Why should we consider our wellness a priority?
There are so many facet’s to wellness that make it impossible to write to all aspects without writing a small novel. In this piece, let’s focus on the physical as it is often the main point of convo when we are speaking with our clients in clinic. It may seem pretty basic, but being physical, like daily aerobic exercise or weight training actually changes our brain chemistry for the better by releasing feel good hormones.
For most people, being physical can reduce symptoms related anxiety & depression. The two are hand-in-hand. If you're struggling on an emotional level, it’s not always obvious on how to proceed forward & healing isn’t always linear so it’s nice to know that while, NOT a cure-all, getting outside for some fresh air or spending time in the gym can have a POSITIVE benefit for our bodies on a chemical level which can in turn impact the neural circuits in our brains for instant & long-term benefit.
What could go wrong if we always put our wellness last?
It can be tempting to let personal priorities like movement & fresh air activity fall by the wayside while attending to the needs of others or in the face of wave-like challenges that sometimes surface in life. There’s dialogue in the health community currently commenting that a sedentary lifestyle may be even worse for you than habitual smoking, ugh. Ignoring what we need on a physical or emotional level affects our enjoyment of life. Putting ourselves last too often can contribute to burn out & fatigue. There’s an expression that says…
In order to help ‘take care’ of others we have to first aim at ‘taking care’ of ourselves. EVERYONE is a ‘care-taker’ in our society. Perhaps for a child, parent, pet or partner, we ALL play care-taker roles. To take better care of the people we love, we have to start with ourself.
Why does prioritizing physical well-being help?
Prioritizing physical well-being is simply smart, PREVENTATIVE healthcare. The healthier we are physically, the more likely we are to maintain momentum as a healthy individual in our everyday, hopefully long-lived life. Many studies prove that physical exercise contributes to increased energy, improved self-esteem, greater strength, lowered risk of disease & improved digestive health. I know, it’s not rocket science, but sometimes we all need these reminders.
Intentional movement can improve attentiveness & productivity. Just like activity can jumpstart your metabolism, it can also rev up your mental focus. But what if I told you being physical could save you money? There's an economic advantage to prioritizing your physical well-being. There will always be a GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT when you make time to walk a little more, stretch often or fit mobility work into your schedule. This might look like fewer sick days or simply have a happier disposition that helps create a more harmonious life for you & those around you.
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you instead of what’s left of you ”
Words of advice for your overall well-being, it would be this….move more, sit less.
The good news is that physical activity usually has immediate health benefits & cumulative long term gains. Small changes will always win over big. So start where you are, use what you have & keep it simple.
It can be tempting to go big when we feel motivated to shift our habits for the better but please do start with the simplest & easiest changes to your routine first. Often big changes or commitments, can set us up for burning out in reach for our goals, whereas small, bite size changes help reduce stress & offer incremental benefits. The reality is that sheer will power doesn’t really work for many people. Need more convincing? Lots of people subscribe to ‘Atomic Habits’ author, James Clear’s 1% theory around health habit formation.
Some ideas for starting small & helping healthier habits form sustainably:
If you drive to work or school, try parking farther away so that you’re forced to walk an extra 5-10 minutes every day
Or better yet, walk to work entirely if it’s a reasonable distance.
Explore movements or activities you already enjoy or try a novel activity occasionally to try something new.
Social supports like having a walking partner, running groups or regular workout classes add another layer of accountability.
If you're keen on structure, organize your time for activity the way you would organize meetings at work or classes at school. Set a ‘physical meeting’ time up in your schedule even if it’s just for 5 minutes to stand up and stretch.
If you sit a lot for school or work, try incorporating a stability ball at your desk to encourage an engaged posture to focus the body and mind.
Ultimately, ‘your best position, is your next position’ (full transparency, I stole this saying from a physiotherapist who works at a local hospital) meaning look to attentively change your posture every so often so as to avoid feeling overly rigid or fixed in your body. Frame your physical well-being as dimensionally as possible.
What can I do to prioritize my wellness, especially at work?
In my experience, no one is immune to some type of occupational strain & in experience, there is usually some type of ergonomic or self care work-a-round. Is your work hard on your body, mind, spirit? What can you do? Aim to avoid working at the expense of your body so that you still have energy & vitality remaining for your hobbies, family & at home life.
Look for ergonomic hacks wherever possible. Mentor with those in your industry who have maintained physical stamina & integrity as well as their career in equal measure. This type of mentorship is invaluable. Ensure that your working activities are not what conditions your body but that you are spending time conditioning your body to support your working & daily life activities.
If you are still feeling some work related fatigue or pain then do not hesitate to seek the expertise of one of our sore spots RMT’s. What’s your sore spot? We’re here to help!