.

When we complain it’s usually because we’re so focused on what we’re lacking in certain aspects of our lives. The easiest way to curb our own complaining is to focus on the positive and go with the flow.

Do you have any other ideas on why we tend to complain and what we can do about it to make it stop?

Written on 10/25/2010 by Sherri Kruger. Sherri writes at Zen Family Habits, a blog celebrating all things family. Sherri also writes on personal development at Serene Journey, a blog dedicated to sharing simple tips to enjoy life

Photo Credit: Leo MF

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