Lifestyle Goals for Healthy Living - Part 1 || Port Alberni Investment Advisor

As an investment advisor living and working in Port Alberni and the Alberni Valley, I need to ensure that I live a healthy lifestyle so that I have the energy to keep up with a busy home and work life and still find time to enjoy my hobbies and interests.  I would like to share with you in an upcoming series of blogs, my 10 Lifestyle Goals for Healthy Living.  I will talk about each individual step in a separate blog, so for today’s post, the number one goal is – Getting Adequate Rest Every Day.  It is important to our physical, emotional and mental well-being to get enough sleep every night.  For some people, sleep seems like a waste of time because there’s not enough time to do everything that needs to be done in a day.  Research has shown, however, that you are more likely to get more done, successfully, if you are well-rested.  Experts recommend that adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, but everyone is different and some people feel refreshed with less sleep.  You are the best judge of what you need most.  Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you are sleep deprived:

• Are you often tired?
• Do you drink caffeinated drinks to get through your day?
• Do wake up feeling tired?
• Do you get drowsy when you are driving or watching tv?

If you answered yes to the above questions, chances are you are not getting enough sleep at night.  Here are some suggestions for getting a good night’s rest:

• Try to set a regular bedtime.  Our bodies like consistency and we should schedule enough time for rest each day.
• Drink fewer caffeinated drinks, especially at night.
• De-stress yourself before you go to bed – take a relaxing bath, read a good book, meditate, or listen to relaxing music.
• Lock your worries in a mental safe at the end of the day and don’t think about them.  This isn’t always easy, but if you visualize this and practice, it becomes easier with time.
• Exercise, but don’t work out right before bed.  Try some gentle stretches to relieve muscle tension and help relax.
• Make your bed your sleep haven.  Don’t use your bed to do homework or office work, or pay bills or go on a laptop or watch tv. 
• If you can’t fall asleep right away, have a few books on hand to read until you can relax and become drowsy.

Below are some photos.  See if you can determine which photos depict scenes that are not conducive to relaxing and getting ready for sleep, and which photos portray great ways to relax your body, mind and spirit.

Photos by Stirling Images Photography