SELFCARE

February 21, 2022

Last week we talked about the importance of mental wellness. This week let’s take a look at physical health. That’s a big category, right? It’s everything from sleep to nutrition and hydration to movement. And it includes taking care of our internal bodies too, things like routine physicals and preventative screenings. 

I recently read a story, I think it was a facebook post, about a woman who had just finished her first marathon. The most fascinating part of the article wasn’t her finish, it was her START. How did she start? Walking between the electric poles on her street. In the beginning that’s all she could do, walk from one to the next and stop. And slowly she could go 2, 3, 4... And then she was able to go further and then a little faster. And she built her confidence as she went along. 

I have to admit, I rarely start anything new in “build momentum” mode. It’s always a crash course. You name it: cut carbs to drop a few pounds, start exercising more with a 7-day regimen, start a company with a year-long workplan of things to do, start getting up an hour earlier (oh how I love my sleep), spend more time with my husband by scheduling date night every single week. I’m laughing as I type, but it’s true – full steam ahead. And I don’t seem to learn from the brain science I know. My brain will fight it every.single.time! 

So instead of the all-or-nothing model, let’s start with a simple level-up. What can you do for your physical wellness this week? Schedule your mammogram? Take the dog for a stroll? Shovel some snow instead of using the snowblower? Slip a few more veggies into your dinner? Swap a soda for a water? You pick...just one thing and build from there.