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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

It’s time for another Q which I’ll try to A.

This weeks question comes from Helen in Zürich, who is asking the following:

“Hey Hanna!

I have to admit that you have really awakened my curiosity about food with your posts. Thank you for that!

I’m an avid exerciser, I go to the gym, I run and swim. My question for you is: what about exercise? You write so much about food and health, but never about exercise. Is that not important to you too?”

First of all, thank you so much for your question, Helen!

As a short answer: OF COURSE exercise is important to me. Without a doubt, next to food it is one of those immediate mood lifters in life.

I exercise myself every day, or at least I try to. Mainly lower level stuff like long walks and mild weight training, using only my own weight. This is what feels best for me and my body. I have been a runner and for a period of time in my life, I frequented gyms like they were going out of fashion. But after a while it didn’t give me anything anymore. It became boring, predictable and instead of building my body up, I was breaking it down. So I stopped. Today, I’m much happier in my exercise routine. I love my walks, and frequently get lost in a new part of town or lose myself in a really great audiobook.

I am however no expert in the field. I know the basics, the heart rates and the impacts, but I can’t say I know everything exercise and working out. That’s why I don’t want to write and share too much about it – I simply know too little about it to do so.

What I can say is this; daily exercise is important. Very important. For our sedentary lifestyle, we need to move a lot more than we do. There is scientific proof that almost any (chronic) disease can be helped by the right amount and type of exercise. The body regenerates better, you sleep better, you get more energy.

What, of course, is even more important is the combination of the food you eat and your exercise. Remember that the body rebuilds its muscles with the help of the amino acids found in your protein, and that carbs only give you a momentary boost of energy. :)

I hope this answers your question, Helen. Do you have a question you’d like me to answer? Email me, or send it to me on Facebook.

Now I want to hear about your exercise routine. What do you do to get that heart rate up? What gives you the most joy? Have you changed exercise habits to make it fit your lifestyle better? Let us know in the comments below!