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Physical Wellness: Our Most Precious Possession
by: Wendy Betterini
What would you consider to be your most precious possession? Your
home? Car? Book collection? What about ... your body? It is surely
your most precious possession because without it, you wouldn't be
here.
How well do you care for your body? Do you exercise every day, eat
healthful foods, drink enough water, get adequate sleep? Don't
worry, I'm not going to turn this into a big sermon, because I've
been just as guilty of not giving my body the care and attention it
deserves. A large majority of us are. We live in an age of high
stress, fast pace, and abundant convenience foods. For those of us
who only need to walk a few paces from our desk to the kitchen, the
temptation for snacking is even greater. Who has time to exercise
and prepare balanced meals?
However, it's important to realize that neglecting our physical
well-being can profoundly affect us mentally and spiritually. The
Mind/Body/Spirit connection is strong. If we neglect one area, the
others will suffer also. The goal should be to achieve a nice, even
balance between all three. I'm learning that it's not as hard as it
seems. It just takes a little effort.
My biggest mistake over the past several years was believing that
proper care of my body would take a massive amount of time. "I'm too
busy to exercise. I don't have time to cook decent meals, I'll just
grab something quick. I have too much to do, so I can't get a full
night's sleep." But by shunning my physical well-being, I found
myself not able to be as productive and efficient in other areas. I
had little energy, I couldn't concentrate, and generally felt rotten
all the time.
Caring for our bodies doesn't have to take a lot of time. In fact,
by focusing more attention on my physical health lately, I would
venture to say that I'm gaining time, because my focus and energy
level are so much better, and I get a lot more done during the day.
I also sleep better at night, another bonus!
You might be wondering just how much time and effort is required?
Here are the things I've been doing for myself recently:
Exercise - For me, that was the biggest obstacle because I tend to
get lazy. ;-) Once I sit down at my desk, I'm glued to it all day.
If I don't exercise first thing in the morning, I will keep putting
it off. So I started doing my workout immediately after I wake up. I
spend about 30-60 minutes on aerobic activity (walking), and some
light weight training. I had to push myself at first, but now that
I'm getting into the habit I'm feeling stronger and even starting to
look forward to my workouts every morning. If you tend to
procrastinate about exercise like I did, try making it your first
priority when you wake up, and then you have the rest of the day to
do whatever else needs to be done.
Food - I have always been a "junk food junky." It wasn't that I
preferred that type of food, it just seemed more convenient.
However, I finally realized that raw vegetables and fruit can be
"fast foods" too! ;-) I also began eliminating sugar for the most
part, and switched to whole grains instead of white, highly
processed foods (like pasta, bread and rice). I try to eat more
whole foods, because who needs all those chemicals they put in
processed foods? Instead of snacking on some potato chips, why not
have some nuts, seeds, fruit or vegetables? They don't take any
longer to prepare.
Water - I also began drinking several glasses of water throughout
the day, and immediately began to feel better. Did you know that the
most common symptoms of dehydration are fatigue, lethargy, muscle
weakness, headaches, dizziness and forgetfulness? That sure
described me, and it's no wonder, since I was drinking mostly coffee
and soda pop! Upping my water intake made a huge difference in my
energy level and mental focus. You don't have to drink gallons of
water, just a few tall glasses a day should be an improvement.
Rest - I'm one of those people who really needs a full eight hours
of sleep every night or I get cranky. Some people can get along on
less sleep, but most of us are still getting less than our bodies
truly need. You may think that getting less sleep will enable you to
get more done, but think about it: if you don't get enough sleep,
you will be dragging yourself through the day and have to
concentrate harder on your work, because your mind just wants to
rest. But if you devote a full eight hours (or however much you
personally need) to sleep, you will feel much more energetic and
focused during the day, and be able to accomplish just as much, if
not more.
There, that doesn't sound so hard, does it? :-) It's really just a
matter of creating new, healthier habits to replace the old habits.
Sure, exercise does take some time, but again, it can make such a
huge difference in your energy level. Make time. We need to make an
effort to care for our beautiful bodies, because we only get one!
They truly are our most precious possession, and if we don't care
for them, who else will?
Wishing you abundant health and wellness!
About The Author
Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer and web designer in New
England. She is the owner of http://www.WorkatHomeBalance.com which
features work/life balance tips for entrepreneurs, home business
owners, telecommuters and freelancers. Visit today for more tips on
balancing work and family under one roof.