Greetings,
Train your Brain to think Healthy and get Moving! Choose the ‘Like It’ approach. Simply treating yourself better can be a basis for living in a state of well-being. It can lead to paying more attention to what you enjoy while being realistic about setting goals that take into consideration managing both time and energy. You’ll find as you continue to hit the ‘Like It’ button, your life and the healthy self-care habits you are forming will become more enjoyable and with that comes the by-products of discipline and dependability that, ultimately, can have a trickle-down effect on your personal and work relationships.
Earlier this year, I attended the annual Epilepsy Conference at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. I was particularly drawn to the keynote speaker, Orrin Devinsky, M.D. (Department of Neurology) and his pragmatic view of well-being for the entire body. While his focus is in the field of Epilepsy, he reinforced the value of exercise, nutrition and sleep that benefits not only those with epilepsy but everyone! He noted that exercise is good for the brain – example, for women age 70-80 with mild cognitive impairment, brisk walking or weight training prevents memory decline. And the value of sleep (being well rested) aids our mental acumen such as improved mood, memory, attention, judgment and reasoning.
Exercise isn’t just about physical fitness, it can have multi-faceted benefits. A simple activity can also be an emotional management tool, a natural mood stabilizer, a stress reliever or a precursor to a noticeable improvement in sleep patterns. Let’s see how this can happen by taking a 20 minute walk through your neighborhood.
- Give yourself credit for some physical activity.
- Enjoy that walk while chatting with a friend or if it’s a solo walk, take in the scenery around you rather than getting caught up in your thoughts.
- To help clear and relax your mind, add a simple breath exercise by inhaling slowly through the nose, then exhaling slowly through the nose. Or if you’re feeling extra stressed, inhale slowly through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth.
- If your walk comes after a meal, then you’ve just given your digestion a
healthy boost.
- An evening walk can be an aid to getting a good night’s sleep.
We hope you enjoyed our three part Summer Series highlighting the importance of nourishing our bodies, minds and spirit from the inside out.
May your days be filled with Love, Health, Happiness, Kindness, Movement and Rest!
Breathe deeply, Walk daily and Smile!
With Love, Peace and Light,
Linda Shields, Founder