How do I find more balance in my life?

To find more balance in your life: Eat more nutrient-dense foods, be more mindful, and get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Psychiatrist Drew Ramsey, MD, explains why these basics are important to finding balance and wellness in life.

Transcript

00:00

Sleep hygiene is horrible in this country. People really are not taking good care of their sleep. We want people getting 7 to 8 to even 9 hours a night.

00:08

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00:16

There are three tips that I give to everybody when they're looking to find more balance. The first, of course, is eating lots of brain food.

00:23

And that means focusing on nutrient density, getting more omega-3 fats, more fiber so you feed that microbiome, all those bugs in your gut that we know influence

00:31

brain health, and more B vitamins-- B12, B9, things you're going to find in leafy greens and also in seafood and meat.

00:39

So more brain food. Number two is mindfulness. Now this is a really simple idea, which is just trying to be present in your life

00:46

in this very moment. I achieve this in my life and advise my patients to by simply teaching people to breathe, taking deep breaths,

00:54

really trying to clear your mind and center yourself down. And my third kind of fundamental tip for balance is sleep.

01:00

Sleep hygiene is horrible in this country. People really are not taking good care of their sleep. So we want people getting 7 to 8 to even 9 hours a night.

01:08

Basic sleep hygiene-- get rid of the screen. Very hard for people to do, but turn it off after about 9 or 10 o'clock. No late-night TV.

01:15

Put yourself to bed with some hot tea, a book, and really get a good, restful night of sleep. Some people really benefit from a little stretching.

01:22

If you're having problems sleeping, look to exercise or something like a skullcap tea. There are a bunch of easy ways to improve your sleep hygiene.

01:30

So better brain food, mindfulness, and better sleep-- that will be three easy steps to help you get back to balance.