This week’s content is provided by Carrie Savaia, Carenet Health Coach. Carrie is a Certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NB-HWC). This post is the second in a seven-part series.
Last week, we began an important wellness series, Seven Practical Ways to Nourish Yourself. The series will offer insights on how to nurture our well-being not just during this current time of a global pandemic, but at any time in our lives. I’ll be sharing seven ways you can become more connected to yourself and find balance through nourishing your body and mind with the goal of ultimately living a healthier life. Last week the topic was all about nutrition. You can read that here.
This week’s edition is all about nourishing the physical body—with exercise! If nourishment is having substances necessary for growth, health and good condition, then exercise should be high on that priority list. Exercise can reduce weight, lower blood pressure, prevent diabetes, improve cholesterol, increase muscle strength, improve sleep quality, boost your mood and even sharpen the mind.*
It’s key to remember, though, that what works for one body may not work for another. What you do isn’t as important as just doing it. During a time of high stress or feeling out of balance, it may not make sense to embark on a new journey toward running a marathon. For someone else, that just may be the perfect goal to focus on. Know that it’s your journey, and no one else can decide what will work for you. So let’s explore what this looks like in real life.
Part 2: Exercise
Use your body
- Figure out what works for you. It’s better to get a little exercise every day rather than a lot of exercise 1-2 days a week. Build up to what works for you. You can find something to get the body moving, and it doesn’t have to look exactly like what someone else is doing. Want to walk for 15 minutes daily on your lunch break? Great! Want to wake up early in the morning and do a HIIT workout? Awesome! Like Nike said: Just do it!
- Don’t have time? Schedule it! Put your workouts on your calendar like a meeting. Would you cancel on your boss for a meeting? Don’t cancel on yourself! This not only requires you to prioritize your well-being, but it also creates a sense of accomplishment. Streaming services are a great tool if you’re strapped for time. Find your favorite online workout and push play. It could be that easy.
- Find an accountability partner. Having a friend, coworker or online community member to cheer you on can be helpful. Not only does it spark camaraderie, but it’s harder to say no when someone is watching.
- Enjoy the journey! Your muscles may hurt. You may feel tired. If you miss a workout, you might feel like giving up. Just start again. Every day is a new day to start fresh. Just pick right back up where you left off and enjoy the journey! Your physical well-being is important.
As you build up the foundation for nourishing your body, remember it’s a process. Not every day will go exactly as planned. Be willing to adjust with the changes and show up for yourself. Your body will thank you for it!
Next week, watch for insights on mindfulness! Stay tuned.
* Source: The Science of Exercise Shows Benefits Beyond Weight Loss, Harvard University Health Publishing