In reality, every day is a great opportunity to change course when we find ourselves on a less than optimal one. And, there’s something about a new year that presents us with a special opportunity to forge ahead on a new path, one that brings greater health, happiness, and abundance.

Most people would probably agree that their health is vitally important to the quality of their lives. Yet given the demands of the day, work and family, and the pace of the times we live in, it can seem overwhelming to stay on track making healthy choices, day after day.

Yet, how we choose to fuel our body, both nutritionally AND emotionally, is the best opportunity we have to prevent premature aging, illness, and disease. Stress on the body, whether it comes from our daily nutrition, lifestyle, and resulting weight, or from unmanaged emotions, is what is doing us in, way before our time.

On every corner is a fast food something or other. The company break room has sweets on the counter almost daily. The stress of the job is overwhelming. The kids schedule is consuming. Wine at the end of the day helps us unwind. A late night snack helps us sleep. A cup of coffee gets us going.

It is this intersection of our emotions and life where our greatest opportunity lies to improve our health, wellbeing, and happiness. How will we respond to events and circumstances, is the million dollar question.

With over 70% of Americans overweight, almost 40% obese, about 80% experiencing physical symptoms from stress, and one third of us saying stress is extreme, we can see the results of our lifestyle and culture.

We over-eat, over-work, over-care, over-spend, over-indulge in something because it feels like that is where we can control things, where we can get comfort, or escape for a bit.

So how can you take control of your life to best support your health, happiness, and longevity?

Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle are key. Reducing emotional stress throughout the day (not just the end of the day, or the weekend or the vacation) is key. The body needs healthy inputs, both nutritionally and emotionally.

Here are 7 tips to help you fuel your body, both nutritionally and emotionally, throughout the day, for a great new year (or rest of the year):

1) Within 30-60 minutes of waking up, eat a small portion, nutrient-dense meal like oatmeal and berries.

2) Also, first thing, fuel your body with healthy emotions like care, compassion and appreciation. Move your attention to your heart to move away from head brain activity like your schedule, deadlines, resentments, or fears. Take several slow, slightly deeper breaths, in and out of the heart. As you breathe, appreciate something or someone in your life for a minute or more.

3) Repeat steps 1 and 2 every 2-3 hours to continue to fuel your body with healthy food (mostly plant foods) and healthy positive emotions throughout the day.

4) Eat 5-6 meals/day with plant food the majority of EACH of your meals.

5) Drink water all day long, around 64 oz., until early evening. Your body is mostly water and it needs clean fresh water running through it. Drinking past early evening can keep you up at night.

6) Sleep 7+ hours/night. Your heart needs to get to its resting point and can only do so with long, uninterrupted hours of sleep. Not only does your heart depend on it, so does your brain, your weight, your immune system—your body, and every aspect of your life.

7) Physical activity most days of the week including cardio, weight-bearing exercises, and stretching/flexibility.

Your health is one of the best gifts you give yourself and those you love. You can re-take control of your life by taking control of the way you fuel your body, nutritionally and emotionally. And let’s teach our children to do the same.

From that healthy and well-balanced internal place, well-fed emotionally and nutritionally, the world you see and experience will slow down, look rosier, and will provide you optimal health, clear thinking, high productivity, and joy. You will feel, look, and be your very best, for that next chapter, and that new path that awaits you.

Take Laurie’s Personal Health Assessment: and get a free 40-minute Personal Health Consult to determine your best opportunities to create optimal health and well-being.