5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A BETTER YEAR

Happy new years! Can you believe it’s 2019? Josh and I visited my family today for a traditional Korean New Years lunch, dduk guk which is a rice cake soup that you eat on New Year’s for good luck. During lunch, we couldn’t help but laugh reflecting on our 2000 New Year experience and how people thought the world was going to end back then. Now it’s been 19 years! Anyways, I have a good feeling about 2019. One of the great things about getting older (I act like I’m that old haha), is that you discover and form habits to build a better and healthier lifestyle. Full disclosure, these recommendations might not work for everyone but they are my go-to’s for whenever I’m having a rough time and they ALWAYS work. So here are some of my favorite ways of living a better life that will hopefully help you have a stellar year!

5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A BETTER YEAR:

1. Eat less sugar: So I’ve heard of sugar elimination diets and I give major props to people who have done it because I cannot and I don’t expect any normal person to either. I mean, sugar is in everything including bread! Who can give up bread?! What I encourage instead is to eat LESS or natural sugars and to substitute your sugary go-to with a healthy alternative. For example, substitute your soda for carbonated water. Instead of processed candy, eat fresh fruit. Keep healthier snacks in your cupboards. Sugar is so bad for you and minimizing your sugar intake has so many health benefits and will even make you more energetic and productive.
2. Listen to podcasts: I started listening to podcasts during my commute and have been hooked. Now I listen to podcasts whenever I get a chance including when I’m getting ready or when I’m walking somewhere that’ll take me longer then 10-minutes. I love how podcasts give you short clips of knowledge in a digestible way and there are topics on literally everything. It doesn’t matter what your mood is, there’s a podcast for it. Some of my favorite podcasts include, How I Built This (shares stories and interviews of how successful start-ups started), The Influencer Podcast (a podcast that’ll teach you how to grow your blog organically) and Good Life Project (inspirational conversations with experts to help you live a fulfilling life).
3. Get a diffuser: I got this as a Christmas gift so have only been using it for 1-week but let me tell you, it is life-changing so far! I have this Ellia diffuser and have been using it every day. What I love about the diffuser is the variety of scented essential oils and how it has natural healing benefits. Did you know that certain essential oils can act as remedies for headaches, sinuses, and stress? I can go on and on about why I love diffusers but I highly recommend getting one, especially if you get stressed often or have trouble sleeping.
4. Meditate or pray regularly: I grew up Christian and built a habit of praying regularly. Meditation which is similar to praying is a great way to bring calmness into your life. Every night before I go to bed, I’ll pray and say 3 things I’m grateful for along with whatever else is on my mind. Praying or meditating, especially during rocky times has helped me cope with all types of situations. If you’re unsure how to start, here’s a great article on meditation.
5. Read empowering books: I love reading non-fiction books since it’s my way of getting leisurely education. I’m currently reading Becoming by Michelle Obama and am loving it so far. There’s nothing more empowering then reading an autobiography of someone wildly successful who is also relatable. I found that autobiographies are especially motivational since it gives you insight into how a modest person reached success. Some of my other favorite non-fiction books include The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Last Black Unicorn (Tiffany Haddish’s book which is so raw and hilarious).

I hope these recommendations help! Hope your 2019 is off to a great start!