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10 Daily Habits That Keep Me Healthy

July 19, 2012 by Ericka

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*Thanks to Ingo for capturing some great images at the wedding. Check out his work here!

1. Routine & Sleep

Most every day, I get up around 5am and go to bed around 10pm. My  body gets used to the routine and sleeps more soundly that way. I think it helps me keep balanced. Try it ๐Ÿ™‚

2. Drinking Water

The first thing I when I get up every morning is chug a glass of water. My body hasn’t had water for 8 hours, it needs that life-giving stuff. Make it icy if you want it to help you wake up! After my work out — depending on how much I sweat — I usually chug another 2 glasses and then chug one more before I leave for work. When I arrive at work, I have another. Then, I always have water at my desk throughout the day and drink it consistently. I believe drinking enough water keeps me energized, full and contributes to my health significantly each day.

3. Vitamins

Depending on what I’ve purchased, I usually take a multi-vitamin, Vitamin D and fish oil. Sometimes, I even drink shots of wheatgrass! See video below! All three are great for your body and even though I don’t the specific results I’m getting, I feel good about the fact that I’m taking care of my body with these supplements.

4. Veggies

I have to make a concerted effort every day to get my veggies. Everything I’ve ever read — everything YOU’VE ever read — basically says that green veggies are the shit and you should eat as many of them as possible. Aye, aye sir! It’s not that easy but I really believe it’s important. Lately, I’ve been using my juicer like it’s my job. What do I put in my morning power juices?

  • Broccoli (I buy fresh with large stems because the stems have the most juice)
  • Kale (finding the chunky stem pieces, see above)
  • Spinach (takes a lot to make a little juice but worth it)
  • Carrots (a handful of baby carrots from my salad bag)
  • Cucumber (medium-sized cuke creates the base for the rest)
  • Apple or Pear (optional depending how low-calorie or sweet you want to go)

This makes about 18oz of juice with ice and I drink it while I’m getting ready for work in the morning. It’s not uber tasty but it’s not gross either and I leave for work knowing I’ve just started my day with a power-packed glass of nutrients. Plus, I seriously do NOT need coffee after drinking. How rad is that? I also drink a mini low-sodium V-8 every day and usually a kale/spinach salad during the day at some point.


5. Fruit

I used to go overboard on fruit — eating it to make up for the veggies I wasn’t getting but man I was getting too much sugar. These days, I try to eat 3 fruits per day — which is easy for me. I usually eat a banana in the morning, an apple at lunch a more fun fruit like raspberries, strawberries or mangos as a snack. Trying new fruits is a fun way to meet this goal as well. Sometimes I substitute a 100% juice drink for one of the fruits but I’ve heard that eating the fruit itself is the best option.

Try a new kind of fruit — star fruit anyone? Source here.
6. Exercise 

Duh — but really, let’s talk about it. If you read this blog, you know what I’m into — running and Crossfit. Excercise is no longer just a habit to me — it’s truly a lifestyle. I don’t question whether I will do it or not — I just do and I know my life is that much better for it. I’ve learned over the years that it doesn’t have to be 2 hours of cardio. It can be 20 minutes of something hardcore — but getting your heart rate up and sweating is essential — for your heart (literally and figuratively) and mind.

Run with friends — it helps ๐Ÿ™‚
 7. Reading

I love to read and get a huge amount of it done on my way to and from work each day. I have about a 45-minute commute on the metro and basically read from door to door. I escape into my own world and tune everyone else out. It’s great “me” time and usually I read something that adds to my life in some way. I feel bad for folks who have to drive because you can’t read while you are doing. The metro is certainly not my favorite place but my books transport me somewhere else ๐Ÿ™‚

A few favs on the bookshelf at home
8. Relaxation

The great thing about working out before work is the relaxation you get after work. I get home around 6:30 and the ride wears me out. The first thing I want to do is flop on the couch and chill. Usually, that’s just what I do. I take off my work clothes, slip on some sweats and a t-shirt and clear my mind of the day. It’s easier for me to do this than some  but mastering the art is definitely one way to keep your mind healthy so you can focus on other parts of your life.

9. Real Dinner

For years of my life, I never had real dinner. As a kid, we never ate as a family and I just had things like Cheerios, mac and cheese, fish sticks and the like.As I moved on to college and life after as a single girl, afternoon binges became “dinner” or I’d end up eating a sleeve of crackers and a bowl of ice cream — never feeling satisfied or healthy and always out of control. When I began cooking more and eating dinner with my boyfriend regularly, dinner changed. There was an actual meal to look forward to. I could consider including healthy vegetables and balanced portions. And guess what? It was more delicious when I was actually hungry! It began to help me get through the day without succumbing to even a mini-binge and helped me begin appreciating food more. If you have trouble with meals, talk to me ๐Ÿ™‚


I made these for dinner last night and all day I looked forward to it!

10.Getting Spiritual

I always try and make time to check in with God during my day. I need to do this so much more. But, my relationship with God keeps me grounded (even though some people may not see it when I’m upset about something!) The truth is, He’s the one thing in my whole life that has never let me down or lead me astray. Whatever your religion or faith, I’d encourage you to make it part of your daily habits. Puts things in perspective and reminds you that everything’s gonna be all right.

QUESTION: What habits keep you healthy every day?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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    August 5, 2012 at 8:42 am

    Breathing. No, not just like breathe in and breathe out to stay alive, but practicing deep breathing techniques. They definitely help blood flow which is great for sleepy times or when I'm stretching to get blood to muscles. But it's also good in times of stress and mental exhaustion.

  2. The Get In Shape Gir says

    August 5, 2012 at 1:42 pm

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Welcome! I'm Ericka: Writer, podcaster, wife, mother, runner and Enneagram 4! I write about faith + politics + addiction + church planting. I wrote a book once too -- see below!

Leaving Cloud 9: The True Story of a Life Resurrected From the Ashes of Poverty, Trauma & Mental Illness

My Podcast: Worth Your Time

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