Don’t ignore what your body is telling you. Now, I ask my body permission: “Is it OK if I do another 10 minutes of cardio?” Sometimes it says yes, and sometimes it tells me just to stretch. Sometimes when I’m tired and not sure if I should go to the gym, my body tells me to hit the bed. The same goes with food. Instead of trying to figure out what to eat and what would be healthiest, I ask my body what it feels like having. The answer almost always pops into my head immediately. Although I love salad, I can only chew limited amount of these veggies, so incorporating green smoothies into my diet has been an excellent way to up my intake of greens. Here’s my go-to recipe: ripe bananas, kale or spinach, berries or raw beetroot; add some ice water and blend until smooth. I started meditating in 2012 and aim to sit down in silence for at least 20 minutes a day. It has made a huge difference in my life: in understanding my behavior, dealing with stress, changing my eating habits, and finding my life purpose. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve his or her life. Exercise is beneficial to your physical and mental health2, mood, productivity, and longevity. It also helps burn calories and get rid of excess fat faster. Find something that you enjoy doing, whether it is yoga, lifting weights, dancing, tennis, swimming, Zumba, belly dancing, or running. It’s vital that you move in a way that makes you happy; otherwise your efforts to exercise will not last for long. We all need energy, but energy does not only come with food. We can generate energy by controlling our focus, staying mindful, choosing to see beauty in others, and making a decision to be happy and positive on a daily basis.
