There are so many mind-body books out there, so recommending the first one is a challenge. I chose this one because it appeals to all ages, genders and is useful for both creative and analytical minds. My 22-year old son quotes it regularly and my husband has been using it all his life by keeping his keys in his left hand pocket and phone in the right. This way it frees him up for more creative thinking and bigger decision-making. Ladies, how amazing not to have to think about what to wear every morning – Obama doesn’t. He has reduced his decision-making to choosing a tie every morning, the rest is the same – grey trousers and white shirt. Reducing what you HAVE to think about everyday really works.

I believe that neuroscientist Daniel Levitin’s book will help you to cope with information overload and making decisions. And as Live Whole is about deciding where you fit and opening your mind to new knowledge, you might appreciate a few mental tips.

Useful ideas from the book to help you to adopt a Live Whole (LW) lifestyle are:

Memory is unreliable:

LW: Use the LW pdfs (or a notebook, phone) to write the food and supplements you are introducing and include your body’s reaction to it.

We are hardwired for structure.

LW: Decide your meals for the week, freeze half for another night or lunchtime (therefore reducing cooking time) and try a new dish once a week. Put your keys and phone in the same place EVERY time.

Decide what needs to be dealt with right away, things that can wait but are important, things that can’t wait, and things to get rid of or not to think about.

LW: Deciding what category of mind-body health you fit into cannot wait. Are you wanting to lose weight, fight a disease, optimise real health or reduce stress? Make your choice and then start reading how to action it.

We put things into mental categories, so that we don’t have to waste valuable time with details.

LW: Write down the food to cut out, reduce or replace. The LS food lists can help you.