I’ve spent the last 2 weeks traveling through Colombia like a proper backpacker. And as a result of travel, dietary practices, and lack of sleep, I haven’t felt a 100%.
But on an average day I feel great. I’ve compiled a list of things, that when done everyday, have made me feel at my absolute peak.
1. Eat blueberries
Blueberries have been shown to increase motor skills. They also pack an antioxidant punch greater than any other known fruit or vegetable. I can tell a difference instantly in the way I feel when I eat blueberries.
2. Take fish oil caps
I introduced fish oil to several of my friends and the results were hilarious. On two separate occasions, they came home from work and were like, “Dude, after I ate the fish oil caps I felt…happy!”
Read this article on the almost limitless benefits of fish oil.
3. Take a nap
Short 15-20 naps increase overall alertness and increase productivity. Also, In a six-year study of Greek adults, researchers found that that men who took naps at least three times a week had a 37 percent lower risk of heart-related death.
I find them to be extremely useful when under any sort of pressure. Napoleon is famous for doing this as well.
4. If you drink coffee, only drink about 16 OZ. throughout the day.
More than a cup or two a day makes me feel really good, then really awful. Try drinking tea in place of coffee if you need something hot.
I wrote about boosting energy levels with caffeine naps if you’re interested.
5. Don’t eat starches and sugar
They’ll just make you crash. i know how hard it is to eliminate these things from your diet but I have found a simple solution. I can control cravings by literally eating as much as I want besides starches and sugar. If you have to snack on beef jerky all day to keep your cravings at bay do it. Also, eating healthy fats, like raw mixed nuts, will help satiate your hunger.
Fat does not make you fat. Sugar makes you fat.
6. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise
The benefits of exercise can’t be overstated. Get your heart beating for 30 minutes everyday. You may not feel that great while doing it, but you’ll feel amazing after the fact. Exercise is stimulating for your mind. I often have my best ideas while working out.
7. Do some soft tissue work
Get 5 minutes of soft tissue work using a tennis ball or foam roller. Doing this helped me cure some lower back problems that had been ailing me.
Read a great article on the subject here.
8. Listen to music you like
Your mental state can be altered by listening to music that either soothes or energizes you. Athletes listen to pump-up music before playing. Closing your eyes and listening to soft music can be very relaxing.
I’ve found listening to appropriate music before and during work tasks to be extremely helpful.
Schedule doing all of these things otherwise you wont. Then, when you complete them, check it off a list. There’s something very satisfying about crossing off an accomplishment.
Warning: doing these things feels so good that it becomes an addiction. So when you go without doing them for awhile you might feel a bit crap – like I do now. Of course, overtime, I’d get used to living without and that would become my new reality. But, I feel like superman when I do this so it’s hard to stop.
Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.
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In a future article I’ll write some tips and tricks for feeling great while traveling.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post Derek
Love the ‘fat doesn’t make you fat sugar does’ call.
Its amazing how many products have sugar in them. You have to read everything
Thanks for this article. The last time I traveled I made no attempt to stay on top of my health or fitness, and it became pretty obvious…and slowed me down a lot. This summer, I’m traveling again and working on ways to actually be *gasp* fit and healthy in order to keep my mind (and body) sharp. I like hearing from you long-termers and your efforts to stay active.
Great post Derek! Just what I needed right about now… .
your blog is all too quickly turning into a health blog and less about your travels. too many self-improvement posts on exercise, food, and health tips. Good niche maybe, but I’m bored, Derek. I’ve moved on to Clay’s. Come back and rock more.
Who said it was a travel blog?
It clearly states:
“Self-Improvement Lies Beyond Comfort-Zones”
Self-Improvement includes health,lifestyle,social interactions, well everything that makes you a better person.
Really enjoyed your post Derek, I will definately try some of these tips. I have been doing likewise the last few months but trying out some different things (Waking up early, getting a morning routine, Slow carb-high protein-diets, 80/20 working out according to Tim Ferriss scheme, etc.)
Keep it up!
Brian – I understand where you’re coming from. This isn’t really a travel blog though. This blog is about my experiments in testing my motto, ‘Live Uncomfortably.’
That being said, travel is a part of my self-improvement journey and my lifestyle so there will always be travel stuff on Live Uncomfortably.
But I will have posts like this often. I write about what I’m interested in at the moment.
If you just want travel specific articles, I’ll be doing that for Vagabondish.com. You can check it out over there.
- Derek
Great tips, apart from number 2. Eat vegan omega 3 instead! I particularly agree with eating blueberries and not eating starches and sugar. Once I went several weeks without eating any sugar at all, I felt terrific.