small habits with big results
Life has a way of springing up surprises on us. You feel, know, and fervently believe you are taking good care of your health. Then you do your full medical exam or go in for a doctor’s visit and s/he gives you this grim picture of things that are going on in your body that you feel convinced that they are all talking to the wrong patient. ‘Surely that can’t be me!’, you think to yourself. Or, surely that can’t be Maggy’s file they’re reading’, they have files mixed up.
Does this sound vaguely familiar? Either to you or having heard of a similar story?
This newsletter is for you or the Maggys in your life who think they have it all figured out but could do with a tweak of things here and there to avoid grim surprises from doctors.
Focus is on:
Food and Eating practices
Lifestyle
Relationships
Food and eating practices
What if we went as close as we can back to the ancient ways of food preparation? Food preparation is becoming more ‘fancy’, unrecognizable, and with it, more unhealthy. This takes me back to the best potatoes that I’ve ever eaten that my grandmas used to make by putting them in hot ash and letting them cook slowly. Most delicious, and now, most extinct. Today, we deep fry them to make fries, or mash them with added fats, or we cut them into thin slices and deep fry them to make crisps.
When you look at your plate, ask yourself how each of the items on it is meant to serve you. I’m not advocating taking the joy out of eating? I’m advocating for deriving joy out of what you put in your body? Assess the quantity and be sure to nourish your body fairly for the work you want it to do for you - fair pay for fair work:-). Do not overpay. Do not underpay. If your body would speak out, what would it say to you in words? Or…what would you want it to say?
Lifestyle habits
I cannot speak about taking good care of our health and not speak about the importance of rest and sleep, any form of exercise including running, brisk walking, hiking, pilates, and of the utmost importance, resistance training.
If you have ever had a disturbed night or partied too hard that resulted in a few hours of sleep, you know how groggy it can feel the following day when your mood takes a beating. We were conditioned to believe these bible verses mean sleeping is a sign of laziness - Proverbs 6:9–11: “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief.” Proverbs 20:13: “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. . I highly doubt that’s what King Solomon in all his wisdom meant. Just like the payment I mentioned above, do not overpay nor underpay your body with sleep if you want it to serve you well. Prioritizing quality and quantity of sleep is one thing you cannot delegate, and has rewards on your metabolic health, including your brain and your heart. Therefore, if you want to operate optimally, and give your body a fighting chance against lifestyle diseases, allow yourself adequate rest and some decent sleep, just don’t overdo it.
Relationships
Imagine a life of complete solitude - day in day out, year in year out. Spending time alone has a role to play for our mental wellness but we also need each other in order to thrive. Relationships cannot thrive in a vacuum. We must invest in those that we care about, including relationships with ourselves; besides, how you treat yourself will show others how to treat you. Prioritizing self care should not be viewed as vanity but a sign that you care about those who care about you.
Two things that I have found helpful when it comes to inner wellness is journaling and therapy. I journal often, sometimes I am on a roll and can do it everyday consistently. On the other hand, sadly therapy has taken a beating and I can feel it.
Therefore, while what I’m saying here today isn’t new, remember that it is the small things that count towards achieving the big things.
Prioritize these three things and let me know how it plays out for you once you’ve done them consistently for at least 3 full months. Food and Eating practices; Lifestyle habits; Relationships building with others and yourself.
