Thanks to the Internet and the unlimited access to experts, tips, studies, checklists, how-to’s, videos, experts, podcasts, influencers, social media – you name it – we know now more than ever about what we should be doing to achieve our health and wellness goals. No matter the source, it always comes down to the same thing: Move more, consume less. So how could something so simple be so difficult to achieve?
The answer is simple: Our minds and our bodies haven’t caught up to the reality of our 21st century world. Technology has made it easy to move as little as possible, and our food industry has guaranteed that we can easily consume literally thousands of calories a day by simply ripping open a package of ready-to-eat food (the US food industry produces the equivalent of 4,000 calories per human per day of food!) Meanwhile, our brains are programmed to tell us to eat whatever is in front of us. A thousand years ago, the next meal was not guaranteed, and we needed to conserve as much energy as possible just in case the next meal doesn’t come along for a while. In a nutshell, our “monkey mind” is still operating in a scarcity mode, even though our world is brimming with abundance.
So what’s a health-minded human supposed to do? How about long-term vision, a little personal pep talk to navigate through the temptations, and some baby steps to get you on your way?
Grab some paper and a pen (or a smartphone and your thumbs), and describe your ideal self – what are you capable of, how do you feel in your skin, what’s that piece of clothing you’re itching to wear? Put the description someplace you can refer to often and keep that vision in mind when applying the next two tips.
When it comes to food, slow down: Take your time planning your meals, shopping for food, eating your food, reflecting on what is in front of you and what you really need.
When it comes to movement, do more: move at least once an hour, park further away from the front door (of the school, the store, the office, wherever), walk around the block or up the road, give yourself a stretch, get up and move while watching, listening, visiting, whatever sedentary thing you are doing, make sure you move!
It all sounds simple, but our instincts challenge us every step of the way. Remember, knowledge is power, but not until you put it to work!
Next time, we’ll take a look at some techniques you can use to set a simple wellness goal and position yourself for success.
