BALANCED LIFESTYLE
Do me a favor & take a look at yourself, at your lifestyle. Do you feel stressed? Tired? Alert? Do you have enough energy to get through the day? Are you drinking enough water? When was the last time you got together with friends and/or family? Got a massage? Or did something you enjoyed?
In today’s day in age, we’ve been taught it’s “normal” to be busy. This is your reminder to pump the breaks, sloooowww down and focus on you! It’s 1000% essential to live a balanced lifestyle to keep your mind, body, and health in check.
As we discuss many elements that may be involved, it is important to remember that to truly live a balanced lifestyle, you must embrace the journey. You need to understand that you will have good days and you will have bad days. You need to be able to pick yourself back up and not dwell on a bad day. If you don’t embrace and accept that this is part of your overall healthy lifestyle, you’ll drive yourself absolutely crazy and your efforts of health and wellness will end up back-firing.
Let’s dive in!
FOOD
Food is fuel! Eating healthy is about balance; incorporating a variety of food to ensure your body is receiving the proper nutrients it requires. Make it a goal to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your meals. Choose the lean protein option paired with healthy carbohydrates and healthy fats. It’s more important to have a healthy relationship with food vs. spending your time stressed out about counting macros or calories. I want you to also remember to not deprive yourself of certain foods. It’s okay to treat yourself here & there; again, this is about balance.
[in regards to food + nutrition, please please reach out to us if you have any specific questions, we have trained professionals ready to help you!]
EXERCISE
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which increases energy levels, reduces stress, and improves your sleep patterns. Find an activity that you enjoy and go do it! Simply go for a walk, partake in group fitness classes, play Pickleball, attend yoga… the options are endless! What’s even better? Get your friends, family, kids involved!
[if you’re looking for a little motivation, I know a good place…. hint hint, Rejuv Medical ????]
WATER
Hydration is a big one! Are you drinking enough water?
There’re so many benefits of H2O, here are a few:
- Helps your body absorb vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
- Regulates your body temperature
- Flushes out waste from your body
- Promotes good brain & cognitive function
- Helps lubricate your tissues, joints, and spinal cord
- Maximizes your physical performance & boosts your energy; hydration affects strength, endurance & power.
- Aid in digest & can help prevent constipation
- Improves blood-oxygen circulation
Drinking water is so, so important. Have I proven my point yet? Find yourself a reusable water bottle and bring it everywhere with you. Stop what you’re doing + take a drink right now, CHEERS!
SLEEP
Sleep is essential to keep your body functioning. It allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Sleep can help balance your mood and emotions, help manage or decrease your stress and may assist in reducing anxiety. Not getting enough sleep could decline performance, result in metabolic issues, and can impair your memory and learning. If you find yourself having a difficult time falling asleep, try eliminating screen time before bed and grab a book instead. Take a look at your caffeine intake throughout the day, this may play a role in your troubles falling asleep. Practice yoga, meditation, stretching or mindfulness before bed.
PRIORITIZING SELF-CARE
I cannot tell you enough how important self-care is for your personal well-being. You need to prioritize your life & put YOU first. [I know, I know. But what about my family, my kids? I get it! But answer this for me: Are you truly giving your best self to your family if you are neglecting your own self-care? Trust me, you will be a better parent/spouse/friend/co-worker if you take care of you!] Find something YOU enjoy and prioritize it into your life! Maybe this is getting in your daily workout. Or getting your nails and/or hair done. Finding time for coffee dates/lunch dates/Happy Hour. Spending time outside, going golfing.
Each and every person is different, so your self-care may look different as well.
WORK/LIFE BALANCE
Trying to balance your work life and social life can be tricky, especially with the ease of electronics and being able to work remotely. I challenge you to designate specific time for work. If you’re able to, leave work at work and focus on you/your family when you’re at home. It’s important to have “free time” to unwind and relax each day. If it is hard for you to find free time, schedule it into your day/week!
This may also look a little different to each person. You may enjoy quiet, alone time during your free time. Others may thrive in a social setting, going out to eat, attending concerts/events, etc.
Again, it’s all about balance! Each day is different. Dive into yourself and discover what you need to bring you joy.
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Stress is the body’s involuntary reaction to the busy life that you’ve chosen to live. Stress can lead to muscle tension, gastrointestinal issues, sleep disturbances, headaches & fatigue and even weight gain. Determining how to manage your stress is the ticket here!
Identifying your stressors is key. Once you’ve identified what increases your stress levels, hopefully you will have a better chance at combatting it. All the components of living a balanced lifestyle can come into play here: food, exercise, water, sleep, self-care, work/life balance.
Easier said than done, I know. But you must start somewhere; one step at a time.
Now, take a moment and re-think about you, about your lifestyle. I want you to choose one thing you want to focus on today to bring balance into your life and go out and crush it!
“Balance is the key to everything. What we do, think, say, eat, feel, they all require awareness, and through this awareness we can grow.” – Koi Fresco
Written by: Ashley Supan, PTA