the priority list
the stop, drop, and roll of life
Life can be full-on: The demands we are expected to juggle day in and day out, The responsibilities we are required to fulfill at work, The desire to spend time with our children and partners, meeting the needs of family, taking time for friends. there isn’t enough time for a full nights sleep or time to prepare healthy food or time to exercise or time to rest.
How is this even possible?
Over the next several months, I will be writing about actions you can take to build a health plan.
I am sure you have read or heard of these ideas before. the idea of change only works if you take action on the idea. if you want to improve your physical and mental health, you have to make change the priority.
your health plan is the equivalent of setting up a retirement plan. Counting on winning the lottery for your life savings may not work out. Similarly, neglecting your physical and mental health needs and expecting your body and mind to continue to carry-on years down the road, could lead to irreparable damage.
There are a few facts I would like to share before getting started. The cost of getting sick in our current system of medical care is staggering. The lifetime cost of treating diabetes, including direct medical costs and complications, can range from roughly $50,000 to $130,000 or more, depending on factors like age at diagnosis, sex, and the presence of complications. Cancer treatment costs in the US can be very high, with average total costs reaching $150,000. The estimated lifetime cost of treating heart disease can vary significantly depending on the severity and type of condition, but studies suggest that it can range from $100,000 to over $1 million per patient.
We live in a culture where instant results are expected and normal. Push a button and go. Take a pill and relieve the pain. Unfortunately in many situations, there is no pill that will fix the root cause of the pain or the disease. Medication may be required and should be taken when necessary. But not all healing comes from outside of our bodies. sometimes the process of healing starts from within.
The goal of each of these blog posts is to give you new ways of looking at both your mental and physical health. i can work with you to build a priority list of small changes which will lead to big results over time. this priority list is your health plan and the path toward restoring energy and balance to all parts of your life. Reiki Therapy is an important piece of your health plan. reiki energy gently brings your body and mind into balance, clearing old thoughts and patterns that block the changes you want to make.
here we go!
1. Be nice to yourself.
There will be days when you cannot take a walk or get to bed before midnight. The human body is remarkably resilient. This is a long-term project. Over the next 10 years, how will you take care of yourself? Over time, through small changes, you will start to feel better. When you start to feel better, then your body will start to ask for more of the same. More walks, more going to bed before midnight. You have been doing life in a certain way for a very long time and it will take time to find your best path forward.
2. Your body is unique.
Everyone’s body reacts differently to different activities and health treatments. I have seen this over and over again. What works for you may not work for your partner or friend. Give yourself time and space to experiment with new routines. If it doesn’t work to get up early to walk, try a different time. Just because this new practice you are trying doesn’t work on day one, don’t give up. How can you make it work for you?
3. How do you speak to yourself?
How you speak to yourself is crucial. What are the thoughts quietly playing in the back of your mind? Often the messages that we have picked up over a lifetime can play like background music in our minds. Thoughts like, “I am not good at this,” or “I can never do it right.” If you tune in, you can start to replace these destructive and discouraging thoughts with new music, new voices. Instead of “I am not good at this” how about “It didn’t work out this time, but I can try again.” Instead of “I can never do it right” how about “I am making big changes and that takes time.” Speak to yourself with respect and kindness, give yourself space to try a new way.
4. Start with small changes
What are the changes that you want to make in your day to day routine that will help start to boost your energy level and bring balance into your life? Start a conversation with yourself. What might work? When you consider an action, what makes you feel hopeful? What part of your health plan do you want to start with?
5. Schedule your health plan on your calendar
Start with one thing: a time to walk, a time to prepare fresh food, or even time for quiet. It doesn’t need a daily event. If once a week works then once a week is perfect. If you need to reschedule, reschedule.
6. Write it down.
Keep a journal of how you feel on the days that you walked or made an extra nutritious meal, or took a 10 minute break. What signals is your body sending you?
Here is the list of future articles. Be flexible as you start to incorporate your changes. I will be writing quite a bit about these suggestions in future articles. Take what works for you in your circumstances. Custom fit each step to your life.
the pause - even wonder woman and superman need breaks/june 1
awareness/mindfulness - that water feels wet/july 1
fuel for your system - it says all natural/august 1
why exercise helps-is moving your body really important?/september 1
what am i feeling? - emotions are exhausting/november 1
talking to the trees - how the outside can save the inside/december 1
Welcome to your new beginning!