5 Things You Know You Need to Start Doing Today
Last week we talked about some of the things you need to stop doing in order to start developing well rounded personal strength and a better life. So now that you've started kicking your bad habits, what's next? We start developing good habits in their place. Here are a few to get you on the right track toward a stronger you.
1. Work Out
Physical strength isn't everything, but I can't think of scenario in which it's a bad thing. I spoke last week about not skipping your workouts. "But Rick, I don't even have workouts to skip! I have no idea how to get started!" Then your first step is to find out what kind of exercise you want to do. The best kind of exercise is the kind you do consistently. That being said, if you are looking for the most EFFICIENT exercise minute for minute, barbell-based strength training, ie "complex multi-joint movements" beats out everything else for overall functional strength and fat loss with the least time invested.
2. Eat the Right Foods
So you've committed to cutting out or at least significantly reducing your intake of junk food, fast food, and fake food in general. Alright, so now what DO you eat? The simple answer is "real food." You can do a simple Google search and find hundreds, if not thousands of articles, recipes, and sources for the million and one ways to "eat healthy." That is a subject for another day. For now, let me break it down for you into a few simple rules:
Eat real meat. Go to your grocery store and get real meat that actually comes from an animal. Your body needs the protein and healthy fats, especially if you're following #1 and exercising.
Eat real vegetables. Fresh or frozen, doesn't matter. Get more veggies on your plate and you will start feeling better.
Drink more water. The gospel truth of needing 8 cups of water a day has been repeatedly debunked, but that doesn't mean it's a bad place to start. Drink more water more often. After all, you've given up soda (right?), so you have to drink something.
3. Manage Your Finances
If you've ever sat down at the end of the month and wondered where all your money went or had to borrow "just a little to get by," then this one is for you. And even if not, it's rarely a bad thing to put more effort into managing your money. After all, strength isn't only about controlling your actions or how much you lift in the gym. It's about being dependable and stable. You can't maintain those qualities if you can't even pay your bills on time.
As with eating the right foods or exercising, there are thousands of resources out there that can help you do this. The point here is to stop putting it off until "next month" and do it NOW. Whether it's a budget spreadsheet, an app on your phone, or sitting down with a financial adviser, stop leaving your finances to chance and luck.
4. Decide What You Want in Life
Unless you're still in your primary education years, you should have some idea of what you want to do with your life. If you don't, it's time to start thinking about it. And I don't mean in vague terms like "I want to be rich someday." I mean really ask yourself what will make your life a fulfilling experience for you. Do you want children? Do you want to travel? Do you have the career you want? Are you going to be able to retire when you want to? Stop just existing day to day and determine what you actually WANT from your life. Then start taking active steps towards it. Don't wake up at the end of a life full of "I'll do it someday"s.
5. Let Go
Sometimes thing don't work out. I'm not talking about the cases where you make a half-attempt and just give up. I mean the times when you have reasonably done everything you possible can, and things just don't go your way. You don't hired at that company you wanted to work at. That person you had a crush on shot you down. Life is full of disappointments. It's one of life's most well known cliches, but it's true and bears repeating: Bad things happen. GET OVER IT. Every moment you spend in bed crying about it is a minute you're not out there getting after the next opportunity. And if you lay around feeling sorry for yourself long enough, someone else will get that next opportunity before you even find it. I'm not telling you not to get angry or grieve. Processing those feelings is healthy. Get angry. Be depressed. Grieve. Be hurt. But then LET GO and get onto the next opportunity. Weakness and strength are both choices. Make the right choice for yourself.