These 11 Healthy Habits Helped Change My Life..

When looking back at my life, it’s easy to see which pivotal moments or changes in my life really made a difference in the end. It’s a lot harder to make a conscious decision in the moment, not knowing whether it’ll have an impact on you or not..

That’s why I’m here to (potentially) guide you to make a few easier decisions, by sharing with you, which Healthy Habits & Lifestyle Choices helped change my life.

Read on for more..

1. I started doing training that I actually enjoyed.

For far too many years, I would force myself to do different types of exercises simply because it was ‘the newest craze’ or because I knew I’d burn loads of calories to make up for the packet of chocolate I downed yesterday..

Now, I’m 28, I finally feel like I’ve made my peace with training. I’ve manage to reel in that inner-judge, and focus on what I genuinely love to do in order to move my body and break a sweat. Perhaps it comes with age and realising what’s actually important in this lifetime, perhaps it comes from diving deeper into my spirituality and focusing on feeling good.

My routine at the moment is a mix of High Intensity Training, Pilates, Yoga and Weight-Circuits. I’m really thriving off it, and I don’t ever feel like it’s a drag to go to a class or get up when my alarm goes off at 5.45am in the morning, because I actually have fun doing these classes and pushing myself.

My advice: find a few different types of training or sports you truly love doing. It’ll keep you in a steady training-routine and you’ll see results on your body and mind a lot quicker.

2. Focusing on a plant-based diet & cutting down on meat

A lot of you will know that I used to be vegan many years ago.. I let that go, because I felt like it didn’t function for my body any longer. And the controlling behaviour around food was only feeding my eating disorder at the time.

Now, I mainly eat vegetarian at most meals, however I do supplement with fish & on the rare occasion, chicken. However, the main component in all my meals will be made up of fresh, vibrant vegetables.
I normally steam or light stir-fry my vegetables, as my tummy doesn’t like to digest too many raw vegetables.

The result? A much better gut, by cutting out heavy meats that your body is working overtime to digest, clearer skin, better sleep and brighter, whiter eyes are just some of the things that cutting out meat helped me with.

My advice: start small. Start by cutting out meat one-two times per week and then continue if you’re serious about wanting to eat a more plant-based diet. Just remember to get your protein from elsewhere, like eggs, fish, legumes, seeds, oils, protein-powders and more.

3. Learning how to meditate

Now, here’s a point that’s often worth a discussion no-matter where you go; most people will have an opinion about this subject. I often find people questioning it, but I’ve found that it’s simply because they don’t understand ‘it’ to it’s full extent.

I became a Vedic Meditator under Jeff Kober in LA last year, and my world really did change since learning this ancient practice that involves the use of a mantra and is practiced for 20 minutes twice per day while sitting with one’s eyes closed

I will meditate upon waking in the morning before my day starts, and I will sit in stillness and meditate in the afternoon.

Since learning how to meditate, I’ve found that my anxiety & stress-levels have diminished significantly. It’s almost as if it’s an escape from ‘reality’, but not in the sense that you are running away from your problems. You are in fact settling into a restful alertness where you connect with your true level of Being. The place where you make way for the larger Self, your Truth, so that I can once again breathe and experience life as a place of joy & possibilities rather than pain & suffering.

I know, when I come out of my meditation and transcendence, that everything is okay. And that all is right, just as I’m meant to experience it.

My advice: if you’re interested in learning more about your Truth, your Self, your higher Consciousness, then I suggest signing up to a free intro-talk at a meditation-centre or with a teacher. Ask friends or people who you know are meditators, where they recommend to go. It’s a very personal matter, and so who they connected with, may not connect with yourself in the same manner. Follow your heart and your gut-feel.

Read more about my meditation here.

4. Quitting Coffee & substituting it with tea

Yep, that’s right. Can you believe it? I know for all you coffee-drinkers out there, your jaw will be on the table reading this.. However, it’s very achievable and ENJOYABLE, too!

Almost 3 months ago now, I quit drinking coffee completely. At first, I was going to allow myself to have one cup every once in a while, however, I really quickly just let go of it, because I felt so good  not drinking coffee!

I gave up coffee, because it was ruining my gut. The acidity was far too much for my tummy to handle, and it would leave me feeling bloated, sluggish, tired and with extremely bad reflux. Read more about it here.

Instead, I substituted the bad habit of drinking coffee with a better habit of drinking teas.. Mm, yum!

Now, to give you an understanding; I absolutely did not like tea. I thought it was so plain, boring and watery. However, I gave it more of a go and, the fact that my boyfriend drinks heaps of tea definitely helped, too!

Now, I drink 2 litres of tea a day, and I’m thriving. My gut is healing so much faster, and my reflux is completely gone! I don’t feel as tired anymore, either and my sleep is far, far better!

My advice: Seriously, just go full-on cold turkey! I think with coffee, it’s better to take it away fully, deal with the ‘detox’-symptoms like headaches, tiredness and emotions, than it is to drag it out! Coffee is a drug, and so your body will have to, inevitably, go through the withdrawal symptoms, before it stops craving caffeine, however, that said, you’ll only be looking at about 3 days, max 1 week!

5. Incorporating a daily Vitamin & Supplement regime

I’ve always, always, always hated swallowing pills, so changing my vitamin & supplement regime wasn’t easy for me. Look, I’m not going to say I love to swallow all the different pills I take every day, but I’ve learned to live with it due to it’s beneficial properties I’ve experienced from finding a regime that goes with my body.

Now, I don’ have a certification in nutrition, naturopathy or anything in that area, but what I do have, is many years experience of what has worked on my body, and through my years of playing sports, working within the health industry and doing loads of research, I’ve found myself a great vitamin & supplements regime that really works wonders for me and has changed my life.

First of all; I’ve been able to combine my own mix of vitamins, herbs and superfoods in order to heal my very sensitive gut. It’s taken a lot of trial and error, but I finally feel like I’m onto something. Along with this, I also take a whole heap of other vitamins & supplements – in total, I take about 12-14 different pills & powders daily to heal my system and help me have the very best body.

Now, you don’t need to take as many as I do. We are all different, and you should go and get a checkup to see if you’re lacking in any vitamins & minerals to start with.

I’m obsessed with trying new things and figuring out how to bring my body the maximum amount of nutrition through food & supplements.

My advice: start with a daily multivitamin and if you’re a woman, then I’d also do an additional iron vitamin, especially around your period. Then gradually build up areas you’re concerned about; i.e. take probiotics if you digestive problems, collagen for better hair & nails etc.

6. Getting weekly facials & focusing on skincare

You may think how this point can be here? Well, you’re listening to someone who’s 28 and suffer severely from Cystic Acne – a severe disease of the skin, creating incredibly large cysts that are excruciatingly painful and can be, over time, dangerous.

It wasn’t until I became a lot older that I just so happened to meet Rochelle Collis at a Charity Event for Pink Hope. Rochelle and I quickly got a long like a house on fire, and I found out Rochelle just so happened to be the owner of Laser Clinics Australia Bondi Junction among others.

Rochelle really took me under her wing, and guided me through the land of facials, laser and treatments in order to help heal my skin and also manage it.

It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever allowed myself to dive fully into without thinking it’s something too vain. I was so shy, ashamed of my skin and lacked confidence, especially in my job working amongst (a lot) older, super senior vice presidents around the globe.. However, all of that changed when I started weekly facials and a good skincare regime. Now, I absolutely adore and love NOT wearing makeup because I can.. I still have a lot of scarring (from my acne), but it’ll be fixed with time.

My advice: Go see a skin-specialist specialising in adult-acne and let them advice you to what is best to 1. get rid of the acne & 2. how to manage it moving forward. Facials like: Healite, Microdermabrasion, Peels & Masques work wonders!

Read about my acne here.

7. Cut the bullshit & got real with myself

Well, I’m pretty sure we could all have this conversation with ourselves – more often than we think!

A pivotal point for a drastic change in my life, was when my best girlfriend had the balls (excuse the language) to have that uncomfortable conversation with me about eating disorders.. By then, I was so far gone that my body was slowly, but surely, shutting down itself. Even after the conversation – that involved a lot of tears, yelling and damning – it took me weeks, months, to acknowledge that I was in fact very, very sick and I’d lost my way in life.

But, as much as those years has had an amount of pain & suffering to them, they’ve also been filled with growth, love and learning. I’m still learning every single day. It’s still hard for me to be around food & eat at times – even not eating, or knowing when to stop, is sometimes hard for me.

But, it wasn’t til I got real with myself and cut the bullshit & all the excuses I could make up, that I’ve started taking steps towards healing and real growth.

I’m not perfect, in fact, I’m far, far from it. And I don’t think I’ll ever be perfect. But, I’ve started accepting that, and loving myself for what I am, for who I am – in this world and to the people that I love.

My advice: If you’re suffering from eating disorders, please know that you are not alone. We think it’s shameful, but really, it’s not. It’s just as much a diseases as it is to break your arm or leg – we all need healing. And it’s okay to ask for help – you are not meant to go the distance alone. Confide in someone you trust – someone you know will not judge you, and can slightly understand a smidge of what & how you’re feeling. There’s a lot of healing in sharing your nightmare – trust me. I’ve been there, I am there.

8. Using Acupuncture to promote mental, emotional & physical healing

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’d know that I’m very big on acupuncture, and that I’ve spoken about my journey & life-changing meeting with Mitch Patience before. Read it here. 

Acupuncture is still very present in my life. I have a very special bond with Mitch and that absolutely helps in healing me. Mitch & acupuncture has been a big part of healing my eating disorder, my hormonal imbalances & my digestive issues. It’s changed everything.

I try to go once a week, however if I can make it twice it’s even better.

My advice: don’t be afraid of the needles. It doesn’t hurt. And it is, in fact, very relaxing. If you’re in Sydney, try The Acupuncture Collective which is a flat-fee of $25 per session (no booking necessary) or contact my Mitch Patience here.

9. Using plants & flowers as a therapy

This may sound ridiculous to a lot, however, to me, plants and flowers are incredibly healing in their own way.

The past few months, I’ve made a real effort to purchase green plants for my home to help with, both air purification, but also to put a smile on my face.

I also go to my local farmers market each Saturday to pick up fresh-cut flowers. I bring them home and I spend about 30 mins (not joking!) arranging them in different vases that are old juice or milk-glass bottles that I’ve kept.

There’s something about touching flowers and getting crafty that is incredibly healing for me. It’s like connecting fully with myself and where I’m from. And it always makes me in a better mood, brings down my anxiety & stress and also, plants & flowers look great around the house!

10. I quit a high-paying job to be truly happy

Yep, that’s right. I went from being extremely focused on money and getting bigger, better, more renowned within my industry to quitting what I’d always known to find my happiness & focus on what life is truly about.

I went from a very high 6-figure salary to a very, very low one… The money back then was GREAT, don’t get me wrong. But I was selling myself, I was unhappy, I was tired, I wasn’t taking care of myself and I wasn’t living life. Fast forward til today, I let go of all of that to pursue what I felt was trying to connect with me – my true Self, my consciousness, my Truth.

I don’t earn a lot, but I have the freedom & flexibility to now work with clients who love being creative and different. I work with people who are open-minded, accepting and know that our lives are not based on how much we earn or what our jobs are; but how we choose to make this world a better place for all, whilst we focus on doing what truly makes us happy – high-paying, no-paying or anything in-between.

11. I let go of my idea of finding love

.. on my very first ‘date’ with Pash I didn’t even know it was a date. I don’t think he thought it was either. I literally went in my jumpsuit, sneakers, hair up & hat on = my ‘I can’t be bothered’-attire, never ever expecting it to be anything other than a juice in the sun. 4 hours later, and I walked away with a heart that was lit up from the inside-out. Our 2nd date was a rock-climbing date and we’ve been together ever since, now knowing I’ve found my best friend, my soulmate and the love of my life.

However, before then, I’d ‘given up’ on trying any longer. I’d been through so many heartbreaking and destructive relationships that I’d settled into my life pretty comfortably of ‘being on my own’. However, not in the sense of that I’d given up on love, but simply of the mindset that ‘if it happens, it happens. Either way, I’m happy & in love with my own life’.

And, it was exactly then and there, when I had that shift and lived those words, that the part my soul had been searching to connect with for such a long time, showed up out of nowhere.

My advice: let go of who you think you’ll be with. How, he or she looks like. What they do for a living. Where you’ll meet. Everything will happen in time. When it’s meant to. When you’re happy. Content. And loving yourself and YOUR life – that’s when it’ll happen. And you’ll look back, knowing why no other relationships ever worked out. You’ll know.

Thank you so much for reading if you made it this far. I truly hope you can take some of my personal learnings, and incorporate them into your lives to see if they’ll have the same effect on you.

All my love, Anna xx