To me, what this film is documenting is the very thing that can bring transcending and fundamental changes in the world.  More than EVER, we need to spread awareness of this message…get involved in it…and encourage our friends, families, colleagues to join in.

I will tell you that doing this work for the past year has been an incredible experience.  Millions of people are shifting their habits, careers, and even their worldviews, and we need to rejoice in this global awakening!

Have you seen the Paul Hawken clip that describes THE SHIFT?  If not, check this out and begin seeing how real it is:

World’s Largest Social Movement

OK, so this is just a short post to ask that you to go to THE SHIFT site, http://www.theshiftmovie.com and sign up!

Today, the message for this powerful film and movement was finally released to a very large audience! Over 4 Million people know now about THE SHIFT…so lets give this movement some legs!

Also, for those of you bloggers, list owners, or just very popular people…please send this message around.  Vote on it on Digg, Stumble and all social networks!

Here are some links:

THE SHIFT on Digg

BRAND New Facebook Fan Page

Thanks everyone…this is going to be huge…it needs to be.  Let me know if there is anything I can do for you!

Todd

But there were a few tangible lifestyle choices I adopted which helped me overcome the awakefullness I so often felt in the wee hours of the night, and I would like to share them with you.

Like most recommendations pertaining to personal growth, the 9 activities I suggest below will not only help your sleep but also a myriad of other areas in your life. Enjoy!

1. Visualize the feelings of being tired

The first time someone suggested this to me, I thought they were mad. But it works, and its amazingly simple. After taking a bunch of deep breaths, use your mind and thoughts to intentionally generate the feeling of being tired. Your mind is used to reverting back to thoughts of your life, work, relationships, etc (FYI, this is why you don’t “feel” tired) but you can train your brain to create the emotion of tiredness. It is incredibly powerful, and there are also audio tools that can help you do this!

2. Wind Down: Partake in relaxing activities at night!

Many people complain to me that they have problems falling asleep, and when I ask them what they do before bed-time they say “lift weights” or “conference call for work” or “watch a thrilling movie”. When I write about it like this it seems pretty obvious that the adrenaline and stimulation these activities cause are not ideal preparation for a night’s rest. I suggest spending a few hours winding down instead: write in a journal, listen to relaxing music, meditate, or do something that brings peace and relaxation into your life.

3. Rise earlier

When did it become so normal for people to wake up at 10am and go to bed past midnight? As a human, the body’s natural cycle is to rise when the sun comes up, and wind down as the sun disappears into the night. Making a habit of getting up earlier will re-set your connection with natural earthly cycles, and drastically improve your quality of sleep over the long run!

4. Do work that stimulates you!

When your brain is actively engaged during the day, it will require greater rest at night. If your daily work does not stimulate you, you will be bored, anxious and even depressed. These negative feelings inhibit the release of hormones in the body that are required to generate the bodily cycle of wakefulness and rest. You need to feel alive and awake to feel tired and spent. So do work that inspires you and you will sleep like a baby!

5. Read some fiction before you go to bed

Reading is a wonderful activity as you wind your day down, but be wary of reading work-related materials or other content that might get your mind moving too fast. Even personal development and self-improvement work is not recommended before bedtime, as it gets the thoughts moving too rapidly. Fiction is ideal to read because it stimulates the more imaginative areas of the brain, and prepares the body to dream.

6. Don’t consume food after 6pm

Think about the main purpose of food: to provide the body with energy. When you stuff large quantities of food into your mouth late at night, the intelligent organism of the body processes it and activates the digestion, circulatory and nervous systems. And then you want to go to sleep? There is a dis-connect here, and if you want to start getting great nights’ sleep it is imperative to limit (or stop) eating food past 6pm.

7. Don’t consume caffeine or sugar past 3pm

On a similar note, the worst kind of food to consume at night is carbohydrates. These foods break down much faster than fats and proteins and cause a spike in energy that is hard to ignore. The worst of the worst is highly processed sugary foods that will make it almost impossible to get a peaceful night’s rest. Caffeine should also be limited because it causes a similar reaction in the body. To be safe, make a habit of limiting simple carbs and caffeine past 3pm. This one suggestion alone could be the key to healthy sleep!

8. Exercise regularly

Pushing your physical limits 3-5 times a week is an excellent way to improve your quality of sleep. Getting the heart pumping during the day generates more efficient blood flow to the brain and body parts, and allows all body parts to experience a more graceful rest period. Plus, common sense dictates that working out will simply make you more tired at night.

9. Take several deep breaths as you prepare to sleep

The easiest recommendation that most people simply do not do is breathe! If you are consistently awake at night, try taking 10 deep breaths as soon as you lie on the bed. Close the eyes, and just let the day go. Notice how immediately afterwards you are in a different state; a more relaxed one. If you are habitually anxious, this feeling may not last long, which is why visualizing being tired (point #1) is a great next step!

OK, now if you want to know how to get up more effectively, read the wonderful article Mind Over Mattress: How To Wake Earlier When All You Want to do is Sleep by Peter over the I Will Change Your Life.

My friend Peter over at I Will Change Your Life wrote an excellent article last week titled:  50 Tips From My Year of Change.

I enjoyed this piece not only because it gave some excellent advice, but also because it provided a very clear synopsis of what Peter, and his blog, is all about.  To me the best blogs are personal, not abstract, and places where you get a very clear sense of who the writer is and what issues are most important to them. 

With that said, I would like to share with you 8 realizations that I have learned since I started We The Change four short months ago.   These sentiments represent my own personal growth during this time and also exemplify the core philosophy of this website (at least to this point).

As always, please feel free to share your own thoughts and realizations in the comment field below.

Making a habit to think positively is not only possible, but is an activity that can change your life!

This is one of the most important lessons I learned in 2007.  Although it takes some perseverance in the beginning, understanding how to think positively is very realistic and do-able for anyone that sets their mind to it.  To create this habit, please check out 7 Effective Ways to Implement Positive Thinking and How to Break Out of Bad Habits Using Affirmations.

“Spirituality” is a very real phenomenon and can transcend your life and the world around you

Each day I feel as though I am becoming more “spiritual” and it all begins with being more conscious.  To me, once you get the smallest sense of this type of awareness, there is no going back.  What do I mean by “this type of awareness”?  For further explanation, browse through 12 Easy Ways to Become More Conscious and The Path to a Spiritual Life in 6 Simple Steps.

Being productive is really a measure of happiness

Through the creation of We The Change, and from the incredible connections I have made with readers and other bloggers, I have learned that the more productive I am, the more successful and fulfilled I feel.  Clutter and dis-organization are huge roadblocks to success and fulfillment.  To learn more about goal setting and productivity, check out 8 Unique Ways to Increase Productivity and my recent article How To Set Fantastic, Achievable Goals for 2008.

Shedding fear and expounding your personal information (and views) to the world is one of the most liberating activities you can ever experience

Recently, I published a very personal article where I wrote my own eulogy.  The wonderful response I received from readers and bloggers alike reminded me that we are all human, and that there is a very real inter-connectedness that exists between all things.  When you let go of the inhibiting mindset (and fear) that people are always judging you, it frees you to create beautiful things.

Information regarding proper nutrition and healthy eating habits are gaining such popularity because they are basic human quests

Food makes us feel connected to each other, to the world, and to the universe at large, and some of my most popular articles have concerned food.  This does not surprise me because food is so personal, and is such a powerful symbol of our inter-connectedness.  The 5 Greatest Foods for your Health and my article on Phytonutrients were spread all around the internet.  I will always write about food and nutrition, because it is such an integral component to our happiness.

Awareness of the environment and nature is the very essence of being alive

I am so thankful that we are living in a time where consciousness about the environment is exploding.  Transcending change is occurring right here, right now and I have tried to contribute my part with 40 Ways You Can Save The Environment and An Interview With Al Gore’s Climate Project.

The internet is a supremely powerful tool that symbolizes universal inter-connectivity

Ever since I have become ensconced in blogging, it has opened my eyes to all of the wonderful people and organizations who want to lead better lives and make positive change in the world we all live.  They are everywhere, literally, and it gives me great hope for the future.  Do we need better organizing structures and greater awareness?  Probably, and for more info please read Why Blogging and Social Networking Can Save The World and my article regarding the future of technology.

Treating the body well with physical activity is essential for a healthy mind and a healthy planet

How can we expect the world to be healed if our individual bodies are in disarray?  The answer is, we can’t.  Proper physical exercise is SO essential, and I encourage you to read my article on how to build stamina as well as visit Straight to the Bar.

Additionally, I mentioned my friend Peter at the beginning of this article, and he is one of MANY wonderful people and bloggers I have met over the last several months.  I have some other friends listed in my blogroll section, and I encourage you to check out all of their wonderful websites. 

There are a few other high quality blogs I have encountered, and I would like to share with you some of the best:

Juice of Champions– Brad always has some wonderful things to say

Gratitude Magic– I am grateful for having met Akemi and her great blog

Urban Monk– Albert is a spiritualist and a great writer

Heal Pain– Jenny Mannion provides some fantastic tips on health and wellness

Green Options– my friend Jeff really, really cares about the environment and has some excellent info here

Think Simple Now– super inspiring site run by Tina

Change Your Tree– Kevin has done a terrific job with his new blog

Moving From Me To We– Kare has a great concept going on…

Anja Merret is always “chatting to her generation”

Enjoy!!
 

By advancing our lives in the areas of mind, body, spirit, relationships and environmental awareness we can improve our individual outlook and help the world become an even greater place!

As my favorite Gandhi quote states: “you must be the change you want to see in the world” and here are 50 of the best practices, exercises and philosophies you can begin implementing to “be the change”:

RELATIONSHIPS

1. Be Nice to People
And see how positive energy attracts positive energy

2. Take Responsibility For Your Actions
And stop making excuses

3. Volunteer Your Time
And realize that helping others is the ultimate way to make the world a greater place

4. Ask for Help
And give someone else the satisfaction of having the answer

5. Offer the Best Advice You Can
And set someone off in a new and positive direction.  Do it without expecting anything in return!

6. Smile More
And spread happiness to others with the slightest effort

7. Pay Close Attention to Your Language
And start seeing how your words and actions define you

8. Make a Donation
And feel how giving spreads positive energy and love

9. Ask your Closest Friends and Family “How Are You Doing”?
And let them know you are there for them

MIND

10. Do Crossword Puzzles and Other Mind Games
And challenge your intellect

11. Find and Work in a Career You Love 
And spend your valuable time in a job that makes you truly happy!

12. Purposefully Deal with Stress
And learn to melt tension away

13. Read Good Books
And stir creativity in your brain

14. Take Classes
And learn more about the things that really interest you

15. Write in a Journal
And let the mind unwind itself through the hand

16. Start Viewing Yourself as Part of a Greater Universe
And see how the first step to a healthy planet is a healthy you! 

YOUR BODY

17. Vary Your Workout Routines
And make your body stronger, more pliable, and resistant to illness

18. Try Ancient Forms of Healing
And tap into human knowledge that goes back many millennia

19. Exercise with Trained Professionals
And push the limits of what you think you are capable

20. Run a Marathon
Again, push the limits of what you are capable.  If not a marathon, find some physical activity that is ultra-challenging for you and do it!

21. Take Long Hikes
And appreciate the beauty of nature first hand

22. Sit in a Sauna or Steam Room
And sweat out harmful toxins

23 Use Medicines and Pharmaceuticals as Last Resort
And have faith in holistic measures and your body’s ability to heal itself

24. Love and Appreciate Your Body
And get rid of negative feelings and associations you have with it

SPIRIT

25. Treat Yourself to Massages
And literally rub away all stress and tension

26. Start a Spiritual Practice for Yourself
And give yourself unparalleled perspective by connecting with the “true you”.

27. Laugh Hard Every Day
And generate happiness for your soul

28. Accept Your Universe
And have unswerving faith that you can handle it, no matter what happens!

29. Feng Shui Your Home
And create a positive energy flow that extends to the external world

30. Listen to Soothing Music
And calm your body, mind and spirit

31. Plan a Healthy Retreat or Vacation
And ensconce your body and mind in health and vitality for an extended period

NUTRITION

32. Start Treating Your Food as Delicious Tasting Medicine
And prevent sickness and disease with the nutrition you put into your body every day!

33. Eat Locally Grown Foods
And support your local farms and growers

34. Take Responsibility For Your Health
And understand that only you know what is best for you

35. Drink More Water
And enjoy nature’s elixir of life

36. Eat Healthy Foods for the Brain
And allow your thinking organ to work most efficiently

37. Cook More
And really get to know your food; enjoy it in a more complete and satisfying way!

38. Eat Organic Foods as Much as Possible
And understand that natural foods treat the body and the planet as they were originally intended

39. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
And begin learning the innumerable benefits these foods contain

ENVIRONMENT

40. Plant trees
And spread clean air throughout the world; donate trees here with American Forests.  Even better, give trees as a present with The Arbor Day organization

41. Buy Carbon Offsets
And support new and clean renewable sources of energy that offset global warming with Native Energy. 

42. Conserve Water
And be aware of over-usage at the sink, in the bathroom, and while doing laundry

43. Recycle!
And realize how such a simple step like recycling can do so much to improve our environmental dilemma

44. Save a Piece of the Rainforest
And help the earth’s atmosphere by purchasing 2,500 square feet of this precious land for $10 at The National Arbor Day Foundation!

45. Buy “Energy Star” Appliances
And save a ton of energy with every day activities

46. Use the Internet to Shop
And save gasoline and paper by clicking here for a list of 700+ conscious retailers

47. Research Reusable Energy Sources For Your Home
And utilize more sustainable and renewable power sources which are available!

48. Conserve Paper
And send e-cards instead of paper ones.  Start by getting removed from unwanted mailing lists at Junk Busters

49. Take a Stand
And volunteer your time to head an effort to “go green” at your work, school, place of worship or any organization you belong

50. YOU Decide
And start “being the change” based on your most valued beliefs and ideals!

Implementing an effective routine for “relaxing” is the key to dealing with stress and anxiety in your life.  Here are 24 of the most powerful (and unique) exercises you can begin trying today:

1. Take a Cold Shower

It may not be relaxing while you are doing it, but taking a cold shower is a fantastic way to calm the body and mind.  After a chilly rinse, you tend to feel at peace and serene and is a great activity before bed time.  I recommend doing this at least once a week!

2. Go Fishing

Fishing is one of the best ways to relax the body and mind.  First off, you are sitting in or near water, which is the most soothing substance to mankind. Second, it usually takes place in a quiet and calming setting.  Third, if you fish with some good friends then you experience a wonderful trifecta of relaxation that is hard to get elsewhere!

3. Plan a Vacation

Having things to look forward to sooths the mind and stimulates a positive mental outlook.  Constantly planning vacations, weekend getaways, or even a night out with friends can do wonders for your personal well-being.

4. Go For a Long Drive

But make sure to do it on a traffic-free area, with no specific destination in mind.  Constant traffic causes undue stress for many of us, and it is great practice to get out on the open road, listen to some great music and just drive for the FUN of it!

5. Light Incense

Very few of us pay close attention to how our sense of smell affects mood, and we can stimulate great feelings of relaxation by incorporating wonderful smells in our life.  Incense can be extremely therapeutic, and if you have a fireplace I highly recommend lighting it up a few times a month and enjoy the calming smell!

6. Go For An Early Morning Hike

The sounds, smells and sights of nature instill a calming and peaceful feeling within all of us.  In the next week, get up early and go for a long hike and just feel the uninhibited presence of natural beauty all around you.  This is relaxation experience in its finest form.

7. Take 10 Deep Breaths

Breathing is the king of all relaxation techniques!  When you want to relax, take a huge inhale through the nose, hold it for a count of 7, and then release ALL the air through the nostrils.  Do this 10 times in a row and you will be in a totally different state!
 
8. Go For a Really Exerting Run

Pushing your cardiovascular rhythm to its limits is a great way to relax.  You may not feel this way as you are doing it, but after a long run you will feel tension-free and crisp.  Remember, the sweat you are losing contains toxins and stress!   If you can’t run, do something that is safely exerting for YOU.  

9. Buy Yourself Something

So long as your choice of purchase is within reason, treat yourself to a new clothing item, ipod, car or whatever you truly desire.  This can do wonders to relieve stress and I highly recommend you do this guilt-free.  Realize that you deserve it!

10. Pay Your Bills a Few Days Early

Instead of stressing about bills, and thinking about all the money going out the door at the end of the month, intentionally pay your bills a week or two early!  This will help you will generate feelings of accomplishment and freedom, and will also relax you when the normal time comes to write checks.

11. Have Your Favorite Dessert– Guilt Free!

That’s right—a few times a month treat yourself to the sweet craving you constantly deny yourself.  Realize that consistent denial causes tension, and allowing yourself indulgences, within reason, is a great tool for relaxation.
 
12. Curl Up With a Really Good Book

For me, nothing is more relaxing than sitting in my home on a rainy Friday night and curling up with a really good book.  Implementing this activity in your life is a true MUST for instilling calmness.

13. Try a Sauna Or Take a Steam

Spending time in either one of these treatment centers drains your body of toxins and deodorizes the organs and skin.  You will feel SO good afterward and I recommend jumping in a Sauna or a Steam room at least once a week.

14. Book an Aromatherapy Massage

Massage HAS to be a staple of any relaxation routine, and adding scented oils and creams stimulates calmness in a wider range of senses.  Try and get a professional massage at least once every 6 weeks to literally rub out stress, and if you have someone in your life that you can trade massages with even better! 

15. Buy a Foot Massage Machine

Similarly, investing in one of those contraptions that massages the feet is an excellent way to add relaxation into your life.  Our lowest appendages feel the daily grind more than any other body part, at least physically, and massaging them every day is a great idea.

16. Go For a Walk In The Rain

When it rains, we have become entrained to whip out our umbrellas and hurry indoors.  Next time, try letting go of this knee-jerk reaction and take a freeing walk amid the showers.  Don’t worry about your clothes (you can deal with it later) and just enjoy the freshness of rain on your body. 

17. Go To a Comedy Club

Laughing until tears are streaming down your face is a terrific way to relax your 5 senses and restore balance in the body.  Find a really good comedy club and frequent it a few times a month and start seeing the stress-relieving benefits of laughter!

18. Sit In Silence For One Day

Pick a day in the next two weeks where you can shut off your phone, turn off your email and literally sit in silence (and solitude) for 24 straight hours.  Sound daunting?  It can be at first, but integrating this practice into your life quiets the never ending chatterbox in your head.

19. Stare At a Candle For 15 Minutes

Lighting a candle and staring at is a wonderful relaxation technique.  As you try this, commit yourself to focusing ALL of your attention on the flickering beauty.  After some practice you may experience moments of crisp awareness and heightened clarity, which are the ultimate feelings of serentiy!

20. Go Star Gazing

State at them with great purpose.  Contemplate that what you are really staring at is the past; meaning the star you are observing is really a sparkle from a distant age (given it takes millions of light years to get here)!  When you are done, bring yourself back to earth, where you are, your situation, and your life.  This will relax you.

21. Invest in Really Comfortable Furniture

Relaxation is about treating your body well ALL the time.  We sit in furniture for so much of our life that it is imperative to invest in kinds that make you feel really good.  If you drive a lot, but a comfortable seat cushion for your car.  If you work in an office, make sure your chair molds nicely to your body.  This is relaxation through the prevention of stress!

22. Drink Soothing Tea

A nice calming hot cup of tea is an elixir of relaxation.  Certain teas also have a myriad of other health benefits, including being high in antioxidants.  Great options are chamomile and green tea.  

23. Invest in a Posturpedic Pillow

We spend anywhere from 25-35% of our lives sleeping, and it is critical to make this time as effective as possible.  Posturpedic pillows are expensive, but worth it.  They mold to your head and shoulders and insure proper alignment of the back as you slumber.  The results:  increased energy, better focus, and a more relaxed attitude! 

24. Go See a Mindless Movie

Sitting in the dark, eating some buttery popcorn and laughing at ridiculously obvious jokes is a wonderful way to relax and get out of your own head for a few hours.  I recommend doing this at least once a month, and you know the movies I am talking about (anything with Ben Stiller in it will do the trick)!

This list is a follow-up to an article published a few weeks ago on We The Change called 25 Ways to Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality. 

In my opinion, this list of relaxation techniques is even more important for creating a fulfilling and meaningful life.  Let me know what you think!
 

Last Monday was We The Change’s 50th birthday.  OK so not in years, but in days, and I still think its cause for celebration given how fast this community is growing!

In a short time We The Change has garnered over 150 subscribers, received tens of thousands of page views, and steadily climbed the ranks of the Technorati search engine. 

I want to take this time to THANK each and every one of you who supports this website and blog—you have helped make this an incredible experience so far and I want to inform you that this is just the beginning for what I have planned for We The Change.

Before I get to some of the future plans, I would like to share with you an amazing coincidence concerning the creation of WTC that I only came to realize a few weeks ago:

As many of you know, I live in Manhattan, New York.  During the attacks of September 11, I was in my apartment (which is very close to the World Trade Center) getting ready for work.  I actually heard the first plane flying over my building and because I have an unobstructed view of downtown I saw the complete aftermath with my own eyes. 

Like most people in our country this event had a huge impact on me and must have really implanted itself in my subconscious mind for the following reasons: 

First: My first blog entry was posted on September 11 (my “welcome” entry was the day before but my first official blog was on the famous anniversary).  I never really thought about it at the time, but this site literally launched on 9/11.

Second:

We          World
The          Trade
Change    Center

These really are coincidences; I did not plan either of them.  Furthermore I do not know what to make of it.  If any of you have any thoughts I would love you to share them.

Future Plans

OK, I might as well throw it out there and say that I intend We The Change to become the #1 blog in the world.  I see this website as a platform for the sharing and exchange of ideas that can help its readers lead more fulfilling lives and be a gateway to a more sustainable future for mankind.

If I offend you for thinking this big, I can’t apologize for it—it’s just who I am

I attribute our growth to the fact that many of you really believe in our basic premise: That individual self-improvement can be, and HAS to be, the impetus for improvements on a broader scale.  How can we expect things around the globe to get better if we are not content with our own lives, right?

So how are WE going to do this? 

1) Continue to provide high quality articles in all areas of personal development: nutrition, exercise, relationships, spirituality, etc…

2) Interview TOP influencers and thought leaders who can help us “be the change”

3) Create a unique “wellness calculator” that will be the staple for fundamental improvements for individuals everywhere.

I have other ideas, but for right now these three areas are my primary focus.  To the third point, that is all I am going to say about it right now as the project is currently in development (but it’s going to be HUGE)!

Now it’s my turn to ask you:  Is there anything I can do on We The Change to make the experience even greater?  I really, really would love to hear from more of you.  If you are shy about leaving comments, please email me directly at:  todd.goldfarb@gmail.com

WTC can only get better if I know what you want to read about, so take two minutes and share with me your impressions.  Thanks!

Spread the Word

Lastly, if you enjoy the content on We The Change it would be great if you could give its gift to someone else.  Perhaps a close friend, co-worker or loved one can benefit from some of the advice given here and needs some perspective in his or her life? 

You do not have the ability email articles directly off the site (yet), but am providing a few links of articles you can cut and paste and throw in an email to someone and say “hey, check out this really cool site I found”!  Again, this is much appreciated

25 Fun Ways to Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality
http://www.wethechange.com/25-fun-ways-to-pamper-your-body-and-increase-vitality/

14 Step Guide to Finding the Perfect Career
http://www.wethechange.com/14-step-guide-to-finding-the-perfect-career/

7 Effective Ways to Implement Positive Thinking
http://www.wethechange.com/7-effective-ways-to-implement-positive-thinking/

How Blogs and Social Networking Can Save the World
http://www.wethechange.com/how-blogs-and-social-networking-can-save-the-world/

How to Maintain a Healthy Brain
http://www.wethechange.com/how-to-maintain-a-healthy-brain/

Lastly, I just want to say thank you again to all the readers of this blog.  Let’s make this thing worthwhile together!

Todd

Stamina is a measure of the capability to sustain prolonged stressful effort. Gauging your stamina provides valuable insight to your overall physical constitution and power to endure disease, fatigue, and illness.

Because stamina decreases as we age, it is absolutely imperative to work hard and constantly stretch our bandwidth of endurance.

There are a myriad of incredible ways to build stamina through proper (and careful) exercise, and here are 6 of the greatest activities I have found for this purpose:

1. Bikram Yoga

Bikram is a specific type of Yoga and one of the most grueling cardiovascular workouts you can endure. For 90 minutes you are immersed in a room that is 110 degrees (intentionally) and are instructed through a series of 27 postures and stretches that will push the limits of your pain threshold (its difficulty is what makes it SO rewarding)! There is no chanting or anything seemingly spiritual about this Yoga, and if you can get past the initial pain and make a habit of the practice there is absolutely nothing better for your stamina than Bikram!

2. Lift Weights

Most people think of aerobic exercise when trying to increase stamina, but the truth is that real fitness magic happens when you simultaneously improve your muscular AND cardiovascular systems. Use weight machines, free weights, fitness bands and your own body weight (my favorite) to drastically increase your stamina.

3. Hiking

Hiking in nature has so many benefits that it would take a few pages to list them all. One of the less talked about advantages of taking a good hike is what it can do for your stamina. Because you are outdoors, and most likely surrounded by oxygen-giving trees and plants, your lungs will take in a greater abundance of the gas it loves most. This is extremely healthy for the alveoli that serve as the mechanism for your breath. Plus, depending on the type of hiking you do, it can be a muscle building and cardio workout which makes it dually beneficial.

4. Pilates

Pilates is a fantastic exercise that focuses 100% on strengthening the core of the body. By focusing on the stomach and lower back, a consistent Pilates routine improves posture and brings the body in better alignment. These adjustments will help you breathe easier, sleep better, and put less stress on weaker joints and tendons. Like Bikram, Pilates can be somewhat grueling and is fantastic for increasing stamina. I highly recommend you giving it a try!

5. Relaxation

Performing deep breathing exercises or taking a 20-minute nap can give your brain and body the opportunity to do some very important restorative work. As staminas opposite, relaxation is a critical component to increasing your endurance. Strive for a solid 7-8 hours of solid sleep each and every night for added benefits.

6. Have Sex

In my article 25 Fun Ways to Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality, I did not have sex on the list and boy did some people jump down my throat! “That should have been #1 far and away” I was told. You know what, my complainers were right and having sex is a great way to pamper the body, improve vitality AND increase stamina. There are countless studies relating longevity to how much sex one has, so keep on doing it to add years to your life!

In the end, our stamina is a fantastic measuring stick for our overall wellness. Push yourself to increase endurance and build stamina, and you can literally add many good years onto your life!