We get unsolicited advices for a better life almost every day and self optimizing soon became a new habit for people who simply strive for health, happiness and longevity. But be aware! The majority of life hacks that keep spaming our instas don’t have any proven results at all. Our 7 simple rules for better eating, wellbeing, health, living and a peaceful mind are based on New Yorks health guru and bestselling author Dr. Frank Lipman, Japanese decluttering queen Marie Kondo, the famous minimalists Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, Japanese Zen teachings and the latest food pyramid from the Flamish Institute for Healthy Living. They are not just based on new scientific surveys but also very easy to adapt. Especially when you treat them more like little adjustments instead of set-in-stone rules.
1. Become a Minimalist
You might have already heard about bestselling author and lifestyle guru Marie Kondo or the two minimalists Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, who experienced significant improvements in their quality of life as a result of adopting and practicing the tenets of minimalism? They all believe that cluttering makes us unhappy and that we really don‘t need as much stuff as we gather. Kondo’s method of organizing based on Japanese values consists of bringing together all of our belongings and then keeping only those that „spark joy“. Start with your closet and ask yourself at every item if it still fits your body, your life and (no matter what it once has cost) „if it still speaks to you? Identify the things that make you happy!“ she says. Many pieces might seem great in theory but arn‘t actually your style? Donate them, they‘d may be better on someone else’s body or in someone else’s life. Go ahead with your bathroom, kitchen, shelfs and desk, throw away old cosmetics, get rid of paper and books you‘re not going to read (again). Organize your beloved belongings in boxes (and by color, if you like) and treat them with respect. Keeping your space tidy and counters clear (put most items out of sight!) will also clear your mind, make life easier and even prevent you from unnecessary purchases in the future.
2. Eat the Yolk and toss the Pasta
This might surprise you but after decades of egg-white-products it is now officially proven that the cholesterol in your food has no impact on the cholesterol level of your body. Instead sugar and carbs are to blame as they trigger the production of bad cholesterol. Egg yolks contain good fats and choline, which is essential for cells, especially the ones in your brain. So eat your eggs whole and try to avoid wheat products instead, wheather it‘s bread or pasta, as gluten can really make you sick and drain your energy, as most of us lack the enzyme that breaks it down properly. No matter if you are mildly or highly sensitive, your immune system fights it like a foreign substance. Besides that, bread and pasta don‘t make a lot of sense anyways, since it’s not nutritious. Consider a savoury breakfast with good fats like avocados, nuts and fish in the morning as bread and even grains with fruits contain a lot of gluten and sugar your body doesn‘t need. You will feel much lighter and full of energy.
3. Get your Hands dirty and your Eyes clear
We all spend too much time inside, wheather in the office, in the car or at home. Try to go out for at least 15 minutes a day and soak up the sun, no matter if the sky is cloudy. Your body needs vitamin D, that we only produce by exposure tosunlight. Plus the fresh air will do wonders for your mood and energy level. Besides that, our body needs microbes from outdoors to keep our immune system going. Go dig in the garden, or play with your kids in the sand–nothing is more earthy than getting your hands dirty outside. Leave your phone at home and think about a screen detox for a whole day from time to time. Our eyes and mind need to recover from electronic devices and the information overload–you will find clarity and peace instead. It‘s also the simple secret for a good night‘s sleep: no screen an hour prior to bedtime!
4. Do the Workout your Body is made for
One key to make exercise a habit is to do something you enjoy–no big news, right? But not only our bodies are not built to run for hours, for many people this kind of workout seems pretty exhausting and like a waste of time–and it is. Elevate your metabolism with intervals instead: Short bursts of intense exertion interspersed with periods of leisurely movement, no matter if you run, swim, cycle or anything alike. The intensity effectively resets your metabolism to a slightly higher rate during your workout, and it takes hours for it to slow down again. That equates to a continued calorie burn long after your training is done. Whenever possible walk or run outside, as the little bumps of an unpaved ground not only activate and strengthen every muscle and fascia but challenge your balance and coordination as well. Another important thing is weight lifting if you like to keep your bones and muscles healthy and working. Don’t be afraid to look like a body builder, that would just happen if you intend to do so and invest all your time.
5. Remember what you put on your Body goes in your Body–and the Environment
Lotion, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, makeup laundry detergent–it‘s not just what you swallow that affects your well-being but anything applied to your skin, even the residue of dish soap on your clean plate ends up in your body. So why not be as picky and strickt with your hygienic and cleansing routine as with your food? Check the labels of your beauty products and cleansers and scan ingredient lists for chemicals, sulfates and parabens as all these substances can be toxic, affect your immune system and/or cause diseases. You don‘t have to throw everything away immediately–please consider the environmental pollution as well–but to be safer at home, step away from toxic stuff and replace one by one with a nonchemical alternative when empty. Start with trying citrus and vinegar for cleaning and save a lot of money.
6. Quit Multitasking
Walking around while talking on the phone? Reading an article while (pretend to) listening to another person? Eating in front of the tv? The more we think we manage to multitask and therefore be more productive and save time, the less we really do–literally. Research suggests that when we are multitasking, we are actually just switching our attention between two or more tasks super quickly, merely creating the illusion that our attention acts simultaneously. The truth is, multitasking is more wasteful than timesaving. Doing one thing at a time instead helps us distress, work smarter and accomplish more in less time. Follow the Japanese Zen teaching and turn to every activity with your full attention. You might think, „Just walk” or „Just listen” or „Just eat.” When you notice yourself getting your attention pulled elsewhere, just notice it and return to being fully present with the activity. Your brain might resist at first, because it’s less stimulating. But singletasking let us dive deeper, do a better job and find more meaning in it. We‘ll be more aware of the present moment, including our thoughts, feelings, and the world around us, which is absolutely satisfying.
7. Be kind, learn and share
Socializing is a big deal. Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships as everybody needs to laugh deeply, talk unguardedly and share real experiences (not virtual conversations). That‘s what makes us gather loving memories and be our true self. Travel, if you can, or get inspired by books, theatre plays, music or good conversations. It‘s the only way to not stand still but learn and become an open minded person. Be kind without expectations. Give compliments you really mean and listen to someone who needs it. Even the smallest act counts, whether it’s a smile or a kind word. It‘s a nicer way to live and it‘s contagious.
For more advices covering eating habits, energising the body, getting active, and improving your wellbeing in small, easy acheivable steps, we recommend the bestselling book „The New Health Rules“ by Dr. Frank Lipman and Danielle Claro.
We get unsolicited advices for a better life almost every day and self optimizing soon became a new habit for people who simply strive for health, happiness and longevity. But be aware! The majority of life hacks that keep spaming our instas don’t have any proven results at all. Our 7 simple rules for better eating, wellbeing, health, living and a peaceful mind are based on New Yorks health guru and bestselling author Dr. Frank Lipman, Japanese decluttering queen Marie Kondo, the famous minimalists Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, Japanese Zen teachings and the latest food pyramid from the Flamish Institute for Healthy Living. They are not just based on new scientific surveys but also very easy to adapt. Especially when you treat them more like little adjustments instead of set-in-stone rules.
1. Become a Minimalist
You might have already heard about bestselling author and lifestyle guru Marie Kondo or the two minimalists Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, who experienced significant improvements in their quality of life as a result of adopting and practicing the tenets of minimalism? They all believe that cluttering makes us unhappy and that we really don‘t need as much stuff as we gather. Kondo’s method of organizing based on Japanese values consists of bringing together all of our belongings and then keeping only those that „spark joy“. Start with your closet and ask yourself at every item if it still fits your body, your life and (no matter what it once has cost) „if it still speaks to you? Identify the things that make you happy!“ she says. Many pieces might seem great in theory but arn‘t actually your style? Donate them, they‘d may be better on someone else’s body or in someone else’s life. Go ahead with your bathroom, kitchen, shelfs and desk, throw away old cosmetics, get rid of paper and books you‘re not going to read (again). Organize your beloved belongings in boxes (and by color, if you like) and treat them with respect. Keeping your space tidy and counters clear (put most items out of sight!) will also clear your mind, make life easier and even prevent you from unnecessary purchases in the future.
2. Eat the Yolk and toss the Pasta
This might surprise you but after decades of egg-white-products it is now officially proven that the cholesterol in your food has no impact on the cholesterol level of your body. Instead sugar and carbs are to blame as they trigger the production of bad cholesterol. Egg yolks contain good fats and choline, which is essential for cells, especially the ones in your brain. So eat your eggs whole and try to avoid wheat products instead, wheather it‘s bread or pasta, as gluten can really make you sick and drain your energy, as most of us lack the enzyme that breaks it down properly. No matter if you are mildly or highly sensitive, your immune system fights it like a foreign substance. Besides that, bread and pasta don‘t make a lot of sense anyways, since it’s not nutritious. Consider a savoury breakfast with good fats like avocados, nuts and fish in the morning as bread and even grains with fruits contain a lot of gluten and sugar your body doesn‘t need. You will feel much lighter and full of energy.
3. Get your Hands dirty and your Eyes clear
We all spend too much time inside, wheather in the office, in the car or at home. Try to go out for at least 15 minutes a day and soak up the sun, no matter if the sky is cloudy. Your body needs vitamin D, that we only produce by exposure tosunlight. Plus the fresh air will do wonders for your mood and energy level. Besides that, our body needs microbes from outdoors to keep our immune system going. Go dig in the garden, or play with your kids in the sand–nothing is more earthy than getting your hands dirty outside. Leave your phone at home and think about a screen detox for a whole day from time to time. Our eyes and mind need to recover from electronic devices and the information overload–you will find clarity and peace instead. It‘s also the simple secret for a good night‘s sleep: no screen an hour prior to bedtime!
4. Do the Workout your Body is made for
One key to make exercise a habit is to do something you enjoy–no big news, right? But not only our bodies are not built to run for hours, for many people this kind of workout seems pretty exhausting and like a waste of time–and it is. Elevate your metabolism with intervals instead: Short bursts of intense exertion interspersed with periods of leisurely movement, no matter if you run, swim, cycle or anything alike. The intensity effectively resets your metabolism to a slightly higher rate during your workout, and it takes hours for it to slow down again. That equates to a continued calorie burn long after your training is done. Whenever possible walk or run outside, as the little bumps of an unpaved ground not only activate and strengthen every muscle and fascia but challenge your balance and coordination as well. Another important thing is weight lifting if you like to keep your bones and muscles healthy and working. Don’t be afraid to look like a body builder, that would just happen if you intend to do so and invest all your time.
5. Remember what you put on your Body goes in your Body–and the Environment
Lotion, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, makeup laundry detergent–it‘s not just what you swallow that affects your well-being but anything applied to your skin, even the residue of dish soap on your clean plate ends up in your body. So why not be as picky and strickt with your hygienic and cleansing routine as with your food? Check the labels of your beauty products and cleansers and scan ingredient lists for chemicals, sulfates and parabens as all these substances can be toxic, affect your immune system and/or cause diseases. You don‘t have to throw everything away immediately–please consider the environmental pollution as well–but to be safer at home, step away from toxic stuff and replace one by one with a nonchemical alternative when empty. Start with trying citrus and vinegar for cleaning and save a lot of money.
6. Quit Multitasking
Walking around while talking on the phone? Reading an article while (pretend to) listening to another person? Eating in front of the tv? The more we think we manage to multitask and therefore be more productive and save time, the less we really do–literally. Research suggests that when we are multitasking, we are actually just switching our attention between two or more tasks super quickly, merely creating the illusion that our attention acts simultaneously. The truth is, multitasking is more wasteful than timesaving. Doing one thing at a time instead helps us distress, work smarter and accomplish more in less time. Follow the Japanese Zen teaching and turn to every activity with your full attention. You might think, „Just walk” or „Just listen” or „Just eat.” When you notice yourself getting your attention pulled elsewhere, just notice it and return to being fully present with the activity. Your brain might resist at first, because it’s less stimulating. But singletasking let us dive deeper, do a better job and find more meaning in it. We‘ll be more aware of the present moment, including our thoughts, feelings, and the world around us, which is absolutely satisfying.
7. Be kind, learn and share
Socializing is a big deal. Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships as everybody needs to laugh deeply, talk unguardedly and share real experiences (not virtual conversations). That‘s what makes us gather loving memories and be our true self. Travel, if you can, or get inspired by books, theatre plays, music or good conversations. It‘s the only way to not stand still but learn and become an open minded person. Be kind without expectations. Give compliments you really mean and listen to someone who needs it. Even the smallest act counts, whether it’s a smile or a kind word. It‘s a nicer way to live and it‘s contagious.
For more advices covering eating habits, energising the body, getting active, and improving your wellbeing in small, easy acheivable steps, we recommend the bestselling book „The New Health Rules“ by Dr. Frank Lipman and Danielle Claro.