Optimal bodymindspirit health is a right and responsibility.  The benefits of a healthy life and lifestyle are bountiful.  Make maintaining optimal health a priority – without it, nothing else matters!

1. Eat Well. Healthy choices, lots of variety, the right supplements and moderation are key. Your hands are a good guide to maximum meal portions.  Two open hands of fruit and vegetables, one closed fist of carbohydrates, one palm of proteins and the tip of your thumb for fats.  That is enough.
2. Keep Active. Keep moving every day to maintain a healthy body weight and keep your body functioning well.  Be physically active as if the quality of your life depends on it, because it absolutely does.  Just making a small change can make a big difference.
3. Be Rested.  Support your body in getting the restorative rest it needs by going to bed and rising at the same time each day.  No electronics in the bedroom to disturb sleep.  Melatonin, the main hormone for balancing sleep, needs undisturbed darkness.  If tired, take an early afternoon nap.  It’s a humane and healthy practice.
4. Stress Less.  Do what you love whenever you can and laugh at every opportunity to balance the stressful times.  Ask for help.  Say NO to doing more than you can.  Be gentle, rather than too hard on yourself.  Know that ‘this too shall pass’. There is always tomorrow.
5. Stay out of the Sun. A little sun, about 5 to 30 minutes a week, is beneficial to soak in much needed Vitamin D, but anything beyond that increases the risks of eye problems and skin cancer, and ages the skin.  Wear sun glasses all year long to protect eyes.
6. If you smoke – STOP. The day you stop smoking is the day your body begins to cleanse itself of tobacco toxins. Your risk of heart attack begins to decrease within days of stopping.
7. Wash your Hands. Plain old soap and water rubbed all over the hands for 15 seconds thoroughly and often is the best way to ward off infections by common bacteria and viruses. If you do get sick, stay home, rest and drink plenty of fluids.
8. Drink less Alcohol. Alcohol is high in empty calories, disturbs restorative sleep, clouds judgment, ruins relationships, and adds stress to the body’s organs.  A glass of red wine with a meal now and then has some health benefits, but drinking beyond that is risking your health unnecessarily.
9. Drink more Water. A good guide to how much is right for you is to divide your body weight in two to identify the number of ounces of water you need each day.  For example, a weight of 160 pounds is 80 ounces which is 10 cups a day.

10. Be Connected. We all need a network of friends or family for the sense of belonging and connectedness that nourishes our mental and physical health.  Be in touch with them often.  Diminish time spent with negative people.

11. See your Healthcare Practitioners.  Who is on your team of healthcare practitioners? Visit them regularly, talk with them about your health concerns, and follow their advice to keep healthy and deal with any emerging problems. Always get a second opinion for serious issues.

12. Be your own Best Friend. Start by listening to your body. Take the tests your health practitioners recommend.  Take good care of yourself.

Excerpted and Adapted from Wellness Way, Inc.  It is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional advice.