DEBBIE KEMP

Let’s talk about our health. 2020 has certainly been an interesting year from a health perspective. I’d personally prefer to stay away from any pandemic specific health advice, I think there’s plenty of that out there. However I would like to talk about a range of things we can do, all of the time, to keep ourselves as healthy as possible.

More than ever it seems, people are most concerned about their wellbeing! People are social distancing, wearing masks, and staying indoors. Perhaps missing much needed connection, fresh air and exercise.

So what other things can we do, and should we be doing, regularly and consistently, to ensure that we maintain good health?

Eat well

This is the obvious one, isn’t it? I think sometimes we take its importance for granted. Eating well doesn’t just mean having an apple a day and veggies with your dinner. It means being really mindful and intentional and choosy about what you put into your body. It means eating organic where possible to avoid the chemicals that otherwise natural food can be laden with. It means eating whole foods as much as possible because they’re nutrient dense. It means making sure that ‘sometimes foods’ really are just that, because too much processed crap really does place an extra burden on your body.

Did you know that much of our immune system is ‘housed’ within our gut? This means that our immune system and our digestive system can’t both operate at full capacity all of the time. Overload your digestive system and you’ll suppress your immune system, and vice versa. This is exactly why we’re often not hungry when unwell, and we should be guided by such intuition rather than eat because we think that’s a good idea.

Exercise regularly

This is the other obvious one that we might sometimes take for granted. Do you find yourself thinking “Soon I’ll create more time in my schedule for exercise”? I know I’m guilty of that. But exercise isn’t just about staying agile, being fit, or maintaining body weight. Exercise does so much for our body! It keeps us healthier by increasing the flow of lymph around the body, which helps remove waste and toxins. It keeps our bones and muscles strong, and our energy levels high. It helps to improve the quality of our sleep, and it just makes us feel better in our bodies and minds.

Enjoy fresh air and sunshine

Ahhh, fresh air and sunshine, they’re the best of Mother Nature. I wonder how often people think about making sure they breathe in fresh air? Some people spend so much time indoors these days, breathing in air-conditioned air that doesn’t have an optimal balance of the various gases. Taking deep breaths of fresh air really helps everything to work better! It improves a range of health markers, provides energy and helps us focus. Try taking 10 slow deep breaths of fresh air, several times a day, and observe how you feel afterwards.

Sunshine is like an ultimate gift from Mother Nature. It provides us with daylight, warms our bodies, and supports vitamin D production which is great for our health. It also helps to regulate the normal functions of our body. It’s so important for our health that we get some sunlight on our skin daily, where possible of course.

Hydrate your body

Water is one of those health strategies that is talked about often. “Make sure you get 8 glasses of water a day”. Do you? Hydration really is important, and just how much water you need is impacted by how much exercise you do, how much you sweat, and how much water content is provided by your food intake. So, you need to work that out for yourself. Play with it and see if you feel better and experience better digestion with more water. See if it clears any brain fog or reduces any headaches. Our brain uses a lot of water to function well and sufficient water will also support our body to flush waste and toxins.

Sleep and rest

Sleep is important for effective functioning of our immune system, hormones and brain. The 2019 Philips Global Sleep Survey revealed that 62% of adults do not sleep well, and that on average, adults globally sleep only 6.8 hours per night instead of the recommended 8. I wonder how you’d feel if you consistently got a little more sleep? Or a lot more?

Alongside sleep, goes rest. If you are one to power through the day, busy from the moment you wake until the moment you head back to bed, you’ll likely benefit from finding some moments to go slow. Take in the view for 20 minutes, take some deep breaths, read a book, enjoy a catch up with a friend… those little moments of rest will also help to recharge and re-energise your body.

Connect with your own self

Oh meditation! The calm of sitting quietly, focusing on breath, watching thoughts come and go, and the peace that comes with connecting with self. If you’re not enjoying meditation regularly, I so recommend that you give it a go. Not a fan of sitting on the mat? Meditation doesn’t have to look a certain way. It doesn’t have to take a certain amount of time. There are no rules. But there are all sorts of techniques to try and explore.

Once you’re practiced at ‘going inward’, all sorts of dilemmas and tough decisions become so much clearer and easier. The mind no longer has to work out all the pros and cons of something, because you come to know that the best way forward is to go to your heart space, and to trust the intuitive information that comes forth. Life is just more peaceful with this practice, and with more peace comes less stress, and certainly a more effective way to manage stress.

Happiness and a positive mindset

Do you experience happiness and joy often? Oh I hope so. Not only is life more enjoyable when there are lots of happy moments, but there also physiological changes to your body when you are happy, that support your wellbeing. If, on reflection, your do not experience happiness often, I urge you to ask yourself… ‘What things do I love to do? Which people do I love to spend time with? What makes me smile or laugh?’ and then do more of those things!

A positive mindset can have such a wonderful influence on so much of your life, including your physical health. If you’re not a very positive person, I have good news… You can practice being positive! Start with a daily gratitude practice, and then try to notice any time you think negatively, and look for the good in the situation. Look for ways that you can be more positive. This can make such a difference to one’s life.

Connect with others

This one is ever so important. We are loving, caring beings who generally crave interaction and connection with others. Human interaction helps us feel good, especially when we are leaning on a loved one to support us through something.

These times may be different in this way, but let’s not lose our human interaction and connection. Let’s call, exercise, or share a meal with our family and friends. Let’s smile at strangers in the street, instead of the awkwardness that is often present around these times. Let’s stay connected.

This article isn’t intended to preach to anyone or tell you what to do. It’s intended, in this unusual time, to serve as a friendly reminder. So many people are taking great measures to protect their health at this time, and it seems like a great time to check in on the basics and review what else we can do to support our own health. If there are some things listed above that you know you can do better with, why not renew your commitment to yourself today?