Tired already of reading all the love declarations on Facebook? No worries—while this blog is written on Valentine’s Day, there will be no talk of romantic love to be found!
But I am going to talk about love.
Over the past few years, I’ve truly been on a freelance journey, trying a little bit of everything word-related. In the last few months, I’ve narrowed my focus, bringing me back to spending more of my time doing what I love most, work-wise—writing, editing, producing content related to health.
It makes sense. After all, I spent close to a decade overseeing magazines related to all things health, wellness, and fitness. Besides that, my mama was a pharmacist for nearly the entirety of my life so far, so health is a topic close to my heart.
So, the recent pivot to devote more of my working time to health content is kinda like coming home.
But today we aren’t going to talk about my love for my work. Nope, we’re going to talk about loving yourself and the role your health plays in that.
I’ve thought about this often lately, but the best thing we can do for ourselves—and for the people who love us—is to take care of our own health.
Are you showing your love by taking steps every day to live a healthy lifestyle? There’s no better time than today to begin!
Here are a few ways to show your heart and your health a little love:
- Move your body! Experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. Did you know that translates to just more than 20 minutes a day? Totally doable. Just find something you love and get to it!
- Make healthy food choices. This doesn’t mean you have to eat stuff that’s good for you all the time. You can truly eat anything you’d like—in moderation. But most of the time, fill your plate up with fruits and veggies, lean proteins (like chicken or fish), whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Try to cut out extra sodium and sugar when you can, but an occasional Cadbury egg or bag of Cheetos never hurt anyone!
- Don’t smoke. I never have understood the appeal of smoking, but it’s just plain bad for your health. It narrows the arteries and makes it more difficult for oxygen to move through the bloodstream. Same goes for e-cigarettes and “smokeless” tobacco. None of it’s good for you.
- Watch your alcohol intake. There’s nothing wrong with a glass of wine or cocktail, if it’s something you like. But the health benefits of alcohol consumption end after a glass—and it starts to be a detriment to your health. Experts recommend one serving a day for women and two for men, at max, with no more than seven per week for women. And you’d probably be surprised at what a serving contains, too. That big ol’ glass probably is about three servings!
- Make a conscious effort to limit stress. This tip has been a hard one to take to heart, and I’ve only recently done this for myself. But that constant feeling of overwhelm that we often experience these days—that’s not a good thing. It is possible to do work and life without feeling like you’re drowning. Too much stress puts you at a higher risk of a ton of medical conditions, and it’s also harmful to your mental health. So take back control by saying no sometimes, by cutting out things that don’t bring you joy, and by taking steps to manage your stress like exercising regularly or meditating.
What can you do today that your body and your health will thank you for tomorrow? That’s the best Valentine’s Day gift you could ever give yourself—and the people who love you!
Best bite
Each week, I’ll drop in a pic and description of my favorite sip or bite—and a recommendation, too!
This best bite is from a week or so ago, but it’s a good one. I’m not a huge fan of zucchini, but I LOVE Zucchini Stefano at Carrabba’s! It’s zucchini sautéed with tomatoes and garlic, and it’s truly delicious.
Favorite Reads
This year for the first time, I’m keeping a running list of the books I read, because I’m curious how many I will read in a year’s time. I’m currently underway on book 10!
I just finished up Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris this morning. It was so good, and the time period of the Depression era was a little different than the World War II novels I’ve been reading lately.
Finished Karolina’s Twins by Ronald Balson on my trip to the Smokies yesterday. It was a good one that contained plenty of intrigue. Immediately started another book by the same author, The Girl From Berlin.
Auntie’s baby
Now surely, you didn’t think I’d create a blog without my baby love in it, right?!
Quote of the week
Wrapping things up
You are loved!
See you next week.
Grace Always Wins 