Six Ways to Be Your Best Self
Health goals are for more than just weight loss.
These days it seems like everyone is always trying to lose weight. We get it - there are plenty of societal pressures around weight and how we “should” look, and we may even hear “lose some weight” from our doctors and medical professionals when we visit with health concerns.
We aren’t saying managing your weight isn’t important. But we definitely are saying that weight is only one tiny part of living a healthy life.
Coming into the warmer months, as we may be feeling the pressure to look our best at the pool, we urge you to consider more than just your weight and how you look. Instead, think about how you can live a healthier, more balanced life.
By focusing on these six areas, you can work towards being your best self all year long:
1 - Mindset - Our mindset sets the tone for every other part of our lives. If we tend to have a negative outlook, we are going to see the negative everywhere we look. If instead we practice a positive mindset with gratitude, we will see the positive in everyday situations and feel gratitude regularly.
2 - Food - Everything we put into our bodies affects how we feel. We like to use the car analogy - you don’t put crappy fuel in a high performance car. If you want your body to perform at a high level - having more energy, sleeping better, doing tasks you enjoy - you need to put nutritious, whole foods into your body.
3 - Movement - Care for your body and especially your heart by getting up out of your desk chair or off your couch and moving. 150 minutes of movement per week should be your goal - 5 brisk, 30-minute walks is enough to keep your heart healthy, keep your joints flexible, and even improve digestion and keep your mind sharp.
4 - Breath - How often do you stop and think about how you are breathing? Are you taking full, deep breaths? Breathing is something our body happily does on its own, but we can check in with our breath and make sure we are breathing effectively and mindfully. We need oxygen to live, so we should pay attention to how it's getting into our bodies.
5 - Rest - Feel tired all the time or need 3 coffees to make it through the work day? (We hope you didn’t just scoff and say, “only 3?!”) You need to prioritize rest. This doesn’t just mean sleep. Give your mind a chance to rest by watching a TV show you love or reading a relaxing book. Practice meditation. Put up your feet and just be. Practice healthy sleeping habits like putting away your phone two hours before you go to bed - this helps your eyes relax since the blue light from screens can keep you awake. Help yourself rest and recharge.
6 - Self Care - Self care is not selfish - it is a necessary part of living a healthy, balanced life. Whatever self-care looks like for you, block off time in your schedule and make it happen. Get a massage once per month. Watch your favorite movie. Take ten minutes to play with your dog. Go for a jog. Self care can be whatever it needs to be for you as long as it gives you a chance to relax and reenergize.
As you consider your goals, also consider these six areas. Notice nothing on this list says, “Fix something you don’t like about yourself.” Instead, with a positive attitude, look for something you can improve or adjust to live a healthier, more balanced life.