How to Do What Is Good for You by Doing What You Love
It is past time we address one of the most harmful false dichotomies there is: what’s good for us vs. what we love. There is no reason to pit one against the other. It is almost never an either/or choice. You can do either. But you can also do both. It is just a matter of what it is you happen to love. Even so, there is an excellent chance that you can find many things you love that also happen to be the best thing for you. That is what we call a win-win.
The first thing you need to do is give an honest assessment of the things that you love to do and see if there is anything inherently toxic in that activity. How do you spend your spare time? Are you improving yourself in your spare time or harming yourself? It is good to take a break throughout your work day. But taking a smoke break not only cancels out the benefit of resting, it actively creates harm so that you cannot be your best self longterm.
Once you assess the things you love to do, you will find a few things on the toxic list. That doesn’t mean you have to stop them altogether. It could be that a simple modification would be enough. Let’s consider a few things that you know are good for you, then pair them with things you already enjoy doing. That exercise will look something like the following:
Healthier Eating
Almost everyone loves to eat. And if you are one of those people, you are already halfway to healthy eating. It is the other half of the equation that gives people trouble. Thanks to advances in vitamins like mens vitamins, the healthy part is easier than ever. One of the biggest challenges to healthy eating is schedule. If you find yourself rushing out of the door to get to work on time, you are likely going to make some questionable breakfast choices. The same thing happens after work. You can help cancel out the ill effects of less than ideal food choices by adding supplements back into your system.
If you are the kind of person who hates taking pills but loves chewables such as gummies, there is good news. You can get vitamins and supplements in the form of delicious gummies. They eat like decadent treats but act like health-boosting agents of positive change. Supplements are not substitutes for smarter eating. But they can greatly help with giving you the nutrients you need even when your food choices are not so accommodating.
Healthier Movement
One of the least expensive ways to increase your healthy movement is to get a basketball and play like you were 12. The health benefits of exercise are undeniable. So why is it so difficult for people to do it even after making personal resolutions to themselves and buying expensive gym memberships?
The simple fact is that for most people, exercise is not fun. Stop resolving to exercise and start resolving to have more active fun. Don’t get a rowing machine. Get a canoe. Don’t get a treadmill. Get a nice pair of running shoes. If basketball is not your speed, get a frisbee. Almost any type of outdoor fun will do you as much good as targeted exercise. The key is not to do push ups or lift weights. It is to have sustained movement and properly increased heart rate. Stop exercising and start having active fun. The result will be more healthy movement and the health benefits that come along for the ride.
Healthier Brain
You have probably heard that books are good for the brain and TV is bad. Throw that out of the window. If you would rather watch TV than read, just be sure your TV diet has supplements for your brain. Shows like MythBusters are undeniably entertaining. But they are also sneakily educational. Dora’s explorations can also teach your kids real things about the world. Your TV diet doesn’t need to only consist of public television. But by adding entertainment that also enlightens, you will keep your brain healthy by doing something you also happen to enjoy.
At the end of the day, the goal is to do the things that are good for you. Just remember that you can also do what you love while achieving healthier eating, healthier movement, and healthier thinking.