Everyone is constantly telling you what to do, from your parents to your friends to the media. Unfortunately hardly anyone tells you that you should be living a healthy life. Don’t be surprised when too much stress, junk food and little exercise take their toll on your body.

Keep the following quote in mind the next time you catch yourself indulging in unhealthy habits.

“Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” – Edward Stanley

That being said…here are 10 simple, effective ways that you can apply right now to live a much healthier life:

1- Stop Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol in general is one of the worst things for your body. It damages your organs, drains your energy and contributes to your increase in weight.

Modern society almost expects us to drink, especially when we’re with friends or go out for the night. Drinking becomes a habit from as early as college, when your free nights are spent partying and getting wasted. This bad habit can stick with you for many years after college, and can have a serious effect on your overall health.

Ideally it would be best to cut out alcohol from your life completely, but I know how hard it can be to quit cold turkey.

Start gradually and cut down to 2 beers or glasses of wine per week.

2- Stop smoking

Peer pressure and stress are two of the biggest reasons why people start smoking in the first place, usually not out of free will.

Smoking has absolutely zero health benefits. By smoking you’re not only damaging your own health, but also the health of others around you. And on top of that it’s a pretty expensive habit (I’m talking about just the cost of cigarettes, not even factoring in the future health costs you will probably incur from excessive smoking).

Try to cut down your smoking gradually by reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. Your goal is to stop smoking entirely in order to live a healthier life. If you smoke because you’re stressed, find another way to relieve that stress (E.g. Exercise or EFT)

3- Eat Fruit And Vegetables Daily

This may sound like the most obvious advice you can think of, but how many people do you know that actually follow it? Do you even follow it?

There is just too much processed and junk food easily available, and with the lack of time and high stress levels it’s just too easy to forget adding fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.

Try to eat at least 3 servings of fruits or vegetables every day. The easiest is to east a piece of fruit as a snack between meals and add some veggies to every meal.

4-Replace Fast Food With Home-Cooked Meals

As I mentioned above, it’s far to easy to get caught in the trap of eating takeaways on a daily basis. I personally caught myself stuck in this habit for a couple of months, ordering pizza, Chinese or McDonald’s every day of the week.

Not only is eating fast food in this manner bad for your long-term health, you can immediately feel how it makes you sluggish and leaves you with little energy throughout the day. Your body needs REAL FOOD.

Cooking takes a little effort, but it’s much more enjoyable and usually costs less than take-outs. You can learn to cook easy healthy dinner recipes in just 10 minutes.

5- Exercise Daily

Do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day (whether it be walking, climbing the stairs or mowing the lawn).

It’s too easy to get caught up in work and the stress of life to remember to exercise every day, especially because you often don’t have the energy to do it after a long day’s work. It may sound contradictory, but exercising actually gives you more energy throughout the day.

If you don’t feel like joining a gym, just take a walk outside, go swimming or do something fun like aerobics, dance classes or tennis.

6- Drink More Water

It’s recommended that you drink at least 8 full glasses of water per day.

I actually know quite a few people who don’t even drink one full glass of water per day. Their liquid intake consists of coffee, tea, soda and alcohol. Of course these drinks contain water, but they contain harmful toxins to the body like sugars, caffeine, acids, artificial flavorants and much more.

Try to cut down on other drinks (except freshly squeezed juices) and replace them with water.

Another useful tip: Drink a full glass of water immediately when you wake up in the morning. It’ll make you feel much better throughout the whole day.

7- Breathe Deeply

Take at least 5 minutes every day to inhale and exhale deeply. Outside in the fresh air would be best.

When you take these 5 minutes, allow yourself to forget about everything around you. Forget your worries, troubles and responsibilities. Concentrate on the process of breathing. Count every breath you take and inhale as much air as can fit into your lungs.

8- Smile More

Stress is one of the worst things for your health, and when you’re stressed…you don’t smile.

Make it a habit to smile as much as you can, on a daily basis. Positivity is contagious, and you never know who’s day you might brighten with your smile. Yup, that’s right, smiling is beneficial for you AND those around you.

9- Leave Your Work At The Office

Don’t take your work home with you.

I know it’s difficult to do, but try to make a clear distinction between work and free time. That way you don’t have too much stress in your life and you can use the time you have free to relax and get the most out of life, instead of being stressed out 24/7.

10-End Negative Relationships

One of the biggest influences on your physical health is your emotional well-being. There will be times for everyone where you find yourself in a relationship (friendship, romantic relationship or work relationship) that is emotionally draining.

You’re being taken advantage of or being used. Maybe you’re giving and not getting back. Maybe the relationship is mutually destructive. Either way…you need to put an end to the negative relationships in your life.

The sooner you cut out the emotional drain, the quicker you’ll feel a relief both mentally and physically. Don’t allow other people to make you miserable and unhealthy.

I’m convinces that if you apply the 10 ways to live healthier that I’ve listed above and there is no doubt that you will become healthier, have more energy and feel happier.

Diggy is the author of one of the top personal development blogs on the web, where he helps people find happiness and success. If you’re looking for more financial freedom, you may also be interested in Diggy’s free tutorial – how to start an online business.

Feeling burnt out or lacking creative ideas?

This article is especially for all you writers, artists, business owners or anyone looking for some new ways to get their creativity flowing.

Here are 15 ways to give your creativity a jump start:

Write Your Ideas Down

Get into the habit of writing your ideas down as soon as you get them. This way you train your brain to keep coming up with ideas, and as soon as you get them you write them down.

When they are written down you don’t have to worry about remembering them and this allows more room for new ideas to form in your mind.

Relax

Good ideas and creativity usually do not appear under stress. When you are relaxed and rejuvenated, creative ideas usually come rather naturally.

Take a walk on the beach, take a nap, go and play some sport or do whatever it is that relaxes you so that your brain can be more creative when you get back to work.

Have No Expectations

Similar to living with no stress, but specifically no stress from the outcome.

When you create with love and passion and no expectation of the outcome, the chances are much greater that you will create something remarkable!

Be Easy On Yourself

Stop criticizing yourself and stop being so harsh for yourself. Accept yourself the way you are and do things to the best of your ability.

You are enough and you are creative. Don’t let self-limiting beliefs block out your creativity! Remove the barriers and the ideas will begin to flow.

Read

Reading stimulates the mind. The more you read, the more you open your mind up to new ways of thinking and thus the more creative you will become.

I know that reading can be a bore, especially if you have to force yourself to do it. Just start small.

Choose a book on a topic that you like (it can even be about your favorite sport or artist) and spend 30 minutes before you go to bed reading that book. This way you can read 1-2 new books every month without it being a lot of effort, and it will definitely contribute to you being more creative.

Listen to Mozart

Albert Einstein said he owes his creativity to listening to Mozart pieces. Certain songs and compositions allow the brain to be more creative and function better.

Albert Einstein did not know why this was the case, but he found Mozart compositions to help his thinking.

In the present age the concept of music enhancing your thinking has been scientifically researched and proven. Certain frequencies have a positive effect on increasing your brain’s performance and creativity. Today they are known as Binaural Beats and Isochronic Tones.

Basically, scientists have engineered sound-files (I canít really call them songs) with researched frequencies that have proven to increase brain performance. Simply buy purchasing some of these tracks and listening to them with stereo headphones, you can already notice an effect on your thinking and creativity.

Meditate

There are certain techniques that allow your mind to find peace and that allow you to silence all the hundreds of thoughts that constantly run through your mind all day.

When you achieve this inner calm, it has all sorts of benefits like being more creative and having better ideas.

Exercise

The effects of exercise and physical movement on the mind and creativity have been studied for centuries.

There is no doubt that you feel much better after exercise. This is because after you exercise, endorphins (feel-good hormones) are released into your bloodstream.

Ask For Help

Don’t be scared to ask someone for help or for their opinion. The input from a friend or stranger could be enough to jump-start a whole series of ideas and new creativity.

Expand Your Horizons

Do something you have never ever done before in your life. Go sky-diving or bungee-jumping. Sign up for hip-hop classes.

The experience of it may be enough to boost your creativity tenfold and give you many new ideas.

Eat Blueberries

Blueberries are said to be the richest in anti-oxidants and good for your brain an thinking abilities. Eat a handful a day, and even if you donít get extra creativity, enjoy the taste and the health benefits.

Stop Doing Drugs

I’m talking about sugars, processed foods, alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes.
(I shouldn’t have to tell you not to do hard drugs!)

Not only will your health benefit, but you will feel much more energetic. The chances are huge that you will find all sorts of new inspiration that comes with your new energy levels once you start eating healthy and stop consuming junk.

Do Puzzles

Puzzles stimulate your brain to look at a problem from different angles. The easier you are able to open up your mind to new ideas and new approaches, the more likely it will be that you become more creative.

Make Music
I personally like playing piano. It is relaxing and it allows me to experiment with new tones, melodies and ideas. Often while playing an instrument and making music I get very creative ideas for my own projects.

If you’ve never played an instrument, why not start with something simple like piano, guitar or the drums?

Practice

Practice makes perfect.

Yeah it’s cliche, but it’s true. Do you want to be a great writer? Then write ever single day, even if it’s just about your dog.

Do you want to be a good designer? Then design something new every day, even if it’s just a logo for your favorite food.

Diggy shares his experience about self improvement at his blog Upgrade Reality

Diggy also created a cool course that will teach you how to cook easy healthy dinner recipes in 10 minutes or less.

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The Secret To Creativity

At some point in the various journeys we embark on in our lives, we get to a part where we feel like giving up. Sometimes we give up before we even start and other times we give up just before we are about to make that huge break-through that we have been putting so much effort in to achieve.

I have created this list of 22 reasons why you should never give up and I hope that you will find it before you give up, so that I can inspire you to keep going!

1- As Long As You Are Alive Anything Is Possible
The only valid excuse you have to give up is if you are dead. As long as you are alive (and healthy and free) you have the choice to keep trying until you finally succeed.

2- Be Realistic
The chance of mastering something the first time you do it is almost non-existent. Everything takes time to learn and you will make mistakes. Learn from them.

3- Michael Jordan
Arguably the best basketball player of all time. He attributes his success to all his failures. He just never gave up even when he knew he had missed over 300 shots and had missed the  winning shot of the game many times. Every time he got knocked down he got back up again.

4- Lance Armstrong
Lance was diagnosed with serious cancer that had spread throughout his entire body. He had cancer cells the size of golf balls in his lungs. Despite all odds he overcame the cancer and set out to win the Tour de France 6 Consecutive years in a row.

5- Muhammad Ali
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”. Muhammad Ali is one of the best boxers the world has ever known. He suffered only 5 losses while having 56 wins and was the first boxer to win the lineal heavyweight championship three times. This is a guy who literally knows how to get knocked down and get back up.

6- The Man Who Created The Marathon
Very long ago an Athenian herald was sent to Sparta to get help when the Persians landed in Greece. It was said that he ran 240km in 2 days and after that he ran 40km to announce the victory of the Greeks only to collapse and die on the spot from exhaustion. If you ever feel like things are difficult, imagine what it would be like to run 240km in 2 days. (Don’t try that because you might die from it, but use it as an inspiration).

7- Chris Gardner – The Pursuit of Happiness
Have you seen the movie “The Pursuit of Happiness”? It is based on the life story of Chris Gardener, a man who went for the lowest of the lows in an environment where most people would give up (no money, no job) to the highest of the highs (A millionaire with his own investment firm). If you ever think about giving up, watch this movie!

8- Kanye West
I’m pretty sure you have heard of the rapper Kanye West. Read his story. He is a big inspiration for me and proves that you can go from having very little to being among the most famous and respected people in the world.

9- Nelson Mandela
Campaigned for justice and freedom in his South Africa. Spent 20 years in jail for his opposition to apartheid. On release he healed the wounds of apartheid by his magnanimous attitude toward his former political enemies.

10- You Are Strong
You are stronger than you think. One little setback is not enough to stop you from achieving your goals. Neither are 10 or 100 or 1000 setbacks.

11- Prove Yourself
You don’t want to be known as someone that is weak and gives up. Go out there and prove yourself to the world and to yourself. You CAN and WILL achieve what you set out to do. The only time you fail is when you give up.

12- Has It Been Done Before?
If someone else can do it then so can you. Even if it is only one other person in the world that has achieved what you have set out to achieve, that should be reason enough for you to never give up.

13- Believe In Your Dreams
Don’t sell yourself short. In life there are going to be many people who will try to bring you down and tell you what you want to achieve is not possible. Don’t let anyone destroy your dreams.

14- Your Family and Friends.
Let the people you love and who mean the world to you be your inspiration to persist and persevere. Maybe you need to try a different angle, study more or practice more but don’t give up!

15- Because I Tell You To.
Not that I am any sort of guru or Godly figure, but if you want to give up then don’t. Just because I’m telling you not to.

16- There Are People Worse-Off
Right now there are many people who are in a worse situation and environment than you are right now. Are you thinking about giving up running 5 miles a week? Think about the people who are unable to even walk and how much they would give to be able to run 5 miles every day.

17- Improve Our World
When you achieve whatever you set out to achieve you can use your success to make a difference to the world or other peoples lives.

18- Get Rich or Die Trying
Like Fiddy (50 cent) says, “Get rich or die trying”. 50 Cent is rich, he made it (although he did get shot 9 times). Face your fears and don’t take the easy way out by giving up.

19- Let The Haters Hate
There will always be haters. There will always be plenty of naysayers  and people who try to tear you down. Don’t pay attention to them and don’t take what they say to heart. Let the haters hate and you keep believing in yourself.

20- You Deserve To Be Happy
Don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise. You deserve to be happy and you deserve to have success. Keep that mindset and never give up until you reach your destination!

21- Inspire Others
Be an inspiration to others by refusing to give up. Who knows what someone else can achieve because you never gave up and in turn inspired them not to give up.

22- You Are So Close
Often when you feel like you want to give up and you are about to give up you are so close to making a huge break-thru. Seth Godin has written an awesome book about this called “The Dip” – a riveting read that teaches that at any given time you are always just a heartbeat away from success.

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Diggy writes weekly articles about self improvement and personal growth. Join the movement of hundreds of people who want to improve their lives and subscribe to UpgradeReality via RSS or Email

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The Language of Success

Do you have to be born a creative person? Or will you suffer the fate of being dull and unimaginative for the rest of your life?

Can you learn to come up with great ideas or learn to create unique, original things like art, music, poetry or ingenious inventions?

What about creativity being something like making a lot out of a little?

These are all questions that I have thought about for a very long time. I never really thought of myself as being creative, and I see the same attitude with so many people. “I just can’t come up with good ideas” or “I can’t start my own business, I’m not creative enough”.

In my opinion, the lack of creativity comes from two things:

1-) Social Conditioning.

From the day we are born we start being taught what to do, how to live, what is right and what is wrong. We are trained to accept other people telling us what to do. We are trained to follow rules and systems, sometimes to the point of not even being explained WHY, but just being told that that is ‘the way things are’ and the way things have to be done.

In other words, we are hardly taught to think for ourselves. We are not truly taught how to play and be creative, and often free thinkers and creative people have to withstand a lot of judgment and criticism because they dare to be different and think outside the box.

2-) Self-limiting beliefs

Due to this social conditioning, we have no real experience with being creative, because our thought processes are so confined and restricted. When we do wander outside the box every now and then, and try to be creative, and it doesn’t work, or comes out horribly, we start to establish the belief that we are not creative. The more we try, and the more we mess up, the more we confirm our belief that we are not creative.

Once this self-limiting belief is in place, it is hard to break, and we often end up not even trying to do things that require creativity anymore.

There is hope:

I have experienced both these above points of social conditioning and self-limiting beliefs. English is not my first language (although I have been speaking it since I was 6 years old), and I was always a C+ student during school with my English classes.

As a result I came to believe that I was not good at writing, and therefore really did not enjoy doing it, and any literature related class.

It was only a year ago when I started Upgradereality, that I realised how much fun writing really is. I still don’t think of myself as a great writer, but people seem to enjoy my posts and writing style, and best of all, I LOVE writing these posts.

I really try hard to improve and make my work better, by reading lots of other great blogs and seeing how they do things, and by asking feedback from friends and readers on my own posts.

I get ideas for posts in the most random places, when I’m driving in my car, or in the grocery store or in the shower. I have learnt to write these ideas down as soon as I get them, to make sure that I do not forget about them, and this way I always have a couple of good ideas for new posts.

Of course, this is just one aspect that I am using as an example. Creativity applies to anything and everything, and yes it is possible to learn to be creative.

How to learn to be creative:

The first step to becoming creative is to remove the words “I am not creative” from your vocabulary. Seriously, do not say them or do not say them inside your head. They no longer exist.

Now you need to start looking what other people in your niche are doing. Look them up online, read books, watch television shows about them. The more you see what they are doing, the more you can get a feel for how they think, and how they come up with creative ideas.

Find a way or a place where you feel totally relaxed. This is important so you can let your mind come up with ideas. Write them down as you get them. For me a relaxing place is outside in nature where it is quiet and sunny, or when I take a long drive in my car by myself, or even when I to the gym with my iPod, or go jogging.

Try to jot down a few ideas every day. They may be dumb, or they may only seem dumb. Write them down anyway. It’s a gradual process. Expand on previous ideas from the week before.

Repeat the process of reading and observing what similar people are doing and how they are being creative, finding a relaxing place to write down your thoughts, and jotting down a few ideas every day until you start seeing the kind of results you are happy with. It may take a few weeks to a few months, but this is the training process you need to put your mind through to become creative.

Remember, looking at things from a different angle can also make a big difference to creativity. Question the way that everyone else is doing something in the same method, see if being different and doing it another way will produce something cool.

Can you learn to be creative?

Absolutely!

Diggy writes about self improvement at his blog Upgradereality.com. His goals are to motivate and inspire others to better themselves and follow their dreams and passions. If you enjoyed this post you can subscribe to his latest posts via RSS or Email.

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