Rethink Success, and Help Your Sleep With Daytime Sun

Hi Folks! Connor and Nick here from Healthy Living With Nick and Connor. Thanks again for being on our email list, it means a lot, and we are excited to share our weekly email with you. We hope you enjoy it! Here is what we hope you take away from this one: 

1. Rethink your idea of success and what it hinges on

2. Make sure to get some sunlight during the day to help your sleep, mood, health, and energy.

3. Just making sure that you start to rethink your idea of success!

Starter Mindset Tip: Rethink Your Idea of Success

Success can mean a lot of things in life, but think about what it means to you personally. What have you done in your life that you consider a success? What goals do you strive for that would bring you success in your mind? Do other people's views of your success impact your own views of your success? Some tough questions, so ruminate on those for a minute, and then read on. Alright, welcome back. We are hoping we can open some new doors for you when you think of success. More and more it seems like professional success is creeping into our overall life success. Having goals in your professional life are important, but they should not take over your idea of success in your life. Life success should not hinge on a job title or a dollar figure, life success should hinge on the amount of time that you are able to spend doing what you enjoy, with the people that you enjoy to be with. How much time are you able to dedicate to spending with the people you care about? Or how about a hobby that you love, or just some down time to allow you to recharge your batteries. We believe that this is true success. The more time you are able to spend with the people that you love, doing the things that you enjoy, the more successful you are. It is time to stop always striving for the next job title or pay raise—these are goals within your overall life plan, not the end all and be all—and instead strive for more time with your family, and more time doing what you love. 

Health Recipe:  Subscribe to the Sun (Not just in the morning)

Timing: 30 minutes at any time in the middle of the day

Level of Difficulty: Easy to get outside, make it happen

Serving Size: Every day if you can

Spice Level: As energizing as yerba mate tea

INGREDIENTS

Just you and that bright star in the sky

REASONING AND BENEFITS

This is recipe two of three about sunlight. Let’s go baby. One of the most consistent aspects in our daily lives is the rising and falling sun. Our bodies have learned to use this sunlight to wake ourselves up when the sun rises for the day, and use the darkness to trigger our bodies to start getting ready for sleep. Using sunlight may just be the easiest, cheapest, and best way for you to improve your sleep. Again, when you wake up in the morning, get sunlight in your eyes as soon as possible. Pay attention now, the next most important time to get sunlight is any time during the day for a minimum of thirty minutes. This could be during your lunch break, or taking some work calls outside while you go for a walk, or doing your afternoon exercise outside, whatever works best for you. Our bodies need sunlight throughout the day for a myriad of reasons for our health, especially our sleep. This helps your internal clock stay on the right schedule after setting it up in the morning with some morning sun. This is yet another way to help you fall asleep at night because your melatonin will be released at the proper time to help initiate sleep, and this will help you wake up in the morning. Pair this with exercise and/or time in nature for the next level benefits. This will help your mental health, physical health, and of course, your sleep. Get outside everybody. 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. When you wake up, go outside and let sunlight enter your eyes without sunglasses.

2. Get outside at any other point in the day for a minimum of 30 minutes. The longer the better, but aim for at least 30 minutes.

1. Don’t let cloudy days hold you back, those powerful rays from the sun will find you, they always do. If you can stay outside a little longer on cloudy days, that would be great because the exposure won’t be as powerful as a clear sunny day. By staying out longer, you will be able to get the proper amount of sunlight.

3. If you can exercise and/or get out in nature during this time, even better.

PRO TIP: Both of us agree here, when we get outside during the day, we feel more awake and energized, and better prepared to take on the rest of the day. See if you feel the same way.

* If the sun is hurting your eyes, throw on some sunglasses. Let the sunlight hit as much of your skin as you can as well for even more benefit, while maintaining sun safety. 

** Getting more sunlight throughout the day will create positive improvements in all aspects of your life such as mood and overall health.

*** Get creative here. If you can’t seem to find time in the day to get away from your desk, think of ways to work while you are outside. Take phone calls, make notes, whatever you can to get outside. 

Dessert Quote: 

“Your life success should not hinge on a dollar figure or a job title, it should hinge on the amount of time you can dedicate to valued experiences, time with your family and friends, and time being able to do what you want to do.” - Connor McCuaig

Now we want to hear from YOU! Please let us know what you think of today’s newsletter, and send us an example of how you applied the health recipe to your life! We would love to share how you introduced this week’s recipe into your life’s unique menu. Thanks and have a great Sunday!