My healthiest year ever.

This post won’t be about food. (Well, a little maybe, but I put that down to occupational hazard.)

Instead this post is about personal development.

About improvement.

About growth.

And how I plan to continue improving my own health.

As this weekend means that I’m moving away from my twenties and into the much more respected thirties (right?!), I feel that there needs to be something extra done to celebrate this wonderful occasion.

Something for me. That will help me (and perhaps even inspire you a little too?)

I’ve decided that my next year of life is going to be my healthiest year ever. So far, at least.

I can hear you thinking “but wait, if she’s a nutrition coach and self confessed health nut, what can she still improve?”

Believe me – there’s tons that can be done better or differently to fit me and my life even better. There always is, no matter how much you work and try to improve your health.

So, how will achieve a healthier life and a healthier me?

I’ve identified 10 points at I could  (significantly, in some cases) improve in my life that will all contribute toward a better and healthier life.

Naturally, there are many more points, but 10 are just about what I can handle in one go.

#1 Work

I’ll start off with a biggie: work. I can think of more than one occasion lately where I’ve said “yes” to something but meant “no”.

This doesn’t really help anyone, as I won’t do a good job if I’m not passionate about it, and I’m only spreading myself thin.

I promise myself to have the courage to say “no” more often. I also promise myself to be more courageous in my professional life. 

#2 Appreciation 

I want to be proud of the things I do. I want to appreciate myself and what I do for me. But I also want to appreciate others more, and what they do.

I’ll try to appreciate myself and others more often. 

#3 Relationships

If I could count the amount of times I’ve spent time with someone I know I don’t particularly enjoy hanging out with, or with a person that only steals my energy, I’d need many more fingers and toes.

For my health, I will surround myself with people that I like spending time with. 

#4 Exercise

I can be horribly lazy. This is although I know that exercise is about the best thing I can do for me (see #2).

Even if it’s “just” a 30 minute walk, I promise myself to do some form of exercise every day.

#5 Meditation

For those of you who know me, it might not seem like I do any type of relaxation exercises. (For those of you who don’t, let’s just say patience isn’t really my thing…)

But I do. Just not often enough. I will start practising meditation regularly, as this can have an effect in many areas of life and health. It also helps you focus on the present.

#6 Happiness

All points on this list will naturally increase my own happiness. After all, they are my points of improvement, and most improvements makes a person happy.

More specifically, living in a city like Zürich, it’s increasingly difficult to remember to smile. Most people walk around looking like they’ve just left the lemon factory.

I promise to smile at at least one stranger a day, spreading happiness whenever I can.

#7 Diabetes

Those of you who know me (or those of you who’ve read my “About” page), know that I’ve had Type 1 Diabetes since the age of 2.

Living with a chronic condition is very rarely a dance on roses (apart from the thorns, they feel pretty real), and the only thing you can really do is to hang on for dear life and make the best of the ride and situation.

I’m changing my treatment next month, and hoping for more stable results through that. This will, of course, initially mean more pokes and thorns, but in the end it will be worth it.

#8 Nutrition

As I said, even a nutrition coach can always improve her nutrition!

I promise to pay more attention to organic produce; it’s something I can no longer ignore. I will also start buying grass fed (and finished) beef instead of the supermarket variety, which is almost always form questionable origin.

#9 Alcohol

I will not burden my body extra with unnecessary alcohol. 

#10 Challenge myself

All these points culminate in this last one.

Without a challenge, we can’t grow. If we don’t grow, we can’t improve.

I will (almost automatically) challenge myself on a daily basis, doing one thing that scares me every day.

If it’s written on my blog it’s basically set in stone, isn’t it?!

My heart is now poured out on my webpage, and I really can’t wait to see what this new year of life has in store for me.

Now I’d love, love, love to hear from you!

Do you have any areas in life that you know you could improve? Please let me know in the comments below.

Thank you so much for reading, and as promised (almost) no food talk! 🙂

Hanna