To live a life balanced with health, work, family & happiness, I have always talked about the foundation coming down to three main things: living fit (movement, nutrition, rest), living “strong” (helping others, mentoring, volunteering, acts of kindness, giving blood), and laughing often (not taking life so seriously).

Recently I was asked to expand these thoughts to a “Top 20″ list of wellness related ideas folks could implement. I thought this was a splendid idea. For one, I love to get right to point–being a huge fan of Cliff Notes discussions! Two, I am also a firm believer of making small changes, simple changes one step at a time. They are easier to implement that way and the easier to implement, the better chance you have of making these changes an ongoing behavior.

Today, we’ll start with the first 5 of “Lisa’s Lessons” for maximizing health.

1. Aim for a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Research tells us getting adequate sleep goes much further than improved performance. It regulates hormones, affects mood, and weight. recent studies tell us those getting < 7 are 3X more susceptible to colds.

2. Talk. Guys, the women have you beat here. What I am talking about is like therapy, could include therapy, although good friends are cheaper! Journaling works, too. Don’t hold it in.

3. MOVE. our bodies were meant to–plain and simple. Dance, walk, stretch, lift, run, cycle, swim, play–anything active counts, just DO IT!

4. Eat well & often. Now, I am not defining “well” as a lot. I am talking about real food–fruits as desserts, vegetables (create a colorful plate), lean meats/fish/eggs, whole grains. You get the picture. It’s the man-made foods that create our problems. Make sure you eat at LEAST every 3 hours so your metabolism remains charged and your energy high.

5. Watch alcohol. Just don’t drink it. Kidding. But do be sure it’s only in moderation. Daily drinking really does have serious downsides.

Stay tuned for more. Stay strong. Be healthy. Have an AWESOME week!