What did minimalism do for your health? Can getting rid of your clutter actually change your body's ability to heal and be healthy?
Minimalism as a lifestyle is not about being on a constant "diet." I firmly believe that our bodies know what is and what is not healthy, what they crave and what is just extra crap that will add no value to life. I focus on foods that will fill my stomach and give me satisfaction so that I can focus throughout the day for the meals that I make or design myself. I make my own breakfast, and occasionally my own lunch. My mother will, quite often, assemble lunch for my younger brother and I, as well as cook dinner. While I don't get much say over what I eat for dinner, my other meals are fairly consistent. I do enjoy variation, so here's what my menu typically looks like:
Minimalism as a lifestyle is not about being on a constant "diet." I firmly believe that our bodies know what is and what is not healthy, what they crave and what is just extra crap that will add no value to life. I focus on foods that will fill my stomach and give me satisfaction so that I can focus throughout the day for the meals that I make or design myself. I make my own breakfast, and occasionally my own lunch. My mother will, quite often, assemble lunch for my younger brother and I, as well as cook dinner. While I don't get much say over what I eat for dinner, my other meals are fairly consistent. I do enjoy variation, so here's what my menu typically looks like:
- Breakfast: Oatmeal with coffee, occasionally with fruit, or a whole wheat waffle with a scraping of peanut butter or unsalted butter (or cookie butter, on occasion!).
- Lunch: A bagel or a sandwhich thin, always with a protein or dairy packed spread of peanut butter or Neufchâtel cheese. I always have fruit with my lunch.
- Dinner: Typically Indian food, but whatever my mother eats. I make sure to eat until I am full, not stuffed, and not still hungry.
- Snacks: Fresh fruit, tea, hot water with lemon. I allow myself to celebrate the end of the week with ice cream, making sure to only have one serving (check the box- you'd be surprised!). Some people have alcohol. I have Rocky Road.
- Liquids: I aim to drink half my body weight in ounces daily. I weigh 95 pounds, so I typically aim for 48 ounces, or 6 cups of water. I aim for this in water and the occasional (very occasional, because I hate cleaning the juicer) fresh juice. I add a cup of water for each cup of coffee I drink as well- so if I have a cup of coffee in the morning, I have seven cups of water total in the day.
- Sleep: I let my body dictate when I wake up on days that I don't have work. I hope to eventually wake up significantly earlier. Going to sleep on time is something that I have to work towards, though. I am currently working on recognizing my body's sleep signals.