Junk food, television dinners, sedentary lifestyles – this is what most of us have come to consider a ‘normal’ life. After all, this is what everyone does. ‘Normal’ however is not ‘natural’. We have moved far from the natural rhythm of our lives, which is the primary reason for depletion of energy, stress and a number of diseases that we unabashedly label as ‘lifestyle’ diseases.

While we may not be able to completely alter our way of life, we can surely try to follow some guidelines for healthy living in our lives. Let us look at some simple dos and don’ts to achieve this.

Balanced meals

What we learn in primary school really is true. Ensure that there is a proper mix of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins in your meal.






Snack time

It is fine to indulge in snacks as long as one ensures that it is healthy.Fruits and nuts could be a great snack. So could salads.

Make storing snacks for ‘guests’ a no-no, as most often, the ‘guest’ is your family’s tummy. Instead, store things like poha (flattened rice), which can be made into a healthy snack in a jiffy.

Juices

Invest in a juicer and make fresh fruit juices and even juices
from carrots, tomato or beetroot. Steer clear of aerated
drinks and even packaged fruit juices, as they contain quite
a bit of preservatives.

Dinner time

It is not just what we eat but how we eat that needs attention. Focussing on food activates the digestive juices
and contributes greatly to absorption. Keep the television off, do not talk on the phone or read while you eat.

Timings

Stick to regular meal and even snack times, as far as possible.


Keep off pills and medication

Simple disorders like headaches and colds go away with the
natural healing mechanism of the body and precautionary
care in diet and clothing. Medication at the drop of a hat is
really not warranted. That being said, make sure you get to
a doctor if the symptoms persist.





Activity

Make a sport or physical activity an intrinsic part of life. Tennis, swimming or yoga are activities that can be done.

as a family, so it won’t cut into family time. Even a walk, especially in the mornings could be rejuvenating and fun.

Ergonomics

Choose furniture that is comfortable and designed for good posture in your home.

Footwear and clothing

Comfort over appearance should be the motto in clothing as
well as footwear. Children especially need to be encouraged
to wear comfortable sports shoes while playing.

Recharge the batteries of the mind

It is not just the body but the mind too that needs care. To recharge the batteries of the mind, have a regular ‘silent’ time which could be a time for prayer, meditation, chanting or even listening to soothing music.


Hobbies

Cultivate hobbies like drawing, music, or writing to keep your creativity alive.

Positive thinking and sharing

A simple truth of life is that what one focuses on, thrives.
Read inspirational stories and books, share and pass on good
news. Consciously work on discarding negative thoughts
and emotions, even if provoked. Slowly but surely, the heart
and home will transform into a haven of happiness.

Laughter, the best medicine

Adopting a humorous view towards life’s situations can take the edge off everyday stress, and allows us to perceive and appreciate the incongruities of life. Medically too, carefully controlled studies have shown that laughter has a positive effect on one’s health.

The World Health Organisation defines ‘health’ as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. It is never too late to start working towards such a life condition.