top trends of 2010 is DIY Healthcare. That’s right! Whether you are twenty-something and trying to get pregnant or fifty-something and trying to avoid hot flashes or hair loss, there’s a good chance you’ll turn to over-the-counter remedies to heal your medical woes, without an MD. DIY is not just about nutraceuticals and medical gadgets, though. It’s also about self-care; that is, taking good care of yourself to prevent that doctor’s visit. Ironically, this is the same tune I’m humming in Finding Life’s Secret Sauce. Here are a few of my ideas: 1. Eat Up — Life shouldn’t be a lettuce-filled onslaught of deprivation. It’s a matter of eating healthy food in moderation. If a Southern gal who grew up eating fried okra, biscuits & gravy, and green salads-made-with-sugar-and-coolwhip can learn to eat better, anyone can!
2. Shape Up — You don’t have to be a marathoner or body builder to be fit. There’s a plethora of activities just begging for your involvement, ranging from walking to bike riding to Pilates to tennis. If you seek, you shall find something that suits your fancy. And that means more motivation to keep at it (along with a few other ideas I’ll throw at you in my book)! The Wall Street Journal recently reported that exercise decreases depression as effectively as medication, reduces the incidence of diabetes, and reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, among other amazing health benefits. What are you waiting for?
3. Live it Up — So often, we treat good health as a matter of eating well and exercising. And that’s a huge part of it, I agree. But as the saying goes, a life with all-work-and-no-play is no good. The activities which “complete us,” as Jerry Maguire might say, include everything from reading a book to traveling to painting watercolors. These pastimes and activities improve our outlook on life, our health, and at times, our sanity.
So, do it! Finding Life’s Secret Sauce provides some practical suggestions for living a happier, healthier life. Though DIY healthcare is a popular trend in 2010, I hope it’s one that is here to stay!
