3 Easy Ways for a Big Upgrade In Your Life
I’m about to turn 60 and dammit I’m still in the game!
The game you ask? The game of life of course. I like the game metaphor. Not in the sense that you can lose. Sure, we’re all going to die at some point. Are you just muddling through? Maybe lost or just misplaced your game face. No worries, there is still plenty you can do to improve your actual life and up your game. So with that in mind. How about putting some points on the board? Keeping the machine going in a positive direction. Positive in mind, body and spirit. Are you keeping track of your score?
The mind is a terrible thing to waste. That’s an old quote from an anti drug campaign. The truth is there are many ways beyond drugs that can waste your mind. This becomes quite evident for many as they get older. Unfortunately for quite a few of us it’s in our genes and we are not quite there with technology to just shut that dementia switch down before it happens. Thanks alot Mom and Dad! Some day the fix will be in. That day isn’t here yet.
I would say that it’s a bad plan to wait for progress to take care of this.
I’m a fan of fairly easy options that have a good amount of science to back them up. Here are 3 that I take action on and gosh darnit, you should too
Get off your ass and go for a walk!
Yeah, it’s an oldie but a goody. There are a ton of studies and the results are pretty clear. Going on regular walks can improve your memory and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Walking has also shown to reduce anxiety and depression. The why isn’t that complicated. Walking increases blood flow to the brain. Your brain likes this and you like your brain, right? Sitting on the couch may feel pretty good but like sitting all the time, things are not exactly flowing. I’ve heard sitting all time called the new smoking. I’m pretty sure you won’t get smokers cough from being a lump on the couch but you get the point. Make it a part of your weekly schedule. I like to go for a stroll after dinner and try to put being the lump on the couch off for as long as possible.
Easy on the booze!
My Irish butt sure loves a cold one but reality says it doesn’t love me. We are constantly encouraged to imbibe by the media we ingest and the social pressure we face everyday. Not to mention it tastes really good and makes bad movies better. Reality is it’s a poison. Sure, great feeling poison but depressing your central nervous system comes at a cost. Obviously it makes you fat and that comes with a whole bunch of other problems. Your liver and pancreas also gets hit hard and hurting it with over drinking comes with major health issues. Pancreatitis is no fun. I would know. It also completely screws up your sleep by depressing GABA production which is a neurotransmitter that helps us relax. This is why regular habitual drinking will increase anxiety as well as insomnia. Sure it makes you tired and you fall asleep but you don’t stay in that restorative level of sleep and wake up often. We heal when we sleep. Bad sleep equals bad health. Want to die young? Keep partying like a teenager and you won’t have to put as much away for retirement because it will be a short one!
Take care of that spirit of yours.
Now let me be clear. I am about as non religious as one can be. We’re not talking about some new age Wo wo But I do believe there is more to us than the eye can see. My spiritual practice is pretty simple and it really lifts my, uh, well, my spirit!
Gratitude.
Sure, you’ve heard that before but maybe you haven't actually leaned into it. I mean intentionally. Not just saying thanks when someone does something nice for you. Try making it into a daily practice. There are definite physical and mental benefits like improving your sleep, mood and immunity. By recognizing the things you have to be grateful for you elevate your life and those around you. Yes, I consider this a
Spiritual practice and damn it, for me it is!
I like to use journaling for this as well just sitting and thinking about how good life has been to me. Just for a couple of minutes. There is always something to be stressed or angry about, always. Guess what. The same is true for the positives in your life. By adjusting your focus on the good stuff you literally change your chemistry in your brain by producing those happy chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. This in turn will lead you in more positive thoughts. Yeah, your chemistry can do that. Of course more positive thoughts can lead to more positive outcomes in your physical world.
Remember, you don’t have to win lotto or get a huge promotion to have things to be grateful for. Think about how lucky you are to have a roof over your head. You have access to food. People love you. There really is no shortage of things to be grateful for. So maybe try to bitch a little less and turn that frown upside down. It is a choice. Go to the light Carol Ann!
