When I was 12 years old, I asked my mother for a gym membership for Christmas. She got me one, and that gift changed my life. It was the start of a lifetime of love of fitness. But because I’m not that smart, I did not start other healthy habits until much later in life. I wish I could go back in time and talk to little Alpha. Here are some healthy habits that I wish I had started sooner.
START NOW! Nourish your mind and body by …
- Not smoking weed – I only smoked weed occasionally, but it was weekly. I felt paranoid, got lazy, and ate a lot when I smoked. I gained weight.
- Not drinking alcohol in excess — I used alcohol as a crutch. I’ve openly discussed how I slept with people and blacked out because of alcohol as I was trying to deal with inner demons. I quit chewing tobacco, and that actually helped me stop drinking.
- Investing as early as possible – I thought I needed a ton of money to invest, and investing also scared me. Unfortunately, I didn’t start as soon as I should have, and I waited. The good news for you is a lot of options for investing are available due to the internet.
- Protecting yourself – I’ve had my identity stolen, and bank accounts hacked a few times. Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. I signed up with LifeLock initially but recently switched to Aura, which has everything under one roof. An easy-to-use app provides identity theft protection, fraud monitoring, a VPN, password management, and antivirus software. Try Aura 14 days for FREE. Free trial for new members only. See site for details and source for stats; competitor comparisons are based on my personal experience. Results may vary.
- Removing toxic people – It’s embarrassing to admit that I have allowed myself to be treated poorly. This treatment has caused my self-esteem and ego to be damaged. I took control, went to therapy, and identified friends that weren’t worth my time or energy. It’s okay to lose or outgrow people.
- Standing up for yourself – I have had abusive stepfathers who emotionally beat me down. I lost my ability to stand up for myself. It wasn’t until my 30s that I learned to say ‘no’ and stand up for myself. I had allowed people to take advantage of me and walk all over me for most of my life. I was too worried about being light or upsetting people. I finally learned the habit of saying ‘no.’ That’s when everything in my life got better.
- Taking more risks – I had to learn to not be scared to fail. Whether in relationships or businesses, I was afraid to fail. I was scared of what people would say if I told them I was trying, and then it didn’t work out. Once I failed, I was devastated, but it allowed me to go after things I had never dreamed possible.
- Forgiving people – letting go of people that hurt you will allow feelings of anger and resentment to not consume you. Forgive people for being human. Frequently, we’re collateral damage and other people’s lives. True happiness and growth come when you decide that you’re going to put yourself first and do whatever it takes to be happy. Forgiving people is part of this. Also, stop blaming people for where you are in life. If you want to get somewhere, you have to make it happen and do the work.
