Some people ask me why it’s important to design your life. My answer is that not only will you be happier, but you will be healthier.
Here are some facts:
A study published in March of 2006 in the Diabetologia concluded that depressed adults have a 37 percent greater risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
As documented in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, depression dramatically decreases the blood flow to the heart muscle which could increase the risk of a heart attack.
Dwight Evans, Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania medical school has stated that: “there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that depression might be a causal risk factor in diseases like ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and immune-based diseases like cancer . . .”
In addition, a study has shown that loneliness can spike older people’s blood pressure by 30 points.
The good news is that there are simple things you can do to be happier.
Daily Habits for Health and Happiness
1. List three things you are grateful for every day.
2. Ensure experience pleasure or joy every day.
3. Expose your eyes to 20 minutes of sun (you can wear your hat
but not your sunglasses).
4. Make an Appointment to Laugh (I like the “Ellen” show, but the
funnies or the joke of the day work well too).
These strategies can make a big difference in your level of happiness.
If you want to do something even bigger: create a life vision, determine what you need to do to create your ideal life, and do it!
Having a supportive coach can make this process much easier. My clients experience on average a 25% increase in their Life Satisfaction after 3 to 6 months. I invite you to invest in your happiness and your health.
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© Donna Schilder, PCC, Life & Business Coach of Glacier Point Solutions, Inc., 2007. Dschilder@aol.com (562)434-7822. You are welcome to “reprint” this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the “about the author” information at the end).
Through coaching, Donna Schilder helps her clients design the life they want to live and build productive businesses. Her Free monthly E-newsletter "Guideposts on the Road to Happiness" is for people who want to live a happier, healthier, and more productive life. Sign up now at www.DonnaSchilder.com.
