Physical Health Impacts Every Area of Your Life.
You don’t have to look very hard to see a headline or article about the benefits of staying physically healthy.
Diet, exercise, sleep, hobbies, and being in nature are topics I trip over all of the time. There are programs, blogs, online classes, supplements and more available to help you feel better. There are so many now that the wellness industry in the United States is estimated at $2 TRILLION.
Isn’t that crazy? Whether you’re driven by culture, societal pressure, or simply just because you want to feel better, the bottom line is that good physical health is essential if we want to be happy or successful in our life.
But even knowing all this, I was still resisting writing about physical health this week because it’s something I’m personally struggling with. And if I’m honest, I would prefer to look the other way right now.
But they say that which we resist the most is what we need to give our attention to.
I used to be a physically active and healthy person. My routine was so engrained in me that I never even paid attention to it. I just did it.
I created a whole body approach: mind – body – spirit.
I started my day at 4:30am with meditation, spiritual readings and journaling.
Followed by a 10 minute stretch and a trip to the gym where I did cardio and strength training.
A shower, quick bite to eat and I was off to the office.
And that was my morning Monday through Friday. And it served me well. I felt great, was in good shape and had the energy I needed to get through my stressful job.
Fast forward 10 years. I had moved across the country — twice. I was now in my forties and starting over in my personal life. Seemingly overnight, I became a parent (step-mom) to a 2 year old, and my single life and routine was demolished.
Soon I was eating leftover Mac and cheese out of the pan, staying up later, waking up later, and my 5 day a week gym routine cut down to 2 days or less.
I learned that life has a vote.
At first, I kind of blew it off. This was just a phase and I would get back into it soon, I said to myself. But that never happened.
Since then, I’ve struggled. Sprinkle some serious life stress, middle age, covid, and unexpected life changes, well let’s just say that it’s been a hard ride over these last few years.
I’ve personally experienced the impact stress has on the body. It is no joke. For me, it manifested in my thyroid. This little butterfly shaped gland that was not noticeable to me for most of my life was now reckoning havoc with my body and mind.
There are days when I just want to throw up my hands and give up. But thankfully, there are more days when I don’t.
So why do I share any of this? Because our physical health is the single most important thing in our life. For each and every one of us. None of us get a pass on this.
And according to all of the recent research on health and longevity, we really don’t need to do that much to have a healthy body and mind.
At the basic level here’s what it looks like:
- Get a good night’s sleep (7-9 hours)
- Drink water
- Eat simply, prioritizing lean proteins, veggies and fruit.
- Move often in your day. Don’t spend your entire day sitting in front of a computer. Make sure to take breaks to walk around, take the stairs, etc.
- Get outside each day.
- Enjoy a hobby, time with family or friends, or some “me time” daily.
Honestly, that’s about it. Nothing on that list is difficult, life threatening, or a hardship.
Surely I can do this. And so can you.
So why as a society are we not doing it?
Nearly 3 out of 4 adults in the United States are either overweight or obese.
And I know you know this, but our life doesn’t work great when we aren’t healthy.
And our mental health is also linked here. In fact the latest research states that regular exercise is more effective for depression or anxiety than prescription drugs.
We can’t thrive in life – in our relationships, in our career, or even in building wealth, if we are not healthy.
We don’t enjoy our life if we are not healthy.
Believe me, I’m writing this for me just as much as for you.
It’s springtime. That means no matter where you live, you are experiencing good weather. So let’s make a pact to get outside. To move around more. To do something active that is actually enjoyable to you!
And let’s not make it complicated. I know I usually do that which is just a delay tactic. Just start simple. Anything you do is better than doing nothing at all.
And let’s not wait. Don’t say you’ll start tomorrow. Start now.
Because your happiness, success and your life depend on it. Just like it does for me.
Let’s build the life we want starting from the ground up. Great physical health is that foundation.
You can Emerge Positive!
Positively,
deanne
