1. Eat primally: Common sense dictates that the best diet is one based on foods we’ve been eating the longest. Studies show that a diet made up of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as meat, fish and eggs, is best for weight control and health.
2. Keep hydrated: Water makes up two- thirds of the body and performs a plethora of functions, including acting as a solvent, carrier of nutrients, temperature regulator and body detoxifier. Drink enough to keep your urine a pale yellow colour.
3. Eat mindfully: In our fast-paced world, we often eat while distracted and shovel in more than we need. Avoid eating when dis- tracted, eating more slowly and taking time to taste food properly. Also chewing thoroughly – not only will it help to savour food, but it also assists the digestive process.
4. Get plenty of sunlight in the summer…:Sunlight, and the vitamin D this can make in the skin, is associated with a wide spectrum of benefits. As a rule of thumb, vitamin D is made when our shadow is shorter than our body length, ie when the sun is high in the sky. While burning is to be avoided, get as much sunlight exposure as possible for op- timal health.
5… and in the winter: Low levels of sunlight in the winter can cause dark moods. It pays to get some external light exposure in the winter, say during lunchtime.
6. Get enough sleep: Sleep has the abil- ity to optimise mental and physical energy. About eight hours a night are linked with reduced risk of chronic disease and improved longevity. Shutting down the computer or turning off the TV early in the evening is often all it takes to get to bed earlier.
7. Walk regularly: Aerobic exercise, including walking, is associated with a vari- ety of benefits for the body and the brain. Aim for a total 30 minutes of brisk walking every day.
8. Engage in some resistance exercise: Resistance exercise helps to maintain muscle mass and strengthens the body. Do exercises at home, such as press-ups, sit-ups and squats.
9. Practise random acts of kindness: It is good for givers and receivers alike. It could be a quick call or text to someone, showing a fellow motorist some consideration, buy- ing someone lunch or giving a spontaneous bunch of flowers.
10. Practise the art of appreciation: It is easy to fall in the modern-day living trap of acquiring material. Spend more time focusing not on what we don’t have, but on what we do, and give thanks for anything from our friends and family to a beautiful land- scape or sunset.
(Source: Psychologies website)