The Jeffrey Previte 7-Point Plan to Life Improvement
Diet
Exercise
Reading & Journaling
Yoga, Stretching, Meditation, and Breathing
Spending Time with the Right People
Learn How To
Live Healthy Without Changing Your Busy Lifestyle
June 15, 2006 was one of the most important days of my life. It’s when I decided it was time to make a positive change and get sober. It’s also when my identity, renewed outlook on life, and self-help philosophy began to take form.
Eliminating alcohol brought about a variety of physical and mental health benefits for me and essentially has guaranteed quality of life improvements without any real downside. Not drinking will improve energy levels and metabolism, improve relationships, both personal and professional, and enhance mental clarity and productivity, among other benefits. I had never heard of the term “self-help” growing up, but as I sought ways to make life improvements, I eventually created my own self-help and life improvement plan since becoming sober.
Today, what I call the “Jeffrey Previte 7-Point Plan to Life Improvement” involves the following components:
Your results may vary, but each of these areas are scientifically proven to promote good physical and mental health.
Diet
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to a healthy diet. Instead, try to eat as healthy as possible, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you have days where you veer off track. I was mostly vegan for two years and have had friends who have sworn by keto and vegetarian diets. Most importantly, try to avoid processed foods, anything out of a bag or box, and incorporate as many “real” foods as possible—fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts are good! Maximizing colourful greens and decreasing dairy and meat (especially red meat) is a good rule of thumb. Do your best to steer clear of fried food, overeating, dessert, and processed sugar, and get in touch with your body, so you can stop eating when you’re full.
Exercise
Exercise, for me personally, is incredibly important to not only maintaining physical health but also feeling better overall. It might not be as crucial to the happiness of
others, but regular exercise does release endorphins, which promote feelings of pleasure. You don’t have to lift heavy weights in the gym either. As little as 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week is enough to reap physical health benefits. Sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to work out but remember: you always feel better afterwards.
Reading and Journaling
Reading and journaling have also been important aspects of my self-help journey. Journaling, in particular, has been shown to boost mood, improve well-being, reduce symptoms of depression, and improve working memory. It is also a useful tool for those who have a history of trauma or experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some researchers believe expressive writing helps us process difficult thoughts and create coherent narratives to frame our experiences. I find that you can sometimes subconsciously solve problems and answer your own questions simply by putting pen to paper.
Yoga, Stretching, Meditation, and Breathing
Finally, I’ve found that complementing regular exercise with consistent stretching, yoga, and meditation has had a profound impact on my well-being. I’m not alone in this. Yoga, for instance, has been proven to provide physical and mental health benefits, both for relatively healthy people and those who are battling illness, living with chronic conditions, or recovering from surgery.
In addition to improving your strength, flexibility, and balance, yoga can boost your energy levels and help you manage stress. Moreover, a bedtime yoga routine can even help you get a better and more relaxing sleep. Meditation is associated with similar benefits. Personally, I’m a proponent of holotropic breathwork, but you may find that other forms of meditation work better for your own well-being.
Spending Time with the Right People
The people you associate with have a huge impact on the success of your own self-help and life journey. If you spend a lot of time around toxic people, you’re likely to be influenced by their actions. Conversely, if you surround yourself with positive, smart, successful, fit, happy, and focused people, you may be further inspired to better yourself and even find ideas to help you change your own life. Energy transfers from person to person, as do good or bad ideas—so it’s important to spend time with people who lift you up, not drag you down.
