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25 Fun Ways to Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality!

By Todd | October 18, 2007

vitality12.jpg

Taking great care of the body relieves stress, increases vitality and feeds the soul.

In this article we will cover 25 recommendations will leave your body (and mind) prr-ing like a cat. 

By integrating the following tips your body will feel loose and fertile, and be on its way to becoming the well-oiled machine you know it can be!

1. Drink at least 30 oz of Water every day

Water is the elixir of life.  Too many of us walk around de-hydrated and over the long-term this can hurt our vitality.  Make it a habit to drink at least 30 oz of water every day. 

2. Scrub your Skin

After a shower, take a wash cloth and literally scrub your body from head to toes.  This removes dead skin cells and enables the skin to excrete toxins and “breathe” easier.  Plus, you will look fantastic the next day.  I highly recommend 1) scrubbing outside of the shower and 2) performing this routine 2x a week.
 
3. Wear comfortable Shoes

The feet are the workhorse of the body, and it is critical for our long-term health to take good care of them.  ALWAYS wearing comfortable shoes is a great way to do this.

4. Sleep in the Dark

Light interferes with sleep, at least partly because it inhibits melatonin secretion and thus resets the biological clock. For this reason, it is very important to keep your bedroom as dark as possible to ensure full cycles of sleep. (if your room is not pitch black, I suggest using a sleeping mask)!

5. Eat Organic Foods whenever possible

Organic foods have less (if any) chemicals and pesticides than non-organic fare.  The fewer chemicals you ingest, the more vital you will be!

6. Go to a Comedy Club once a Month

Falling on the floor laughing is one of the best things you can do to increase vitality in your life.  Laughing boosts immunity, strengthens the heart, and improves lung function among a myriad of other benefits.

7. Use Hot Water Bottle

Placing a hot water bottle on the stomach (or lower back) at the end of the day does wonders for your “core”.  The sensation of hot water aids digestion, calms the muscles, and provides an overall sense of relaxation.  Use a hot water bottle when tension has taken hold of you.

8. Get Acupuncture

In my article 10 Simple Ways to Never Get Sick Again, I list Acupuncture as one of the best preventative measures for long-term health.  Acupuncture can leave you feeling renewed and in touch with you “chi” of life force.  Once a month is a wonderful idea!

9. Take Naps!

Taking periodic naps increases vitality and provides deep relaxation when the body needs it.

10. Eat Bigger Meal in the Middle of the Day

A great way to pamper your body is to get in the habit of eating your bigger meal in the middle of the day.  Your digestion is much more active during the day.  At night, the body naturally begins to slow down and it is harder to digest.

11. Use a Tongue Scraper

Scraping the tongue of unwanted bacteria is a great way to increase vitality.  In the ancient Chinese philosophy of acupuncture, the appearance of the tongue is very telling of the overall health of the body.  Scraping every day can make food taste better and even help prevent certain types of illness.

12. Get Frequent Massages

Massage stimulates increased blood flow to the muscles and tendons, and also generates a sense of deep relaxation.  Plus, it feels so good!  There is no better way to pamper yourself than to get frequent massages.

13. Give Frequent Massages

Giving a massage generates the same benefits for the person you are massaging, and providing this type of enjoyment for another person is a terrific way to feed the soul.

14. Stretch

Regular stretching improves blood circulation and increases energy levels!  Proper stretching is like giving the muscles, tendons and joints a great big hug and is a wonderful preventative measure to take!

15. Eat Spicy foods

Integrating a diverse range of foods, and trying new ones, can stretch your internal bandwidth of acceptance and is a fantastic way increase vitality in your life.

16. Take a Fish oil Supplement every day

Taking a high quality fish oil supplement every day is crucial for long-term health.  This supplement provides you with much needed omega-3 fatty acids and is especially high in the hard-to-get DHA compound.  Fish oils are wonderful for the health of the heart!

17. Sing in your Car

Too many of us hoard our feelings deep within us, and this is not great over the long haul. Singing out loud elicits a wide range of emotions (depending on the type of music you are listening), and is an excellent way to increase vitality!

18. Get a Water Filter for your Shower

Filtering the water that comes from your shower lessens the amount of chemicals your skin comes in contact with.  Over the long-term, this is excellent practice to increase vibrance (remember, the skin is the body’s largest organ and we HAVE to take good care of it).

19. Eat more leafy green Vegetables

In my article The 5 Greatest Foods for Your Health, I talk about the healthiest foods on the planet for long-term health:  Kale (leafy green) is on the list.  These vegetables contain the lifeblood of the planet, chlorophyll, and are so good for you that it would take two full pages to list their benefits.

20. Purposefully deal with Stress

Stress is the silent killer among mankind, and causes tremendous (and often unseen) inflammation in the body.  To create a sense of vibrance in your life, it is necessary to implement habits that deal with stress.  Breathing and meditation are wonderful practices for this.

21. Get a Pet or Plants

Having a pet can bring you unbound joy.  If you can not have a pet, buying a few plants can serve the purpose.  The point is, having other life around you creates vitality.  YES, for those of you with kids, this is even better :)

22. Listen to Relaxing Music before you go to Bed

Making a habit of listening to relaxing music at the end of the day is great practice for long-term health.  Light some candles and incense and really relax before you go to bed!

23. Plan a Vacation!

Nothing is better than planning a really great vacation, and consistently having things to look forward to is a great way to insure vivacity over the long haul.

24. Schedule Periodic Meals with Old Friends

In today’s super busy world, it is harder and harder to make the time for old friends.  Making a conscious effort to get together with old buddies is excellent practice for maintaining a fertile mindset.

25. Implement 20 minutes of Aerobic Workout 4 times a week

Getting a sufficient “cardio” workout increases the body’s ability to get oxygen to the cells efficiently; this lowers blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and decrease body fat.  These are absolute necessities for vitality.

There you have it, 25 great activities that can add years to your life!  Please feel free to share your methods for pampering yourself in the comments field below.
 

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Topics: Other Personal Growth, Productivity, Relationships, Alternative and Holistic Healing, Physical Activity, Nutrition |

41 Responses to “25 Fun Ways to Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality!”

  1. All good, simple, and common sense ideas… which means nobody actually does them ;)

    Posted by: Jason on October 18th, 2007 at 10:59 am

  2. Totally agree with #4. I recently moved and the new place is much darker than before. Helps a lot!

    Posted by: Ian on October 18th, 2007 at 12:42 pm

  3. Straightforward and effective advice! I do massages regularly and I can attest to the affects of that. I always feel refreshed after an hour or two of pure relaxation. :)

    Posted by: Internet Marketing for Students on October 18th, 2007 at 1:33 pm

  4. Todd, you’ve brought up many points I’ve never considered. Very informative article!

    Posted by: zhereford on October 18th, 2007 at 1:47 pm

  5. good stuff! you mention things many of us skip over.
    the only thing to add are supplements, and assuring an adequate source of protein thru the day.
    keep up the good work,
    John

    Posted by: Fireman John on October 18th, 2007 at 2:46 pm

  6. Thanks for the comments guys…
    JOHN– I do mention Fish Oil as a supplement (although its not really a “vitamin”) and I do agree with you about having consistent protein…!
    Todd

    Posted by: Todd on October 18th, 2007 at 2:56 pm

  7. great post.

    consider me a subscriber!

    Posted by: Adam Lehman on October 18th, 2007 at 2:58 pm

  8. Excellente’. This is one of the best articles I’ve seen on maintaining one’s stress.

    -ProfHib

    Posted by: h0mefry on October 18th, 2007 at 7:06 pm

  9. Thanks so much Professor! Much appreciated…

    Posted by: Todd on October 18th, 2007 at 7:24 pm

  10. Great article, Todd. For number 22, you can also take a shower before you go to bed. it relaxes your body and get ready for sleep. It has the additional benefit of slightly lowering your body temperature. This helps you not feel like you are being boiled when you get under the covers. When you are comfortable, you will be able to fall asleep faster.

    Posted by: ehl37973 on October 18th, 2007 at 8:05 pm

  11. EHL– Great point…its also great practice to “shake it up” and take a cold shower every once in a while. Cool showers can be very relaxing before bedtime (actually), and I recommend trying it out…

    Posted by: Todd on October 18th, 2007 at 8:21 pm

  12. Deep breathing exercises and concentrative meditation work well for me. The deep slow breathing opens the top and bottom of the lungs, eliminating bacteria, increasing the lungs capacity and oxygenating the blood. The meditation is a stress reducer and gradually leads to a greater understanding and control of your mind. Increasing the ability to concentrate leads to improved memory and cognition.

    Posted by: Sam on October 20th, 2007 at 10:04 pm

  13. I believe that a minimum of 60 ounces of water seems more appropriate for a day of average activity. 30 ounces of liquids sounds far too low, & if one’s getting thew remaining fluids from another source, that is definitely no substitute for pure clean water. Also, protein is important, but I definitely believe that the majority of people are way off when it come to how much protein people need. People only need a small fraction of the amount of protein eaten by the average American, not to mention that animal protein, unfortunately, is often the most likely source, but the least healthy source of protein. And on the shower issue, starting off your shower warm and as you approach the end of the shower lowering the temperature gradually until it makes you gasp is good for stimulating the endocrine system.

    Posted by: Ed Smith, Palm Springs, CA on October 21st, 2007 at 1:03 am

  14. Ed– thanks for all the great comments. Regarding the water, it is reported that most Americans drink less than 15 oz per day of water, and although I agree with you that 60 oz is even better, I suggest 30 as a good starting point! Also, great point about the shower…!

    Posted by: Todd on October 22nd, 2007 at 10:07 am

  15. […] Sick Again4 Effective Practices for Gaining Perspective14 Step Guide to Finding the Perfect Career25 Fun Ways to Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality!The 5 Greatest Foods For Your […]

    Posted by: The 6 Greatest Workouts to Increase Stamina on October 23rd, 2007 at 9:52 am

  16. great tips here Todd…
    I know I’m guilty when it comes to not drinking enough water…..and we’re planning for a holiday right now….and looking forward to it immensely :)

    Posted by: laketrees on October 25th, 2007 at 9:03 am

  17. Thanks Laketrees– vacation is a terrific time to drink water, flush the system, and get on the path to creating more vitality…have fun!

    Posted by: Todd on October 25th, 2007 at 10:26 am

  18. Thanks for the great tips! I hope you don’t mind me putting this on my blog… I included the link on it.

    Posted by: La Chatte on October 25th, 2007 at 11:24 pm

  19. Hi La Chatte– I am glad you found the post informative, and absolutely feel free to link to it :)
    todd

    Posted by: Todd on October 26th, 2007 at 9:28 am

  20. I love this list. I’m going to print it and try to do as many as possible before the end of the year. The Comedy Club is a great idea. Thank you for participating in Fitness for Moms Carnival.

    Posted by: Cindy on October 31st, 2007 at 4:56 pm

  21. THANKS Cindy…glad you enjoyed. If you get 15 of them in, you will feel great!! Lete me know how it goes…

    Posted by: Todd on October 31st, 2007 at 5:19 pm

  22. Another great way to increase vitality is to neti pot regularly. Its an ayurvedic nasal cleansing routine that uses warm water and non-iodized salt. There are also supplements, usually called neti wash, that typically include zinc, goldenseal, phellodendron, and barberry root to name a few. I have had great luck in health since I began using the neti pot and wash.
    Great list!

    Posted by: Crystalshealingtouch on November 3rd, 2007 at 2:41 pm

  23. Grand merci!
    It is realy nice to find things neatly lined up for everyday use :)

    Posted by: ioni on November 3rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm

  24. Thanks Crystal– I JUST learned about the Neti Pot, and was planning to try it out!! Thanks for reminding me…I hear its a great way to cure allergies…?

    Posted by: Todd on November 5th, 2007 at 9:51 am

  25. I agree with (and sometimes “preach”) a lot of the same things you list. But #7–the hot water bottle was new. I can’t wait to try it!

    Hey–this is the 25th comment on a list of 25. Do I get a prize?? :)

    Posted by: Joy on November 9th, 2007 at 3:17 am

  26. THANKS for the great comments Joy, and as for the prize (LOL), hmm, let me think about it!
    Todd

    Posted by: Todd on November 9th, 2007 at 10:59 am

  27. I am a fan of “we are what we eat”. It’s as similar as with cars and gas; If your gas sucks that your engine will malfunction.

    My advice is to prefer fish over meat and eat more vegetables. A Fish has Omega3 and 6 fats which does good for heart and brain.

    In addition to these 25 above mentioned fun ways, you will definately increase your vitality.

    All best Wishes,
    Just a funny little being :)

    Posted by: FunnY Being :) on November 9th, 2007 at 5:50 pm

  28. FunnY Being– THANK you for the comment, means a lot! And really good points…
    Todd

    Posted by: Todd on November 9th, 2007 at 5:59 pm

  29. I agree each word of yours
    elan

    Posted by: elan on November 10th, 2007 at 9:12 pm

  30. Thank you Elan, I am glad you enjoyed…!

    Posted by: Todd on November 11th, 2007 at 1:06 pm

  31. It was really good, listed all essentials for healthy life…
    I just started blog where I can post on few health tips whenever I come across…

    Sumanth
    http://yourway2health.blogspot.com

    Posted by: sumanth krishna on November 15th, 2007 at 10:22 am

  32. About filtering shower watter :)

    (remember, the skin is the body’s largest organ and we HAVE to take good care of it).

    And also remember the purpose of skin : protect.

    So if it will be treated without any chalange it will not train.

    Posted by: Vincnetas on November 16th, 2007 at 9:00 am

  33. You forgot the social aspect… GO OUT MORE! :)

    Posted by: ben on November 17th, 2007 at 2:48 am

  34. Thank you Sumanth!
    Vincnetas– Good point about the shower filter, I know I use one!
    Ben– lol, you are right, being social is very important for vitality.
    THANKS for the comments,
    Todd

    Posted by: Todd on November 18th, 2007 at 7:44 pm

  35. I think one important one was left out. Masterbate or have sex once a day.

    Posted by: the dude on November 20th, 2007 at 8:47 pm

  36. Your right, the dude, I did leave this one out. I got yelled at :) I put this point in a subsequent article titles: 24 Powerful Relaxation Techniques! Thanks again,
    Todd

    Posted by: Todd on November 23rd, 2007 at 5:41 pm

  37. Very good article, Todd. Thank you.
    I had never heard about the water bottle before.
    Peace and wonder,
    CG

    Posted by: CG Walters on December 5th, 2007 at 7:37 pm

  38. Thanks CG– the water bottle is AWESOME. Try it out…
    Todd

    Posted by: Todd on December 6th, 2007 at 9:52 am

  39. What a photo!

    Posted by: SootheSayer on December 10th, 2007 at 10:09 pm

  40. i like all the tips. its tough though to keep up with it.

    Posted by: Liam on May 14th, 2008 at 8:51 am

  41. I liked this list. I do most of these things on a daily basis. First off, I’d like to say that I am a vegetarian. But, in some of my cases, because I am a server in a resturant, I take a bite of this and a bite of that every so often; periodically during the course of my busy, fun day. I am able to maintain, and not only mantain my weight, but I maintain my sugar levels, and I get all the wonderful effects of drinking some water. I drink alot of water every day, and in turn, my skin is coming along beautifully and looks pretty clear ;o LMFAO lmfao

    Posted by: Carly on June 19th, 2008 at 12:29 am

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