Healthy Harmony

By Liz McGehee

To achieve mind-body-soul balance, nurture your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs in the following ways: 

1. Maintain a grateful attitude.

Creating and sustaining a positive, appreciative attitude will make or break your day.  When you wake up in the morning, before your feet even hit the floor, try to think of 3 things you’re thankful for and really mean it.  Over time, having a grateful attitude will improve your life in visible ways. 

2. Fuel your passions.

Each of us has something we love to talk about or engage in.  When you participate in these activities, you feel more emotionally fulfilled and nurture your spirit.  From writers to racecar enthusiasts, many people have built fulfilling careers out of their passions simply by pursuing them with all their heart. 

3. Get enough sleep each night. 

I don’t need to sight the countless studies documenting the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation.  You can feel the difference between a good night’s rest and a night of tossing and turning.  Sleeping the right amount helps us stay motivated, energized and keeps our moods balanced.  If you have trouble sleeping, try stress relievers such as meditation or exercise.

4. Engage in at least 20 minutes of moderate
exercise daily. 

Humans were meant to exercise, pure and simple.  Some of us have our physical limits, but there’s no reason why you can’t perform 20 minutes of exercise each day.  If you find yourself resistant to the gym, look for a group activity or something you genuinely enjoy so that you will stay accountable and engaged.  Working out doesn’t have to feel like work! Find what you love and make it a family affair. 

5. Add more plant-based food to your diet.

The caveman diet makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? 
Humans were never supposed to eat processed or refined foods, but sometimes we’re just too busy to hand-prepare every single meal.  An easy way to get back to basics, and improve your mental and physical health, is by subbing that cheeseburger for a salad at the drive-thru or grabbing a green, to-go smoothie.  Life is made up of small choices.  Start small and see where it leads. 

The USDA’s Supertracker website ( allows you to create personalized nutrition and physical activity plans.


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