Life Maths

What is your preferred life maths operation? Are you always seeking something to add to your current routines to improve life, something that will grow exponentially, or something to take away, subtract, or reduce - reduce fatigue, reduce effort, or reduce emotional burden.

Instead of starting with overwhelming projects that require radical life change, consider what you really need. What health habits do you currently have? Would it work better for you to add a couple of new routines, or do you really need to get rid of some go-to habits that simply drain you? What one change would be comfortable for you? How much time, effort and energy do you have? What are the practical implications of that change?

Knowing what the change will do for you is essential. Making random changes, without counting the costs of change will certainly result in no change. For example, getting up earlier in the morning requires going to bed earlier the previous evening. Actions and routines for the previous evening need to be planned, before getting up early can become your new reality. If you just get less sleep, the change will be unsustainable.

Do you enjoy the excitement of something new? Does change energize you? If you feel deprived when you change your usual habits, then, choose to add, rather than take away.

If it is easier to take something out of your current habits, than to start a new habit, then this may be a better option for you. For example, snacking on a packet of chips in the evening while watching TV. Simply stopping that habit will bring you health benefits. Simplify your routine.

Identify the smallest, most effective change you can make, and start there. Always remember, when you make a changes, these habits had a space in your life. You need to enjoy new freedom in that space for the new habit to be effective.

Health is essential. Without it, quality of life deteriorates, dis-ease drains your joy, your pocket and your love of adventure and growth. The body is fantastically designed to heal and restore, given the right conditions. What does health mean to you? What does that look like as part of your day? What do you still want to do 20 years from now? How will that impact your life, and the lives of others?

We calculate the amount of money we need to earn to be able to retire, do we calculate how much health we need to be able to retire well?

Health is a daily choice. It is never too early, or too late to make change that improves health. Do you need to stop doing something that is affecting your health, or do you need to add something? What will work best for you, in your circumstances?

What will you choose?

Adding Extra - do more

• Daily vegetables

• Home cooked meals

• Foods with fibre - lentils, chickpeas, beans, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and when eating grains, make sure they are wholegrains.

• Practice of gratitude

• Movement

• Time outdoors

• Fun

• Regular meals

• Fasting

• Foods containing microorganisms - fermented foods

• Connecting with a friend

• Learning

• Quality sleeping

• Laughing

• Number of times you chew each bite

• Complimenting

Subtracting something - reduce or limit

• Smoking or vaping

• Alcohol

• Processed foods

• Late night screentime

• Snacking on the couch after dinner

• Blaming others

• Over-committing

• Limit foods that make your body feel uncomfortable

• Eating just because it is there

• Shouting at other drivers on the road

• Complaining

• Calling yourself ugly names

This is a small sample of ideas, just to get you started. You will know many more, that may be relevant to you. Sit down, make a list, and set a goal. If you need help with this, contact me to set up an appointment.