HealthyFoodThe baseline from which I’m starting is that my health is good; and I’m grateful. But I think I could do better with my routine (or lack of one), my diet, exercise (or lack of it) and the amount of rest I get. We’re not talking about radical changes: I’m not going from a sedentary lifestyle to training for a major marathon. I mean making small tweaks now that will yield bigger results later on.

Diet. OK, my diet is good. When people learn my real age, the first question they ask is, “What’s your secret?” After the initial blushing, hemming and hawing, I usually reply with something about good genes and attitude, and good diet. But can I kick this good diet up a notch? I think so. Decades ago, I gave up meat and eggs; more recently, I gave up dairy (mostly) for a plant-based diet. Last year, I started out with all systems go with my new juicer: I greeted every morning with a fresh green juice – sometimes purple or orange. However, I gradually ran out of steam because juicing is so labor intensive. But I miss it. So, I’m looking at how to work juicing back into my routine. Can I alternate juice with a smoothie? The blender is so much quicker to clean than the juicer. Is there a better time of day to make juice? I don’t necessarily have answers yet, but my questions seem to be leading me down a good path.

Exercise. Or, in my case, it’s mostly a lack of it. I think this may be something that a lot of voiceover people and narrators struggle with because we spend so much time either sitting and reading at the mic or sitting and editing at our computers – or both. Even when I know I should take a break, go outside while it’s still daylight, take a walk – sometimes I just forge ahead without a break so I can get the darned thing done. But that’s a bad practice that I want to leave behind this year. I’m using the timer on my iPhone to remind me when it’s time to take an exercise break – I still occasionally shut it off and keep working – but I’m getting better about heeding that reminder.

Rest. For the last couple of years, I’ve been making a conscious effort to get eight hours of sleep a night. Sometimes it’s a challenge, though – especially when I’m in a play. Rehearsals and performances easily run until 10ish, 11ish… or later – and then there’s the winding down… or the going out with friends and colleagues afterward for a drink, a bite to eat, a time to swap theatre stories. And then, before we know it, we’re closing the place down. Oops. So much for that full night of sleep I was intending to get. It’s a rare day that I can sleep in: like many of you, I have a full calendar and have to be up early. So, this year, I’m acknowledging that I have a bed time… and doing my best to honor it. Teeth brushed and lights out.

Routine. I think I naturally resist the idea of routine – isn’t that the opposite of art? But I have to admit, I DO get up at about the same time, especially if I go to bed at the same time, and eat lunch around the same time, and so on. Even if I’m mentally fighting it, my body seems to be chugging along right on schedule. So, I’m trying something new this year – working with and reinforcing those natural rhythms. I have a new practice of creating a daily schedule for myself – and it seems to be working so far. It’s flexible but I know what I have to do each day and when I have time to do it. it’s even helping with my tendency to overcommit – because I can see I can’t take on anything new without giving up something. And how does that contribute to improved health? Mostly by lowering my stress level and improving my energy and mental clarity. And that’s huge!

Are you making any small changes this year to improve your health? Leave a comment below – I’d love to hear what you’re doing and how it’s going so far.