Our bodies talk to us every day but sometimes we don’t listen and miss out on some important cues that can help keep us in top physical and mental shape! To make sure you are feeling good every day, be sure to spend a little time alone with yourself and really listen to what your body is telling you.
Here are five ways you can listen to your body by asking a few questions:
1. Do you feel rested, tired or so-so? Is your body telling you to get a good night’s sleep or do you feel energetic and ready to tackle the day? Do you need to break up your busy day with a nap? Restful sleep is an important part of feeling good every day and one aspect of practicing empowered living.
2. How are you feeling mentally and emotionally? Are you sad and depressed, anxious or stressed out? Or do you feel calm and content? Paying attention to your state of mind can help you maintain high energy levels and to avoid a slump. Sometimes all it takes is getting up and taking a walk in the fresh air to feel stable again. Deep breathing, getting up and stretching, a few minutes of quality time with yourself—these are all simple ways to maintain your mental equilibrium.
3. What do you like to eat and is it nutritious? Are you eating regular meals? Are you snacking in between meals when your blood sugar dips? Are you actually hungry when you eat, or are you eating mindlessly out of boredom? Do you have a good cut-off time in the evening when you stop eating until tomorrow morning? Overeating and undereating can both wreak havoc with your body and your overall mood, so are you eating more or less than usual? If you are, what is your body telling you? On the other hand, mindful eating or eating the right foods at the right times of the day—based on your personal preferences and needs—can help you feel good every day.
4. When was the last time you exercised? Do you have a daily routine to get up and do something active? Exercise doesn’t have to be a full-out strenuous workout at the gym. It can be a brisk walk with your dog or a stroll with your toddler. It can be doing a few laps in the pool or doing chair yoga, stretching out on the mat or cleaning your kitchen. Setting aside time every day to do something active can help you feel good every day. Once you start, your body will remind you every day it’s ready for some movement.
5. Quality time with people who are important to you is key to feeling good every day. Are you spending enough time staying connected to those you care about? Do you text or call your elderly parents? Do you text or call your adult children? Never underestimate the power of talking and laughing with someone you feel close to, whether it’s a friend, mentor or family member. It does wonders to cheer you up or you can be cheering them up!
Listening to the body means cultivating a mindful awareness of what it (you!) needs at any given moment, followed by honoring that need. This intuitive practice will help you understand and make decisions based on internal cues, rather than steamrolling past your own limits. Long-term, sustainable health comes when you listen to your body, and then respond with care, action, and compassion.1
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