Enjoying the Benefits of Good Clean Living

Perhaps you can file this post under 'common sense,' but I admit I haven't always followed these bits of advice.

I have noticed that making healthy choices, what I'm calling "good clean living," has led to positive health outcomes. (See related post about how academic success is a result of specific actions that students take.)

For example, choosing daily exercise, a good run or bike ride or dogwalk or yoga, or whatever way you like to move your body outdoors, can lead you to good energy and focus during the day and good sleep at night. 

Making choices that lead to a good night's sleep can lead to a fresh morning.  Have your materials ready for the next day.  Go to bed early.  Getting plenty of quality sleep can lead to feeling energized, alert, engaged. Don't make me start quoting Ben Franklin.

Eating nutritious food leads to feeling fueled/energized/healthy and to a happy gastro-intestinal system.

Getting good nutrition and good vascular health also leads to good sexual health.  That's nice too.  Making good choices about planning ahead for protection feels empowering and frees the mind to enjoy.

Practicing good mental hygeine, including avoiding synthetic drama, leads to clearer thinking, more balance, integrity and stability.

Exercising moderation with alcohol and other substances (including sugar!) leads to less drama for the liver, pancreas and gall bladder.

Flossing.  My dentist has a sign in his office that reads "Floss only the teeth you want to keep." I like taking care of my teeth, and I positively beam with pride when my hygenist praises me at each cleaning.  "I wish more of my patients were like you, Karen."

College Readiness Faculty to Faculty meeting at Alamosa High School

Here is a word cloud (thank you wordle.net) from a meeting I had this week which included faculty from Adams State College, Trinidad State Junior College, Alamosa High School and Ortega Middle School to discuss the challenges our students face to be "College Ready."

I don't have all the answers, but I'm grateful to be in the conversation.  I'll be attending the monthly Colorado Remedial Education Policy Review task force meeting May 25th and will bring the comments with me.  I'll also bring these ideas with me to the Kellogg Institute (a month-long fellowship to work on our near-peer mentoring project and/or other interventions to support students).