I am willing to bet most people don’t know why they were born. Some will say the answer to that question is your reason for being…your purpose. Either way you are alive and each day you wake up is gift. Whether or not you have figured out your purpose, each moment is a chance to get closer to that answer. In order to create more moments you have to take care of you; your mind, body and spirit. I will share five ways you can take care of you.
Eat right
You are what you eat.
While it might be a cliché; a healthy mind in a healthy body is true. Your body needs food to survive, heal and repair itself as is needed. Food science and biology will tell you what nutrients, vitamins and sustenance your body needs to function. Having a healthy diet and achieving balance and moderation is critical to feeling and being well. There are several apps, websites, blogs and meal prep options that can make meal time a relatively easy activity. Some of these apps include: Pepperplate and Paprika. For other articles about meal prep apps you can read The 5 Best Apps to Make Meal Planning Easy and 10 Meal Planning Apps You Need To Have To Get Healthier Easily. If you are not culinary inclined then use a meal delivery service such as Fuel Foods and read The top 10 prepared meal delivery options in Toronto for other options. You only get one body, so do all you can to preserve it.
Rest easy
As an ex-army officer I appreciate the saying “the only cure for sleep – is sleep”. Rest and more importantly sleep is when the body gets to heal itself – just ask doctors who induce comas in patients who have suffered sever injury and/or trauma. Rest also involves taking a break from your routine to engage in self care, relax and rejuvenate the mind and body. This is why studies are conducted to support vacation and breaks from work. You need to recharge; you are more productive when you return to work/school/obligations when you are refreshed. According to Take A Vacation: It’s Good For Productivity And The Economy in the Forbes EMagazine “he benefits of taking time off from work include: higher productivity, stronger workplace morale, greater employee retention, and significant health benefits. So if you wanna enjoy all the hard work you put in, take a break. As Nike said “Just do it”.
Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live – Jim Rohn
Move it or lose it
I was never a fan of exercise; even when I was in the army. I could see and feel the benefits but that didn’t mean I enjoyed the process. Exercise is great for a couple of reasons:
- your muscles get the work out they need to develop, so they don’t atrophy.
- you can relieve stress and tension through exercise as endorphin is released in your body. You are happier – how can you be happy in pain – the irony!
- your strength increases; a healthy mind needs to be housed in a healthy body.
Life is a gift! So enjoy it! Have an attitude of gratitude and relish the idea that you get one more moment to do all the wonderful things you enjoy doing. These moments are precious and oh so fleeting but if you take care of your body, your mind, your spirit and you are just a little kinder to you. Those moments become more than a few.
Until next time remember – “You can be the lead in your own life.” – Kerry Washington
Photo credit: "summer’s here" (CC BY 2.0) by EladeManu Photo credit: "angie" (CC BY 2.0) by greg westfall. Photo credit: "Salmon Niçoise Salad" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by sherrymain
Shakira's Soliloquy 