The 6 reasons why we need to STOP before we start again, and be in a head space that allows us to reset our health and relationships with ourselves and others!
Have you, could you, should you, make the time and effort to be in an environment that allows you to really relax, to heal and reset your health and relationships with yourself and others!
Below are not just my tips based on my 15 years of research and training of what it takes to have purpose, passion, health and vitality and loving relationships, to THRIVE!, but the latest wellbeing science from the West, together with the ancient wisdom from the East. For example, the longest living communities in the world. The ones who live in the so-called blue zones.
1. YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
Over eating? Give yourself permission to try a bit of everything with your family and try all of your Partners home cooking. Apart from that, try the 5 second diet. Ask yourself after 5 seconds, do I really need to eat or drink this? Have a peppermint tea after big meals to aid digestion and include a walk, otherwise it sets in our stomach like a rock. The simple carbs (bread/ rice/ pasta), anything white and processed, your body converts these to sugars and you’ll probably put on weight! Eat only to 80% full like the longest living communities.
Over drinking? Drink more water and less alcohol, or one alcohol to one water if out at a party. If drinking is a problem for you, please have the courage to seek help, for yourself, your liver, your relationships, even your bank account. Drink filtered water where possible. Have you seen the filters after they need changing? Either buy a filter or become a filter.
You don’t have to catch up with every friend, attend every event, eat all the food or drink all the free alcohol. Be selective, be smart and ask yourself which ones you really want to attend. That advice you got or should have got when you were 18, ‘pace yourself’ and you might actually not damage your liver, brain, stomach or reputation, or put on 10kg. J
Avoid soft drinks, sport drinks, and energy drinks, they will make you feel worse in the heat and the sugar converts to fat if you are not burning it off and they irritate your stomach. For more energy, get a better night’s sleep. Avoid stimulus and Meditate before sleep.
Its BBQ time of year. Go easy on the sausages and red meat. It is the worst fat. It blocks your arteries. The main artery to your heart is only 1/5th the width of your little finger!! That’s why the longest living communities in the world only eat meat about once a week or less!
The science is out, you east fast, you die faster. Eat slower, put your knife and fork down in between mouthfuls to slow you down. You will need 1/3rd less food to be full and you will absorb 20% more…
Get into those salads, there are hundreds, add quinoa or chick peas as a protein with every meal and you’ll look better, feel better, trim down and have energy and vitality to burn….
The longest living communities in the world don’t go to the gym, or run or ride!!
Move more, stretch more, walk more. If you don’t, you will lose your bodies conditioning! Commit daily to basic pushups and Pilates planks to maintain or start some toning and core strength. This will help your back too. Along with your daily minimum 30 min walk, you will be feeling and looking better in no time.
Avoid most sunscreens and moisturizers which contain mineral oil (petrol) based ingredients, moisturizers and preservatives with ‘benzylidene ‘benzoates’ (also called parabens). You can now get clear Zinc ones without nano particles. See your local Health Food store or good Chemist. Natures Instinct from Bayswater make a good local product.
2. 3. 4 EMOTIONAL/SOCIAL/MENTAL HEALTH
Rest your brain, it needs rest from the daily mind chatter, learn to deep breathe (in for 4, hold for 7 and out for 8 for 5 minutes) daily and meditate, you will live longer, have better relationships, better productivity and suffer less J
Use this time of the year to connect or re - connect with your family and friends. The happiest, least depressed and longest living communities in the world, stay connected. Get complete, have that conversation that you have been putting off with others who you may have harmed or they may have harmed you. Dig deep and let go of that past conflict (what if over half of cancer/disease is from internal pain not released. Let go!! If the mind is not at ease, the body will create disease!!) What is that story you are holding onto?
Walk more, it’s also a great distress tool. Walk and talk is always good. Walk and reflect, or don’t think and just observe and be present to your surroundings. This will have a big impact on reducing your stress levels. Observing the wonder of nature, flowers, plants, bees, birds- mother nature = nurturing our soul.
Be aware that when we look DOWN as we walk, we are caught up in our thoughts. Whereas looking UP clears our mind chatter to just appreciate the beauty we are in…
5. SPIRITUAL Who are you? Connecting to your higher purpose
The holiday break could be the ideal time to sort yourself out and get clear about what you really want and don’t want in your life, for your life.
Use this time to find some quiet time. No distractions, no artificial stimulus that has been bombarding you every day and all year. Get out of your head, to feel your heart, to listen to your gut. It is always the truth/the way. Being in nature helps provide the environment for this. It’s there all year. What’s left of it. The beach? The mountains? The park? Your Choice.
Sit and when the noise stops or at least slows down, listen for what is really going on for you. What work on yourself do you need to do that you have been putting off?
6. Setting new GOALS!! What do you want to be the NEW NORMAL? Most never work because people do not have a success plan.
If you are serious, give yourself space to clear your head. Nature is perfect for this. Write them down in a SMART way and have someone hold you accountable to them!!
But first ask yourself WHY, a really big why do I need to change SOMETHING OR MYSELF…..? The HOW will come. Then WHAT needs to change, what are you not going to put up with anymore, or what are you not going to give up ?
This will set you up for a much better chance of success than by yourself. If you are like me and most people, sharing the journey with someone really helps. get a Coach to hold you accountable. Be-
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely
The clearer you can be, the why is this so important, the feeling you will experience when this is completed or met, the more chances of you being successful according to all the Goal setting research.
Can you see the way, the light ahead?
