It’s that time of year where the temptation to eat too much, drink too much and sleep too little jumps us everywhere we turn. Sometimes chosen. Sometimes steered by friends, family and colleagues. That need to let our hair down and treat ourselves because we’ve worked damn hard all year! Everyone else is doing it, so why the hell not? Who cares about being bodywise?
But do you ever get the feeling you’re kind of doing some of this on autopilot because it’s expected, because it’s a ritual you’re sewn to and doesn’t actually feed you what you need inside? Burning the midnight oil to meet end-of-year deadlines and trying not to fall asleep on the Christmas turkey you normally wouldn’t touch, but do because it’s Christmas?
Ignoring your senses. Pooh-poohing your emotions. Overriding your inner intuition. But hey, this blog is not about Christmas. It’s about your relationship to your body that never stops because it’s a work in progress 365 days a year. Even when you disrespect it, it’s there to remind you of everything you still need to do or not do. Sure, we can neglect our bodies’ needs, but we can’t erase them.
Learn to trust your body
The body is more than just a shell and physical presence. It’s your signpost for the road ahead, a gauge for your emotional wants and needs, as much as physical and mental: your rigid, logical mind that only ever gets you so far. We’ve all been there, stewing over thoughts and intentions that completely bypass what we really need deep down because we’re letting our brain decide for the whole of us. And it can’t.
You are a whole, which means every single part of you is constantly providing you with vital information to help you develop and progress – whether you choose to take notice or not! Your body tells you when you’re hungry and tired, hot and cold, happy, stressed and excited, and lets you know in pin-sharp detail how you feel about the demands and expectations of others. If you listen carefully.
So, what part of you is still not prioritising your needs, stopping you from being true to yourself? And how can you learn to listen better?
7 Ways to become more bodywise
1. Check in with yourself when you wake up each morning: Notice how you are feeling and what you need to start your day well.
2. Ask yourself whether have slept enough or could do with going to bed earlier.
3. Observe the sensations in your body: Gently stretch or massage any areas that seem tense or uncomfortable.
4. Note which foods & beverages energise you most and which make you feel heavy, tired or bloated.
5. Be aware of how vibrant you feel around certain people, and whether you need to cultivate a more like-minded community.
6. Acknowledge when you are feeling stressed and allow yourself time to just breathe.
7. Get involved in an activity that allows you to just be in your body, from sport and dance to gentle strolling and meditation.
Your body tells you everything you need to know to grow, from the most trivial of everyday decisions to key, life-changing choices. So, if you’re looking to improve your overall quality of life, learning to trust your own body is a crucial place to start. After all, being you – from head to toe and inside out – is the only thing you can be.
Be bodywise. Contact me here at Freeflow Coaching and start tuning into the real you.
