March 25, 2023

Years ago I recorded a fun video, titled “100 reasons to Run 100 Miles”. I love the distance for many reasons, clearly. Recently I read Becoming Minimalists blog, “100 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Life”. I wanted to share that on social media, and realized before doing so, MY list would be somewhat different. Why not create my own? I tend to enjoy “top ten” lists as well. There must be something special about triple that number, and the draw for me to run 100 mile foot races!

1. Hundreds of thousands of people pass away daily. Be grateful upon waking up! Thank your parents!
2. Drink more clean water! Add lemon juice.
3. Bounce in bare feet on a mini trampoline for ten minutes. Best way to jump start your lymphatic system to boost immune functions. Research benefits of rebounding!
4. Set some challenging goals and focus on them daily.
5. Listen to music you love. Learn more about the musicians, the lyrics and the song’s intents.
6. Read books, magazines, blogs, newspapers, etc. Read before bed time.
7. Loosen and stretch a bit each morning with gentle yoga. I like Dan Dreyer’s Chi Running advice.
8. Strive for better quality sleep, generally 7-8 hours of quality rest.
9. Meditate, even if it’s just a few deep, slow breaths. It’s more important than making the bed.
10. Strive for less screen time. Turn off the TV.
11. Spend time in conversation with a loved one. Remember the wise old owl; the less he spoke, the more she heard, why aren’t we all like that wise ol bird?
12. Go barefoot whenever it’s safe. Really feel the world from the toes up.
13. Reach out to an old friend, just to say hello.
14. Be kind to animals. All animals, even people.
15. Keep a journal, blog, create content for a YouTube channel, and/or utilize social media to organize ideas and events.
16. Enjoy solitude. You’re never really alone, but be aware of your own heart beat, breath, emotions, etc.
17. Enjoy consuming fruits, vegetables, greens, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, grains, fungi you want. All you ever needed nutritionally is right there. See number 14.
18. Mantras. Focus on your favorites or create new ones. Energy flows where attention goes! Simple quantum physics folks.
19. Give sincere compliments.
20. Practice good posture. Crown of the head to the sky! Strong core, with healthy pelvic tilt. See Chi Running, the book for dozens of tips. Walk backwards, then freeze that posture and learn it.
21. Volunteer. Be creative in your activism.
22. Declutter an area of your living space. Less is often more. More relaxing. Be aware your stuff effectively can own you.
23. Use a waterpik for flossing and mouthwash. Brush gently.
24. Be kind to all kinds, including yourself.
25. Laugh often. Help others smile and laugh. Smile and notice how people respond.
26. Honor and recall loved ones who’ve passed.
27. Healthy snacks keep us more balanced. Whole fruit, raw nuts, air popped popcorn. Dried fruit.
28. Check out Nutritionfacts.org on-line via blogs, YouTube etc. Read Dr. Greger’s books, best sellers which support this nonprofit. Learn daily about food and wellness. Seek truth.
29. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Love your existence. It’s priceless.
30. Appreciate the miracle of your life. Strive to make it a great day.
31. Enjoy a shower or hot soak in Epsom salt. Practice reflexology on your feet and hands.
32. Looks for nature’s lessons, irony and humor. It’s everywhere.
33. Say yes to interesting opportunities to share. Be a guest on a podcast, or listen to other’s life lessons.
34. Hang from a chin up bar. Do a pull-up. Sit-ups and push-ups are good too.
35. Consider taking a power nap, 10-20 minutes is probably enough.
36. Think about what you are grateful for. Simple things matter.
37. Tune in to nature. Get out there. Observe, smell, listen, touch.
38. Clean something in your home or in your vehicle.
39. Be vigilant regarding how ubiquitous marketing efforts are influencing your thoughts.
40. Be aware of the power of your thoughts and feeling. Actions matter too. But thoughts and feelings are measurable “things”.
41. Take the scenic or alternate route often. See the world from different angles. Climb up, or get on the ground!
42. Take photos of interesting or memorable views.
43. Send a hand written note.
44. Practice a hobby mindfully. Hike or run regularly. Consider some “plogging”; pick up some rubbish.
45. Beans, nuts, seeds, greens, veggies, and other plant sourced delicious foods are protein.
46. Create a physical or mental vision board. Most important, feel like you’ve achieved it. VMR; Visual Motor Rehearsal.
47. Take advantage of circadian rhythms by making meals largest at breakfast, medium at lunch and smaller for dinner. Give your digestive system regular rest periods.
48. Reduce, reuse, recycle, donate and sometimes dispose of items.
49. Hug your loved ones longer.
50. Say “I love you” more often.
51. Enjoy tea, moderate caffeine consumption. Consider adding mushroom powders!
52. Sit less, stand more. A stand up desk is a great investment, like the one I am using at the moment.
53. If medically able to, hang upside down from an inversion table! Fun way to helps with spine health.
54. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets. Have your camera ready during those “golden” hours.
55. Appreciate plants. They are our ideal sustenance for our long digestive tracts.
56. Moderate your exposure to negative news.
57. Laugh, giggle, snicker and smile often.
58. Be aware of your strengths, develop them and shore up your weaknesses.
59. Be thankful at meal time. Think of the entire process of how that item came to you. Taste it, really taste it.
60. Recognize when others are using critical thinking skills. Develop yours regularly.
61. Watch for people who have decades of expertise in an area of your weakness who is willing to share what they’ve learned. Learn more about those people. When the student’s ready, the teacher will appear.
62. Say thank you!
63. Minimize intake of processed sugars, processed oils and overly processed foods in general. Notice that meat, eggs and dairy are effectively over processed plants, lacking fiber, while containing negative influences on your wellbeing. See 28.
64. Give your taste buds about 21 days to appreciate healthier foods, flavors, textures, etc. Try new recipes. Better yet, create your own.
65. Mix up your routine. Keep your body and brain flexing in different ways. Play games. Have fun.
66. Maybe joy is the purpose of this existence?
67. Wave at your neighbors. Everyone is our neighbor. Everything is connected energy.
68. Keep a clean kitchen. Strive for a clean sink, fridge, etc.
69. Post a positive message on social media. Funny work too. Give the gift of laughter.
70. Check the pressure in your vehicle’s tires, engine oil, etc.
71. Leave a positive review for a contractor, restaurant, retailer, etc.
72. Sing and dance with your hands in the air like you don’t care.
73. Send encouragement to a younger person.
74. Visualize yourself at your favorite places, vacation spots, et.
75. Do a puzzle. I view completing ultra marathons as multi variable puzzles to solve. Similarly, repairing health concerns is a puzzle solving process.
76. Realize your body is nearly new, cell to cell every five to seven years. We constantly rebuild from within.
77. Be kind to the earth that creates and sustains each of us.
78. Turn off you phone and other lighted devices about an hour before sleep time.
79. Leave “work at work”. Strive for presence in the present.
80. Take a break from emails and other digital distractions.
81. Gaze at the night sky: moon, stars, etc.
82. Turn on music after dinner for clean up time.
83. Discuss your favorite part of the day at dinner.
84. Seek updates from your favorite influential people.
85. Review tomorrow’s schedule before going to bed.
86. Realize that prayers are thoughts, so thoughts are therefore prayers. Nobody has it all figured out. If they claim to, be wary. Get out of ruts quickly, as quantum physics and the study of energy suggest
    “mind over matter” influences reality.
87. Moisturize your skin, but realize that what your rub into your skin gets into your blood stream. Use products that are all or mostly “edible” for lower risk moisturizing.
88. Use sunscreen cautiously. What’s in the ingredients? Would you consume those? If not, why rub it into your skin regularly? Consider minimizing sun during the summer and getting more sun exposure during the Winter. Plant based diets are protective for the skin, our largest organ.
89. Prepare or do a load of laundry. Wash your sheets regularly.
90. Predetermine your wardrobe the night before, but change it if the instinct is different after waking.
91. Embrace the certainties of work, uncertainty and pain. These are universal.
92. Maintain a healthy body weight for your height, muscle mass and bone density.
93. Weigh in regularly to be honest with yourself.
94. It’s easier to fine tune daily nutrition habits than to fix and over weight situation.
95. Deeply enjoy your food. Plant sourced foods, whole or nominally processed fill the tummy to satiation. Rich in fiber and water to help maintain that healthy balance.
96. Compost your food scraps.
97. Grow your own organic foods with the help of your compost.
98. Save some of the money you can by adopting a more minimalist lifestyle.
99. Take some personal responsibility for your mistakes. Realize wins are team efforts and good luck often plays a role. Pain can be a great teacher and motivator.
100. Wear comfortable shoes. But, avoid “comfort traps”. Minimalist shoes build “foundational” strength that impacts everything “up the chain” into the spine and beyond. Those nerve endings in your sensitive feet are there to quickly make your “brain smarter”, more aware and able to direct your body accordingly. I suggest Xero Shoes for virtually every situation, as the form and function combined with a 5000 mile outsole warranty add great value. Ecofriendly. See 77.
     

BecomingMinimalist is a great resource. As is The Minimalists and their documentary, “Less is Now. We are currently attempting to downsize our housing, a huge task. I’ve been going at it like we’re eating the world’s largest watermelon. One Bite At A time. I should be painting, cleaning, repairing, decluttering right now. Cheers.

Oh, and if I were to add a bonus, 101. Bear in mind that humans greatest strength, our ability to adapt, IMO is also our greatest weakness. We can quickly adapt to and crave more of the very worst “things” for us. “Things” can be thoughts and habits. Gambling, etc. This is why we all are so at risk of becoming addicted. Avoid unhealthy addictions!! And be aware that humans are the only creatures that routinely take more from the earth than we need. Was that 102? Lessons everywhere. Take what you need, need what you take. Easier said than done.

All the best,

Randy

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