Get really honest with yourselves. Are you happy with your current state of health?
At the beginning of September this year, I wasn’t.
As an osteopath practicing six days a week, I had allowed myself to become a source of advice to patients but had stopped following it myself.
I was sleeping later, rising earlier and waking up restless during the night.
My diet was not up to scratch.
Meals were infrequent, small and far too calorie dense, nowhere near as nourishing as they could be.
My physical activity levels (though moderate) were only through my work.
I was not scheduling time for myself to exercise, to decompress, to focus on moving my body properly.
Stress levels, well, they were through the roof.
I wasn’t using the tools of meditation and physical exercise which further contributed to my stress.
This is what can happen when you don’t allow yourself to stop and really be present.
Overall, I had allowed my work to become a priority over my own self-care. Anyone fallen into this rut one too many times?
You see the thing is, even as a health care practitioner, other aspects of life can begin to overtake our priority to provide ourselves with our basic needs. We can all lose focus on what is important. A metaphor that rings strongly is that of the aeroplane oxygen mask.
How can you help others put their masks on if you have not put your own mask on first?
You must attend to your own needs first otherwise you will be useless to others if you cannot breathe. This should be applied to our lives with respect to self-care. The retreat was held in a gorgeous six-bedroom home near the beach on the Mornington Peninsula where myself and fourteen other women delved into knowledge around: meditation practice, meal prepping, time management, prioritisation, self-worth and relationships, sleeping patterns, exercise regimes and study of total body composition analysis. With a new perspective provided by the health retreat coach Amy, and support of the other women present, morale was high. A key point of focus I took away resonated so strongly:
"We already have all the knowledge we require to be the best version of ourselves spiritually, mentally and physically"
We allow ourselves to be bombarded with information overload and this could be the culprit. There’s always a new fad diet on the market that everyone is talking about – keto, paleo, low carb, FODMAP, calorie counting, ridiculous, strenuous detox plans which shock the body so badly that after weight loss is attained, it is gained again and then some. You’ve been there, haven’t you? Removing information is key. The unlearning of the excess information and honing in on nutrition, pushing the body physically and having a sound state of mind will aid in reducing stress levels. Four significant daily habits of healthy, successful and happy individuals were highlighted at the retreat. Meditation Now highly regarded for its evident ability to reduce stress levels, meditation also serves to provide clarity to the mind and focus for the day ahead (Healthline, 2019). Depending on when you would prefer to complete your meditation (evening or morning), can determine its effects. Morning meditation can contribute to increased productivity and goal setting for the day ahead, as well as cultivate a state of calm to begin your day (this is integral if you suffer from depression and/or anxiety). Even just ten minutes daily has been linked to significant lifestyle changes such as increased attention span, potential reduction in age-related memory loss, generation of kindness, addiction resilience and increased self-awareness (Healthline, 2019). Before bed in the evening can provide high-quality sleep. The breathing techniques (abdominal) part of meditation have been linked to this through natural reduction of heart rate and blood pressure (Healthline, 2019). Acts of kindness Completing an act of kindness each day can cultivate positive emotions. Think of the times where you may have held a door open for someone, gave them your seat on public transport, donated to charity or paid a complete stranger a heartfelt compliment. Feels good, doesn’t it? The truth is, kindness is wired into us as humans. We thrive on connection. Any behavior which promotes this can produce positive feelings. Gratitude According to a 2012 study published in Personality and Individual Differences, grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other individuals. They are also more likely to pay mind to their health too, attending regular check-ups etc (Forbes, 2019). Writing just three things you are grateful for each day can shift your mindset to a positive stance and induce calm. Journalling This is highly individual. It can be completed in a journal, on individual pieces of paper, typed as an electronic copy or performed as voice recordings. Entries may be kept for your perusal later or deleted. Essentially, journalling acts as an outlet to put your thoughts into physical being for your assessment or to clear your mind. The physical appearance of your thoughts on a page, screen or voice recording brings them to the surface for your appraisal. This enables mindfulness, self-improvement and reflection. It was phenomenal to have the privilege of spending time with other likeminded women, searching to become the best versions of ourselves. And I can’t recommend it enough if you truly feel you have lost your way regarding your journey to a healthier you.
Never be ashamed to reach out for help or to seek guidance. We all stumble and make mistakes regarding our health.
Remember, you are human.
But, being human, you are also capable of great willpower, dedication, commitment and loyalty.
Look after yourself.
Lenore
References 12 Science-based Benefits of Meditation (2019) https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation
7 Scientifically Proven Benefits Of Gratitude That Will Motivate You To Give Thanks Year-Round (2019) https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/#2a75fb27183c
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