Ever feel like living a healthy life takes too much effort? Chasing the elusive work-life balance everyone talks about can seem futile. Are you good at maintaining your list of healthy habits, or do you feel like you’re always falling off the wellness wagon?
You start your week all excited about the great meals you’ll make and how energized you’ll feel, then the commute takes 30 minutes longer than usual, your boss tells you she needs that report in two days instead of next week, your child has a fever and doesn’t want you to leave his bedside… Soon, you find yourself feeling stressed, run-down, overtired, and potentially on the verge of falling ill as well.
Life happens…as they say.
How then, can you get back on track to clean eating, exercising, and having a moment for yourself? Finding a solution that fits your life begins with prioritizing your wellness practices in a more attainable way.
So, the week you had planned derailed and you’re stalled out. May as well take a few extra moments to re-group. You’re behind schedule anyway. Except as you’re considering what steps to take next to get back on track, put your overall wellness at the top of the list. Everything and everyone else comes next – just in this guilt-free moment. I promise you it will be worth the time.
The Mind-Body Connection
Before we get started, it’s important to understand the mind-body connection and how it affects our health. Eating well & exercising are important elements of personal wellness, but you will experience the greatest benefits when you also take care of your inner life. This includes, among other things, feeding your spirit, connecting with others in meaningful ways, and disconnecting to rest.
Ask Yourself:
- What are the top two areas of your physical health that you want to improve this year?
- What are the top two areas of your mental and emotional health you want to improve this year?
- What is a potential practice you could implement to achieve what you want in each of your chosen areas?
Some Ideas For You To Try:
- Waking 15-30 minutes earlier for spiritual focus time or exercise
- Resurrecting date night
- Volunteering in your community
- Stretching for 5 minutes before bed
- Taking a class for fun
- Having a regular night out with friends
- Learning a new language
- Listening to more music
The Practice
Once you have a list compiled, select one practice you will implement in the coming months. It takes 2+ months for a new habit to take hold, so once you feel ready, add another practice.
It may seem like you’re just adding one more thing to your already jammed to-do list, but you’ll be surprised to feel better overall because you’re nurturing the essence of who you are. The act of taking the time to consider what you could do is refreshing.
Once you begin to nurture your spirit your renewed energy will spill over into other areas of your life, making for more peace and less stress. Your family and co-workers will notice the difference and you’ll be more productive, focused, and just plain happy.
Your health is not just about you. It affects everyone around you. How you live, work, and contribute to the world is directly connected to the state of your health. You get to choose whether to move through it with stress and fatigue, always racing to catch up, or with energy and vitality that grows each day. You have so much to give to the world. Fuel your body and soul to help you do it well.
Tell Me:
What are the most challenging habits for you to keep up with? How have you inspired yourself to get back up after getting off track with your healthy habits? Pop a comment below. It’s so encouraging for all of us to know we’re not the only one! 🙏💖
Blessings,
Sheila
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Great blog! Looking forward to reading more and being inspired!
Thanks Laurie! I look forward to seeing you on here. Have a great weekend.
One of my most challenging healthy habits is to eat mindfully. Thanks for this great blog! Great suggestions!
So good that you’re aware of this, Gretchen. When you make the connection, you can work towards becoming more mindful (with some grace sprinkled in!). Thanks for sharing!