5 Signs You’re Taking Better Care of Yourself
As humans, we are created to evolve. ✨ To become better, stronger, happier individuals every single year. It all starts with a thought. 💭
The Bible says “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) A wonderful woman of God whom I admire, Joyce Meyer, once said in her book “Battlefield of the Mind,” “Where the mind goes, the man follows!”
If you ever thought of these next 5 points and acted upon them then it’s evident you are taking better care of yourself. If not yet, don’t worry! There is room for growth! So here we go:
Prioritizing fitness in your daily activities
Mindfully choosing nutritious food over junk food
Setting boundaries to help you focus & grow
Getting a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep
Budgeting & saving by practicing delayed gratification
I. Prioritizing Fitness in Your Daily Activities
Care for your body now so it can carry you throughout your lifetime. Want to know the secret of living & thriving? Start investing in your fitness by exercising regularly & watch how the rest of your life will start to improve. The earlier we develop discipline & momentum of building a healthy lifestyle, the easier it gets once we are in a different season of life. For example, a single person who has time to go to the gym & has experienced the benefits of exercising regularly will also incorporate this type of regime once they have more responsibility as a spouse or parent. By building more muscle mass over time, you enjoy the benefits of being a sharp, energetic, & agile person. You’re not susceptible to getting sick easily. And even if you do get sick, the recovery time is much quicker than those who rarely exercise. So it’s never too late to start! All it takes is a full commitment to change & do something that can alter your future for the better.
II. Mindfully Choosing Nutritious Food Over Junk Food
I love food, how about you? Food is fuel for our body & the quality of food matters too. Choosing the type of fuel that helps build muscle mass can elevate your mind, body, & shape. Eating lean meat, beans, fruits, and vegetables regularly helps improve your digestive system. Learn to cook & meal prep, so you can know the portions you’re eating & save money from going out too often. Also try to limit your intake of excessive sugar from desserts & any fried foods because they will do more harm than good, especially if not taken seriously. Eating them occasionally, like once or twice a week should be fine, but remember the more we consume sugar the more addicted we can become if not monitored properly. Just as we won’t put any cheap gasoline on our cars so they can function effectively, we should also not be cheap & lazy in choosing the type of food that would help nourish our bodies.
III. Setting Boundaries to Help You Focus & Grow
Set a time to plan out your goals for the week, month, or year. Learn to be comfortable in your own company. More creativity & wisdom start to overflow in your time of solitude. The older I get, the more I appreciate my alone time to think, reflect, & rest. This was a huge challenge when I was younger because I would always gravitate to going out with friends, spending, & having fun all the time. Oh and going broke & not having any savings left; ouch that wasn’t so great. Now in my late 20’s however, I can honestly say that I prefer staying inside; it gives me the chance to declutter, study, cook, journal, develop myself, & save more money. Yay! Win-win! How much growth you long to see in a certain area would require your time, effort, & attention. What you cultivate will always grow. Whether it’s learning a new language, mastering an instrument or a certain skill, or building a relationship, it will all have some type of demand. If it’s worth it, you’ll make it work.
IV. Getting a Minimum of 7-8 Hours of Sleep
Sleep is what you need to be productive! The lack of sleep impairs one’s ability to function at its maximum capacity. The problem with having less than 7 hours of sleep are extreme daytime sleepiness, decreased alertness, & problems with memory & decision-making. By developing a healthy sleeping routine, our body could better be equipped to face each day’s infinite challenges. Plus the mind becomes more alert, sharp, & creative in finding multiple solutions. Our immune system also benefits profoundly from a consistent sleeping cycle.
Try getting into a habit of sleeping and waking at the same time every day (including weekends), that way your circadian rhythm (your physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle) could function regularly to help you get the most out of your daily activities. Also, several tips to fall asleep easily & quicker is to not use your phone 1 hour before going to bed (try placing it across the room, far from your bed) so you don’t have the urge to check your phone in the middle of the night, have your room completely dark, & use sleeping earplugs if you’re sensitive to noise.
V. Budgeting & Saving by Practicing Delayed Gratification
We are living in an instant era where we can see something, order it online, and have it arrive at our front door in only 2 days! Wow thanks, Amazon Prime, you’ve made it easier for me to overspend! There are of course some pros and cons of online shopping. The most important question to ask ourselves is “Has shopping & instant gratification become our habit lately?” “Can I wait 3 to 5 days before I press the buy now button?” What we need to remember is the importance of saving more than spending. I can attest that it was difficult for me in the beginning (since I’m a natural free-spirited spender). But as I continue to discipline myself through budgeting & knowing where my money is going every month, I am now more intentional with saving. And the reward of saving is that your money will grow & won’t disappear because of unnecessary purchases.
Hopefully, these 5 helpful tips encouraged you to reflect & improve as a person. We are not meant to live a stagnant, mundane, & boring life. You & I get to enjoy a vibrant, exciting, & adventurous life if we choose to take the necessary actions to enhance ourselves. Anyway, I love sharing my heart with you, until next time!
With love,
Sharon