As I sat down to pay bills last week, I couldn’t believe that all of September had already passed. What happed to the month? Do you ever have the feeling that time is moving more and more quickly? Do you ever feel like saying, “Hey wait a minute… can we just please S L O W down?”
Well, I know that I do! And I know that when I feel that way it usually means that I am not taking the best care of myself. Our lives are full of opportunities and commitments, family, friends, work life, and, of course, the state of our ever changing and challenging world. With all that, it’s not hard to imagine why taking the best care of yourself isn’t always priority one.
There’s just one problem. If you don’t take good care of yourself, there is no way you can do anything well for long…
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” Jim Rohn
One year ago, my mother was living with me. She had been diagnosed months earlier with ovarian cancer and after beginning treatment in Florida we realized it would be better for all of us if she moved in with us for the duration of her treatment. With my health coaching background, it was never a question that I would be the one to guide her back to health.
It was a long and intense year, and a powerful story in and of itself (you can read more about that here), but my purpose in bringing it up today is that I could never have had the strength to support my mom if I hadn’t been taking care of myself, before, during and after. Some days were really hard. Preparing mom’s meals at home and then delivering them to the hospital every day while running a business was exhausting, both physically and emotionally. Thankfully, inside of a year, my mom began to regain her health and her strength and was able to move into her own apartment nearby.
I am not going to tell you that I took perfect care of myself during that time, but I will say that I knew immediately when I didn’t. I knew that if I didn’t reboot myself, I would have nothing to give to my mom and I knew that above all else, she needed me right then. More than anything I recognized that I wasn’t being selfish by making my own health and well-being an equal priority, even though it sometimes felt like it.
Whatever it is that you want to be able to do, you need to take care of your own body and mind first. Whether you want to take care of someone else or build a business, if you’re motivated by social action or you are ready to take some time to relax and enjoy your life… taking care of you, your body and your mind comes first. This is the foundation of it all.
So today I am asking you to consider what you can do to take better care of yourself. Here are a few things to consider:
- Are you hydrated?
Dehydrating can wreak havoc on your body and there’s a really simple fix! Aim to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water every day. - Stretch your body.
When you wake up in the morning and before you go to sleep take a few minutes to stretch. In the morning, it will help to get your blood flowing and in the evening, it will help you to relax, making sleep easier. - Move your body.
If you don’t already have a regular form of exercise, try getting up and walking for 10 minutes every hour or so. Start small and build from there. - Breathe.
Try to become aware of your breath. We need oxygen in our blood to live. Often when we are stressed, highly focused, anxious or distracted we are holding our breath without realizing it. Take a few deep breaths every time you think about it and see how much better you will feel. - Eat more plant foods!
(You had to know that was coming ?). High in fiber, vitamins, minerals and enzymes, eating plenty of fresh, organic (when possible) produce provides a clean source of energy for all your bodily functions. - Consider joining Nourished Body and Mind’s Autumn Reboot.
An innovative and easy way to get a fresh start for your body and mind for 14 guided days. We are starting in just one week…. You can learn more about it here!
Now, I’d like to hear from you. What are you doing or are you planning to do to take better care of yourself?
With your body in mind,
