3 F’s For A Healthy, Well-balanced Life

Food, Family and Finances. When listed in this manner, they are just words. Let me explain why family, food and finances are so important for a healthy, well-balanced life.

1. Family For A Healthy, Well-balanced Life

Quite simply put, we are nothing without someone to love. Have you ever seen the movie “Into The Wild?” “Happiness is only real when shared.”

He goes on this epic journey to find himself only to discover that he did it all alone and will die alone (hope I didn’t spoil it for you). 

Whether you love or hate your family, they have an impact on your life. Much of your emotional energy is being used up by family matters.

So please, take into consideration if they are your punching bag and deserve better.

Sometimes people treat their family like a nuisance or blame them for problems in their life. Consider if this behavior is emotional baggage weighing you down.

You can not control other people’s actions, only your own. That being said, don’t forget to enjoy your family despite how much they may drive you crazy. Especially if they love you unconditionally.

They will be gone one day and regret is a painful emotion. Take a step back and ask someone that you know how they have patience and enjoyment for their family. Take their advice and try to see your family from a new, more positive lense.

It may help to imagine a family member you want to treat better, such as your mother, as a friend you respect. My guess is you are more patient with them than your mother. Keep in mind how you behave with this friend. Try your best to practice showing your mother this side of yourself. 

On the flip side, maybe you give too much of your time to your family? Could you benefit from more time taking care of yourself? Sometimes depending on your culture and/or birth order it’s not uncommon to take on all of the family burdens.

You are one person. Taking care of yourself is taking care of your family. You are not able to help them if your mental or physical health decline. You won’t do your family any good if you run yourself ragged or become resentful of them.

Take time for self-care. If they ask too much of you, patiently explain this and try to be as a judgment-free as possible.

Express how it is making you feel and if it is negatively affecting you in any way such as leaving little time for you to relax or try new things.

The response may not be what you want, but most often people don’t respond ideally when they feel uncomfortable.

 If they love you, patiently wait and they will have heard what you said. You can accentuate your love for them and their importance in your explanation while staying committed to breaking the news that you need more “me time.” 

Set Boundaries

If your family is too invasive of your privacy, use direct language such as, “I don’t feel comfortable disclosing how much debt I am in.” Say exactly what you mean, especially if a family member makes you feel judged.

Finally, don’t tell them everything. If you often feel judged, angry or sad after revealing things about yourself to your family that isn’t all pleasant, then don’t. Why punish yourself time and time again?

Setting boundaries with family can be vital for your self-care and stress level. It doesn’t help them or you if you disclose things they don’t agree with. By only sharing what’s necessary, you leave more time for being present with others and more time to be there for them. 

2. Finances For A Healthy, Well-balanced Life 

Let’s face it unless you want to go “off the grid,” you need money to live your life. Some feel they need more than others. If you keep buying possessions, convincing yourself it will make your life better, good luck. As stated above “happiness is only real when shared.”

The latest iPhone won’t keep you warm at night. As I’ve discussed in—-add your finance post——stay within your means and try not to fool yourself into thinking buying things will solve your problems. Sometimes it makes them much worse.

The better you set yourself up financially today, the better off you’ll be in the future when you’ve aged and working isn’t an option.

Life is unpredictable. Preparing now alleviates the stress you may feel due to putting off any preparation for securing your financial future. Starting now can help “soften the blow” if there are any financial hardships such as job loss, personal life changes or medical issues.

According to a survey done by the investment app Acorns, about half of millennials surveyed (out of 1,020) felt like they were “treading water” financially and would experience trouble if they missed a paycheck. 

Create A Budget

Creating a budget is a critical step to getting your finances in order.

You can’t just hope that you’ll suddenly acquire the desire to spend less. You need to see what you’re spending on essentials and what is discretionary spending or “wants” instead of “needs.” 

Create a spreadsheet. (I recommend google sheets where you can share it with someone if you need to. 

Write down all your fixed monthly expenses such as your car payment, mortgage, phone bill, etc.

Next, write down your other “non-fixed” expenses such as meals out, entertainment, clothing, and other discretionary purchases.

Writing it down and seeing it helps you to understand where your money is going—and where you can cut back. Once you’ve made a budget, you have to stick to it. 

Every time you buy something, write down the amount and what you bought. Compare your actual spending to your budget to see where you’re getting off track. Check out this yearly budget calculator.  It’s a lifesaver because all the work is done for you. All you have to do is add your expenses and delete any irrelevant categories.

Only Spend Money You Have

 As I’ve previously stated in this blog, make a lifestyle out of only spending money that you have. Use cash or debit cards.

Ideally, use credit cards for all purchases so you can be rewarded with cashback. However, if the temptation is too strong to overspend, only use cash or a debit card. I can’t stress this enough, If you don’t have the cash don’t buy it!  

Student Loan Debt

Pay down your student loan debt. If you took out loans to cover school tuition and costs, you’re certainly not alone. At this point, student loans are a trillion-dollar industry! It’s a common issue that is becoming a unifying financial force for millennials: a common question is “how much do you have left to pay off your student loans?”

The thought of taking your money and throwing most of it at something intangible can be hard for people to commit to, but it’s an important commitment to make. Future old man or old woman you will thank you when your money is yours to keep (let’s hope that’s before old age).

3. Food For A Healthy, Well-balanced Life 

When what we eat and how much we eat is out of balance we are compromised as an optimally functioning person.

Our brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That “fuel” comes from the foods you eat. What you eat directly affects the function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood.

The food we eat can lower depression, increase productivity, eliminate some symptoms of ADHD and so much more.

Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars (cereal, pastries, soda, etc) and impaired brain function — and even a worsening of symptoms of mood disorders, such as depression.

Unhealthy Eating Habits

Here’s how some unhealthy eating habits can alter your mood and emotional well-being:

1. Skipping meals can lead to low blood sugar. This will likely leave you feeling weak, tired and even cranky.
2. Cutting out entire food groups. If you reduce the variety of foods in your diet, it can be more difficult to get all the essential nutrients you need. For instance, low levels of zinc, iron, B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids are associated with a negative mood and decreased energy.
3. Eating too many refined carbohydrates. High intakes of unhealthy, processed carbohydrates, such as white bread and pastries, cause blood sugars to rise and fall rapidly. This can lead to low energy and irritability.

Healthy Eating Habits

Here are some positive changes you can make to your diet to improve your mental health:

1. Stay structured with your eating, eating three main meals and 1-2 healthy snacks a day
2. Choose less refined sugars and eat more whole foods. Some studies indicate a link between a high consumption of sugar with a higher prevalence of ADHD diagnosis.
3. Include protein at each meal
4. Include omega-3 rich foods, like oily fish or walnuts, in your diet
5. Buy food from the perimeter of the grocery store where fresh, whole foods are kept helps to avoid processed foods.
6. Drink plenty of water to keep your skin healthy, clean out toxins and so much more.
7. Exercise regularly by doing activities such as walking, yoga or running.

More Traditional Or “Clean Eating” Diets

More traditional or “clean eating” diets have positive mental health benefits which may include: 

• Healthy fats like the ones found in fish and extra virgin olive oil. These fats are important for our blood vessels and our brain and may have an important anti-inflammatory effect that helps to prevent depression. 
• An increase in omega-3s in your diet can help lead to increased serotonin (serotonin has been called the body’s natural “feel-good” chemical) production and therefore an improvement in your mood. A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry about omega-3 fatty acids is especially interesting.
• Eat whole grains such as rice and pasta, fermented foods such as sauerkraut or kimchi and adding yogurt to your diet. These fiber-rich foods or fermented foods can promote the growth of good gut bacteria. This may have a positive effect on mental health. 
• Fruit and vegetables. These contain a wealth of important nutrients including antioxidants that help to prevent cell damage and fiber to keep you “going” (if you know what I mean by “going”). A diet high in fruits and vegetables could also prevent cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Have you ever been constipated? Not good for your mood!
• Nuts, seeds, and legumes. These are good sources of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and fiber. This category of food tends to help your mood because your body digests them slowly, which stabilizes blood sugar levels.

Good nutrition is as important to mental health as it is to physical health because one affects the other.

You are less likely to eat three cheeseburgers and then go for a jog, aren’t you?

While fast food or processed food tends to be cheaper than eating healthy foods, you will end up paying for that choice with your health down the road. Make the choice to commit to healthy food for your main meals at least twice a day. 

Food, Family, and Finances

We need them to survive, we need them to thrive. We need them to feel complete.

Check-in with yourself to see if any of these areas are causing you stress. If so, there’s always a solution if you open up your mind, and in the case of family, your heart to see what improvements you can make to less stress every day.

Be honest with yourself and consider which areas need improvement. Seek it out and be patient with yourself, because you deserve it. 

Photo by Hemanth Nirujogi from Pexels