“Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change.” – Jim Rohn

January, the month of resolutions and new beginnings, is quickly passing. What is it you want to accomplish with your health this year?

It’s easy to think that we need to go all out to change our health for the better. Making lofty, unachievable goals, can put a quick ending to any thoughts of improvement. If you have intentions of improving your health this year, simple, small steps will help you accomplish them.

By age 60 we see the big picture. Sure, it would be nice to be a size 6 or 8, but is that the most important thing we can do? At this age, we’re wise enough to know that health is far more important than the size of our clothes.

We see friends around us falling ill, and it changes our perspective. It’s not the perfect bikini body we strive for – it’s the healthy body; if it also looks good, so much the better. The question is: how do we get there?

Here are 5 simple healthy hacks to keep you going strong:

Love Your Body

Make a conscious statement every day about your body. Stop criticizing it. It’s the only home you will ever live in. When you appreciate it, you will put good food in it.

Eat Breakfast

Did you know this is the meal centenarians value the most? People in the Blue Zones – i.e., populations with the longest lives – wouldn’t think of starting the day without breakfast.

Stop Night Eating

Your body’s digestive system does much more than digest food. It has immune receptors and it generates serotonin, the happy hormone.

If you give your body 12 hours between your last meal and the next day’s breakfast, your digestive system can rest and regenerate all its functions. It’s also a proven way to prevent obesity. Refer back to my post on the circadian rhythm’s role in weight management.

Eat More Vegetables

We all know that vegetables are good for us. Include all the colors, and eat the ones you like. Don’t eat vegetables you don’t like. There are enough choices in all the colors for you to find the ones you enjoy. I often include vegetables with my breakfast so I get a good start in my daily vegetable count.

Drink More Water

Many women are afraid to drink more water for fear of needing to get up through the night. When you gradually add water with the goal of getting 7-8 glasses a day, your body’s cells will absorb more water; it will not go to your bladder.

So there you have it. When you make these hacks part of your life, everything changes for the better.

It’s Flu Season

Winter can be a tough time for colds and flu. It’s especially important at this time of year so follow the 5 hacks and do a few other things:

• Avoid large crowds. I love going to the movies in the winter, but I’m choosing theaters that have low attendance instead of the large multi-cinema showcases.
• Get enough rest and stay home if you’re not feeling well.
• Eat medicinal foods. Check out my Wellness and You post for more information.
• Have some homeopathic remedies at home.
• Manage your stress. Have you noticed you are more vulnerable when you are all stressed out?
• Have fun and filter out the negative noise. Laughter is truly the best medicine.
• If you have to fly, check out my post for limiting exposure to bacteria.

What do you do to stay happy and have fun? Do you have a circle of friends? A loving spouse or companion? Do you spend time outdoors or have a hobby? Are you studying or working on something you love? Please join the conversation below!