Health Archives - Willow In The Wood

NEED= Something required or essential

Jan 10, 2019

A new calendar year has begun, but really, the numbers on the calendar don’t matter near as much as our own inner tracking system.

We all know when it’s time for our basic bodily needs such as eating, rest,giving and receiving intimacy. What I’d like to remind you about is how
it also tells us when it’s time to act. We receive nudges that tell us we need to move away or toward something. We may start to crave being outside, physically moving, relaxation and rejuvenation, getting away from a situation or person.

When we get so uncomfortable in our life it’s more than a nudge, it’s a command. Life would be so much easier for us if we acted on these needs instead of ignoring them. Can you imagine how healthy it would be for
us to ignore our need for food or sleep? It could literally kill us.

How important do you think it is that you pay attention to your needs? The clue is in the word “need”. It isn’t a want. It’s a need.

But we’re stubborn humans who have a brain that tells us it must be safer where we are than where we might go; because at least this is familiar. And usually, also a history of being told to suck it up and push through.

I admit I’m guilty of it too. There are times we have to push through otherwise we’d become spineless blobs not getting anything out of life.

Here’s what I do to know when it’s time to either push through or redirect with rest, food, a new angle to tackle a problem, person, or thing. I pay
attention to my body. It tells me a lot.

For me, I feel like I’m being strangled. My throat and neck get tight. It’s not pleasant. When this happens as I’m working on a project, I give it one last little bit of a push knowing I’ll feel immensely better when it is finished. If necessary I take a break and then come back to the task. Some projects take multiple breaks for me to get through them.

If it’s a situation I need to address, I’m that rip the band-aid off kind of girl. I want it over with. I even told my husband the other night after an ‘airing of grievances’ that I knew it would get better after we talked. And it did very quickly.

You see, not honoring our needs is denying ourselves what it takes to thrive in this life. This year I’m determined to do a better job at this. And yes, sometimes I NEED chocolate.

Honoring Our Natural Rhythm

Oct 15, 2018

Since I’ve moved to the forest, it is much easier to honor my ‘natural rhythm’ in all things. I’m not tied to other clocks and naturally reverted to what is healthiest for me. But, now that I have done this, I realize how incredibly powerful this is! I function better in health, happiness, peace, rest, creativity, & productivity. My self-esteem & relationships are better too.

Why didn’t anyone teach us this?

It’s obviously important; like using the right gas in your car or not eating foods that hurt your body. And it’s a basic principal: Honor your natural rhythms.

Here’s a few suggestions on how to do just that:

Are you tired?

You probably know how many hours you’d like to sleep. But to you sleep that much? Demands can push and pull us until we feel we’ll break and they absolutely will if we let them. Getting enough rest is essential to feeling good. So if you have to get up early, go to bed early. Get the rest you need.

Pay attention to how you feel after you eat. Are you bloated, tired, get a headache, brain fog? Are you hungry shortly after eating. The food you put in your body affects you body. Not just your waist but your brain too. And if you’re hungry before it’s time for the next meal, you may not be getting what you need nutritionally from your food. I know I need protein in the morning. I work better and don’t get as hungry so quickly.

Know your brain.

What time of the day are you the most mentally sharp? For me, It’s in the morning. I do my hardest brain work first thing in the morning. I’m at my best physically in the afternoon and I’m creative in the evening.

So my day looks like this: Wake up, drink a glass of water, get my coffee and head straight to my office. I work until late morning when I take my dog for a walk. When we come back, I have a protein rich breakfast and go back to work for another 3 hours doing my busy (not brain) work. In the afternoon I engage in the physical part of life; clean house, laundry, run errands, meet clients or friends, etc. Before or after dinner I may read or engage in some conversation, art, or music. Honestly, if I try and create in the morning, it doesn’t work. Just as if I try and work on technical problems in the afternoon I feel like I’m fighting a battle. My body and mind feel so uncomfortable I feel compelled to do something else…anything else.

This can go deeper and deeper. Hate your job? Then It’s probably not the right one for you. Unless it’s a person at your work. Then it could be a great relief to find the same kind of job with different people. We don’t fall in love with the first person we date & we may not even like them. Why would we thing it would be different with a career?

Knowing AND HONORING our natural rhythms can do a lot to make our lives better.

Does Being Old REALLY = Being Tired All The Time?

Jul 6, 2018

Mom used to say “I’m Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired”

I think many of us assume that having less energy than we used to is just a normal part of aging. Or, we’ve felt this way for so long, we accept it as normal. Here’s news: It’s not normal and it’s a vicious cycle. If you’re tired you do less which effects your health and energy levels and you become even MORE tired and have LESS energy.

Our metabolisms do slow down. But, you don’t have to be tired ALL THE TIME. You have a choice to continue on this downward spiral or do something about it so you can do the things that make life worth living.

The good news is we can usually change things once we make the decision to do so. I’ll bet you even know what to do. Eat healthier, get more exercise, and develop healthy sleep patterns.

Simply said:

• Eat REAL food; fresh and not packaged. Avoid the 20 Worst Foods To Eat.
• Get up and get moving. Here’s a link for 5 Easy Home Exercises for Older Adults.
• Drink water – Your body needs it to function. Do you want to function?
• Get some GOOD sleep by developing a routine before bedtime. (It works for kids & it will work for you!)

Now that you know WHAT to do, it’s important to understand HOW to get started.

#1: Make sure there isn’t an underlying reason for your low energy.

It could be any number of reasons. I suggest you have regular check-ups and make an appointment with your doctor if you feel somethings not right. And PLEASE make sure you are heard, treated respectfully, and efficiently by your medical provider. You must be your own health advocate. Doctors miss things, forget things, and unless you are diligent, there is a big chance you won’t get the care you need. Are you supposed to have regular blood tests? Put a reminder on YOUR calendar and call to request them when it’s time. There’s some good information here on women and fatigue. https://www.bodylogicmd.com/for-women/fatigue

#2: Have a plan. Face it, if you don’t plan it, it’s not going to happen.

Our plans will be as individual as our lives are. Look at the 3 points above and decide what your absolute favorite things are in the first two categories. If you hate kale, you won’t eat it. If you hate working out, you won’t do it. Do what you love. Do you love summer berries, smoothies, fresh crunchy salads? Eat more of those or whatever healthy options you love. Do you like to dance or window shop? Do that instead of lifting weights. (FYI: I take no responsibility for your shopping sprees) You get the point. You are much more likely to keep up with something you love than something you grudgingly do. And when you do indulge, put your snack in a cute small bowl instead of putting the whole bag in your lap. We often eat unconsciously and devour massive quantities before we even realize it.
Next, plan your perfect night’s sleep. Stop drinking fluids after 7pm. Those late-night bathroom trips interrupt your zzz’s. Don’t watch action shows before bedtime. You’ll be fighting battles and escaping bad guys in your dreams instead of resting peacefully. And for goodness sake stay away from social media. You don’t need to get sucked into the drama of family or friends or fall into watching just one more video.

Probably the most important thing you can do is design your bedtime routine. (I’m yawning thinking about mine) What makes you sleepy? Is it a warm bath, slow easy stretches, washing your face, & brushing your teeth? When you get in bed to you read, play solitaire card games on your phone? I will suggest one thing: after you turn out the light and lay down, do some slow deep breathing. Even three deep slow breaths can signal your body it’s time for sleep.

#3: Develop the right mindset.

You think that magically you’re going to put down the chips and get off the sofa to grab an apple or go for a walk? (I just laughed out loud here, and it犀利士
wasn’t funny) The answer is no, nope, & not a chance. You need a vision & you may need some help.

A vision of your WHY is important for ANY goal or dream you may have. Our WHY will keep us going when it isn’t really run to do so.
Why do you want to have more energy? Visualize yourself doing fun things you will be able to do or how great you’ll feel and look. Visualization is POWERFUL.

Many do better when they have an accountability partner or someone to go through this process with. Do you have a friend who you can set a date to get up and moving or take turns making a healthy dinner and sharing it weekly? Perhaps you’re ready to start living your life on your terms in all areas, not just health and it seems overwhelming. If that’s the case, I’d be very happy to talk with you about options for personal life coaching. Send me a message if you would like to do that.

And FINALLY, remember YOU and nobody else is responsible for your health and happiness. This is YOUR LIFE. Discover your own path and make it right for you.

Personal Responsibility – The Blame Game

May 21, 2018

Mom taught me a valuable lesion; to take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for my actions.

If I did something wrong I was forced to do what was within my power to make things right. If that wasn’t possible then I was made uncomfortable by losing privileges or having more responsibility put on me in the form of unpleasant chores. These were valuable lessons and I believe they are the responsibility of every parent to teach their children.

It’s reasonable to carry this moral code into adulthood. If, as an adult, we cause harm to someone, we apologize and do what we can to make things right. But it is beyond irritating to witness the carless actions of others ‘getting away’ with bad behavior. We want them to be held accountable just as we were and hold ourselves accountable.

Sadly, in some of our lives, there are those who weren’t taught this lesson. They feel they can live by a different set of rules then the rest of us. Not only do they feel they aren’t accountable or responsible for their actions, but they’ve figured out how to TWIST things and make us feel like what happened was OUR FAULT.

There are extreme cases where an ABUSER will tell their victim that they, themselves, caused the abuser to act a certain way. “If you didn’t back talk me, I wouldn’t have to hit you.” “If you kept the house cleaner, I wouldn’t get so mad when I get home.” And it doesn’t just happen at home: “If you would have done your job, I would have been able to get the report finished.”

This happens on much more subtle levels too. Abuse isn’t just about being hit. Abuse can be a VERBAL ATTACK with hateful words or being told you are not good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, etc. through direct language or subtle degrading of your self-esteem.

Something happens here that can cause years of misery. We review our personal behaviors and question our motives and actions. We WANT to do the right thing. We want to be good people. So, when we are told we are to blame for something, we ‘take the high road’ and try to make amends.

But wait, we didn’t do anything wrong. We know we didn’t.

So, HOW DO WE STOP taking the blame, apologizing, and allowing ourselves to feel as if we did?

WHY DO WE LET THIS HAPPEN?:

-We don’t like confrontation.
-It’s EASIER to diffuse the situation and just move on.
-We’re in a public place and are embarrassed.
-Nobody ever taught us how to stand up for ourselves.

WHY WE SHOULD STOP THIS?:

Being accused of something you didn’t do or waiting for the next unpleasant situation to come up causes us to live in a stress state. There are mountains of reports that explain how bad and even DEADLY stress can be. Just a few things having too much stress can cause are:

-A weakened immune system
-High blood pressure
-Headaches
-Fatigue
-Depression
-Anxiety
-And even Heart Disease

HOW TO REACT WHEN THIS HAPPENS?:

STAY CALM & PEACEFUL: We think much better in a calm state and coming from a place of anger will not make things better.

USE ‘I’ STATEMENTS: I did not do or say that.

BE KIND: I’m sorry that happened to you.

BE CLEAR: But, I did not cause it and WILL NOT take responsibility for it.

KNOW YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR MIND: This is not an argument. They are entitled to think however they want. You are not here to fix them.

Today IS time for you to be aware of when others attempt to blame you for something you are not responsible for and to take personal responsibility for having the happier & healthier life you deserve.