For me, this has been a month of forming healthier habits. With a two-year-old son and a growing business, my physical self has frequently taken a back seat to everything else in my life over the last few years. I have felt the effects of that in the form of fatigue, a weak immune system and frequent migraines.
This is not the first time I have sought to reform the way I care for my body, but one of my biggest downfalls in seeking to make better health choices is that by nature I tend to take a drastic, all-or-nothing approach to the issue. Inevitably after a week or two I burn out or my life gets busier and the habits I’m trying to form fall by the wayside. I have learned that it is important to approach any changes gradually and with gentleness and kindness to yourself if you want them to last. Eventually small changes become true habits, and feeling better reinforces those habits.
I have always believed firmly in the ability of food to either hurt or heal the body, so naturally my eating habits were the first place I looked. Unlike past attempts at better eating, I am trying to listen to my body and eat according to how it feels rather than follow any strict guidelines. I am replacing refined and processed foods with veggies and whole foods. I try to make myself a green smoothie or fresh green juice at least once a day. These changes alone have dramatically increased my energy level.
The factor that has been affecting my health the most is stress- or more specifically, what I do with it. Like the vast majority of adults in our society, I tend to internalize the stress of daily life. Chronic muscle tension, headaches, a weakened immune system, and so many other common health issues are all results of unhealthy stress levels. Exercise, yoga or stretching, and deep breathing and/or meditation are wonderful ways to relax mentally and physically. Another favorite of mine is regularly unloading in my journal. I take a bit of time to write down, stream-of-consciousness style, everything that is taking up space and energy in my mind.
I hope that you will be encouraged to do something a little extra this week to take care of your physical self. Start with just one simple thing, take it as gradually as you need to, and be kind to yourself. Health is too precious to continue to fall to the end of our to-do lists.
You really are worth it.
To help you along- or provide you with a yummy new snack idea- here is the recipe for mine and my son’s current favorite green smoothie:
Creamy Greenie Smoothie
1/2 avocado (or 1/4 of one of those really large, lighter-colored ones)
1 banana
handful of spinach
about 1/2 cup of coconut water
about 1/2 cup plain water
a drizzle of agave nectar
Blend until smooth, pour into your favorite glass or mug, and enjoy!
Hannah Mayo
Hannah is a wedding and family lifestyle photographer, and lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son. She loves film, coffeeshops, and the ocean, and spends her free time reading, going on family adventures, and doing just about anything creative – including writing for her blog, Seeking Equipoise. She believes that there is beauty in all the world, and that it has power to change hearts and minds.
