I truly believe that to set yourself up for success every week and every day, in anything that you do, you need to have your health in order first.
If you don’t feel good, you won’t perform well.
I can’t tell you how many times that I have woken up too tired, groggy, lethargic, with no energy and how it’s completely ruined my day.
Whenever my healthy habits are off, I can feel myself slowing down with work production. I get more agitated on calls, and I’m not as sharp as usual. I can’t get through a workout, and I have less motivation to get out and move or eat well. It’s a vicious cycle and it affects me in every way. Days like that, when I look back at my day and ask myself, “did I do my best today?”, I have to honestly say no, because I physically couldn’t.
I end up disappointed and defeated, and I don’t like feeling that way. I love having energy, feeling peppy, and happy. When I am in that state, I know that I am ready to perform at my best in anything that I do, and I always want to perform at my best.
To stay at my best, I give myself 4 weekly health goals so that I know that I am doing everything I can to keep the good feelings flowing, and my performance levels high.
These 4 Health Goals seem easy and straight forward, but putting them into consistent practice is not as easy as it seems.
- Sleep and Rest. I have to be honest with you, I am TERRIBLE about taking a “rest day” or making sure I get enough sleep. I have always been able to get by on a decent amount of sleep, but not much. But now, especially that I am pregnant, I need much more rest and sleep than I ever have, so I made sure I have it.
We all require different levels of rest and recovery to feel energized and ready to go. Don’t be ashamed if you need more. Rest is important. Sleep is crucial. Listen to your body and give it what it needs.
- Water. Water gives us energy, hydrates our bodies, flushes out toxins, and keeps our minds clear and awake. And I am not talking about seltzer, I am talking about good old fashion water from the tap. It is SO incredibly good for you and so important to stay hydrated at all times.
- Movement. I make it a priority to move my body every single day. For me, that might look like a walk outside, a peloton ride, a barre or yoga class, but every day I make it a priority to get my body moving. It doesn’t have to be hard and not fun. The more fun you make it the more likely you will keep doing it, and do it on the days you would rather not.
Moving your body is not only physically good for you like we all know, but it’s mentally good for you. It produces more endorphins, the happy hormone, in your body to make you mentally feel good. It also helps clear your mind and helps reduce your stress levels.
- Food. Living a healthy lifestyle and eating foods that will nourish my body has been a passion and priority of mine since high school. I knew even then how important it was and took it to the next level in college. Ever since choosing the healthiest food options for my body has always been at the top of mind.
Eating foods that fuel my body helps me wake up with more energy and ward off the dips in energy or feeling lethargic and slow in the afternoons. For the most part, I feel good all day long. I can think clearly, and I have a pep in my step all day long.
You may be thinking “super simple, no new news there”, and you would be completely right. Doctors of all types, health specialists, nutritionists, and mothers have told us this from day one.
Always get a good night’s rest, drink all of the water, move your body, and eat good foods.
But the question is, do we listen?
Do you have a bedtime at night, or do you binge watch the newest Netflix series?
Do you keep a mindful eye on how much water you consume during the day, or do you load up on coffee and fun sugary drinks?
Do you make exercise and movement a non-negotiable in your life, or do you get tired and make excuses?
Do you take time to buy, prepare, put thought and love into the food you are making, or do you order out and let your cravings win the war?
Now keeping those 4 “simple” healthy weekly goals, doesn’t sound so simple, does it? It’s a commitment, it’s hard, but it’s worth it.