Caring For Your Body
At Resonance, when we talk about wellness, we talk about all facets of wellness. For someone who is new to viewing their life through a wellness lens, it can be a lot to think about. Someone trying to break out of unhealthy routines may not know where to start. We are here to help with ideas for caring for your mind, body, and spirit. Today, we will focus on ways we can care for our body, our physical self. In future posts, we will look at ways of caring for the mind and spirit.
Your body carries you through everyday life. How your body feels can set the tone for a great day or, when it’s dragging, can bring a day to a grinding halt. Caring for our bodies daily is essential, in both large ways and small ways.
While caring for our body seems obvious, sometimes life gets busy, and it’s easy to neglect making good choices on its behalf. Sometimes, physical wellness is shoved to the bottom of the priority list. If this is you today, we encourage you to consider the ideas below. Find one or two small ways to begin caring for your body and grow from there. Often, getting started is the hardest part.
Nutrition
You’ve heard it said, you are what you eat. Food is meant to be enjoyed and to fuel your body at the same time. A body running without good nutritional support will eventually run down. It will feel sluggish and be more susceptible to illness or disease. The remedy? Adding a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins. Your eating habits don’t have to be perfect, but you will feel a difference when you try maintaining a healthy balance.
Movement
Our bodies are built to move. Find what works for you and fits into your schedule. Walking, yoga, and gentle exercise are all great ways to care for your body.
Posture
Posture can make a big difference in muscles and how they function. Poor posture creates extra tension and pain. Pay attention to how you sit during the workday and commute. Take stretch breaks and consider ways of improving posture as you work and play.
Sleep habits
Sleep is when the body repairs itself. Getting good sleep is essential for your wellness. Good sleep habits include setting the stage for a good night’s sleep, like a consistent bedtime routine, turning off screens an hour before bed, and limiting caffeine in the evening.
Skincare
Taking care of your skin is important, and thankfully, it can be very basic. Wash your face, moisturize regularly, and wear sunscreen daily. You’ll keep your skin looking great and protect yourself from the damaging effects of the sun.
Self-care
Building small moments of self-care into your day is a wonderful practice. Just a few moments of deep breathing helps bring oxygen to your muscles. Getting a regular massage can undo many of the stresses placed on your body. The great thing about these practices is they dovetail with caring for your mind and soul.
There are so many great ways of caring for your body. It’s okay to start small. Often, one small change leads to more small changes. Choose one or two items from the ideas above to work on and build from there. You are worth the time and effort it takes to care for yourself!
