“How are you?”
We often use this phrase to greet one another. Our response may not always reflect what we truly feel. We are conditioned that the proper response is “ok.” But, are we truly taking inventory about how we feel about ourselves?
So much goes on behind those three little words. They invite us to feel where we are, and where we are going.
We could take that time to reflect on our wellness. To consider how we feel about our path. To be okay — to be well— we have to be purposeful and work at it. It doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. You can start by making small adjustments to your schedule by adding wellness activities. You could also choose to explore releasing some of those emotions and be guided to a healthier life through talking with a therapist or working with a life coach.
Whatever you want to change in your life, it can change so long as YOU are willing to make changes for it to happen! To make lasting changes, yes, it requires discipline. The changes will benefit you and make you into a better version of yourself.
The path to optimal wellness is yours and yours alone. Here are some areas to focus on to help you along the way to a better you:
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Care for your body
How do you invest in your physical health?
Taking the time to do some form of physical activity can help improve our immune function, reduce stress, improve strength, and restore the energy and clear-minded focus to be more productive.
I do some type of physical activity 5 to 6 days a week. It doesn’t always have to be hours in the gym. It could be stretching and mindfulness practices. I make a conscious effort to walk away from my desk daily for at least 30 minutes and unplug. I make ME a priority. I block my calendar and make it happen.
Honestly, there are some days that I don’t feel like it, but I push myself to get up and move. I always feel better after I do it. Sometimes, I get bored with my workouts. You may feel the same way too. So, you might have to change or add variety to your workout activities to figure out what works for you. Whether you choose swimming, hiking, cycling, boxing, running, dancing, etc., keep your body moving and you’ll see enormous benefits both mentally and physically.
For me, I thrive better with accountability so I take group classes and work with a personal trainer. I do workout sessions on my elliptical or Peloton and use the time to declutter my mind and watch my favorite TV shows or connect with myself and my virtual work out community. Explore what works for you!
2. Improve your diet
The old saying goes, “you are what you eat.”
It’s been a trusted saying for so long because it’s really true. Your body is your temple. Don’t put in anything that doesn’t make you feel balanced. Be mindful of your consumption of salt, sugar, or gluten. Become more in tune with your body and listen to how it responds to certain foods.
It doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy yourself sometimes. Some weekends, I hang out with friends and enjoy some adult libations. Then, during the week I focus on water and green clean foods to flush that out. I’ve noticed that my body doesn’t like a lot of sugar and there’s a lot of sugar in restaurant prepared food and drinks. So know your limits with certain ingredients.
Everything that we eat is a choice, so make healthy choices for yourself while also giving yourself some grace to find balance. Balance is key!
3. Get adequate rest
Many people may think that working non-stop with little rest helps them be more productive. In truth, it may make them more busy, but less productive. To truly be productive means to be well-rested so that you can complete tasks with quality and efficiency.
Like I said earlier, your body is a temple, not a machine, so it needs proper care to be well and balanced.
Strive to rest for 7 to 8 hours a night. Also, consider what kind of habits you have before sleeping. Do you scroll through social media until you doze off? Do you take some time to relax and clear your mind?
Set some intentions around your sleep and your sleep habits. For some people, that means turning off the TV or the bedroom lights. It may be listening to soothing sounds or music. It may be reading a few pages of their favorite book to nurture the mind.
Explore what works for you to get yourself into a good space for healthy sleep. I’m never late for work and I haven’t used an alarm clock for years. I just rest at a scheduled time and I let my body naturally wake up to the new day. I find that this makes for a much more balanced day vs. being jarred awake by an alarm clock.
4. Work-life balance
Work gives meaning to your life, but it shouldn’t consume it or detract from your well being. Everyday, I work hard, but I also schedule timed breaks to stretch and give my mind a break. At the end of the day, I do a brain dump and review all that did not go well to release it. I also write what went well.
I ask myself, is there anything left undone that is going to cause anyone harm? If not, then tomorrow is another day to complete my tasks
This process of detaching from work makes for a really good nights sleep. Release and let the day go.
5. Fill your cup
Cups can’t pour when they are empty and the same goes for you. To give your best self to your work, family, friends, and community—you have to make time to nurture yourself to keep you energized and balanced.
Find those things in life that bring you joy. Even if you can only find 10 minutes for that thing in a day you have to intentionally make it a part of your day. For some people, its yoga, meditation, travel, time spent with friends, or a walk outside. What is that one thing that brings you peace and contentment? How often do you do it?
If you don’t do it much, schedule some time to do it, and start filling your cup.
The next time someone asks you how you are, before you quickly give that instinctive answer, take some time to do a true inventory about your life.
Consider the spaces in your life that are okay and the areas that could use improvement. Plan to do some work around those areas. So, when you respond “I am ok” — it will be said with confidence. The words will reflect what you truly mean and feel.
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