5 Physical Habits That Transformed My Life (Part 1)

Self-Growth

26 Feb

Every time you consciously create change in your life, there are four levels that you are operating on:

Physical
Mental
Emotional
Spiritual

The first level is the easiest to explore and expand, because it’s the one that’s visible. Physical changes may require a bit of patience and some persistence, but they show up soon enough.

The other 3 levels are much more complex to navigate and transform, but more on that in the next three parts.

Here are the 5 habits that helped me transform my life on a physical level and how you can use them to change your life too!

1. DRINKING WATER

The most important habit you can master on a physical level is giving your body the hydration it needs to function properly.

When we’re dehydrated, we cannot perform at our best.

But it gets worse than that! The more time you spend being dehydrated, the more the body goes into survival mode.

Why?

For the body prolonged periods of dehydration mean a threat to its survival.

So what does the body do when it feels endangered? It triggers the immune system that it’s time for action.

WHEN WE’RE DEHYDRATED,
WE CANNOT PERFORM AT OUR BEST.

If your immune system is working overtime to keep your hydration levels high enough for your survival, it no longer has the capacity to do its primary job — to protect you from viral infections and all kinds of bacterial attacks that we are all constantly exposed to in the world.

Drinking water is the #1 physical habit to master, so that you can override the flight-or-fight response of your immune system.

2. WORKING OUT

The best way to reset your energy is through activities that move your body, such as dancing, running, sports, working out or simply walking.

When we’re still for a long period of time, we decrease the circulation in our body and create the perfect environment for brain fog to settle in, decreasing our ability to view and experience life with sharp cognitive skills.

WHEN WE MOVE, WE SHIFT
AND EXPAND OUR THINKING AS WELL.

There’s a range of symptoms you’ll see when you google what happens to people when they stop exercising, or even moving, regularly.

The second most important habit after drinking water is learning to give your body enough movement to keep the blood and energy flowing for a healthy lifestyle.

When we move, we shift and expand our thinking as well. This helps us view things from a different perspective, form new ideas and approach life with a growth mindset.

3. READING

Every time you open a book, you’re transported into another world. It doesn’t matter if you enjoy reading fiction or non-fiction, the habit of reading works on so many levels.

First of all, you get to take a break from thinking about your problems — from what’s going on in your family, social or work life through the latest troubling news in your community all the way to where you see yourself in 5 years and how today’s actions contribute to that vision. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot, your thinking that is!

Reading not only calms down your nervous system, but it nourishes your imagination. It might even give you a new way of thinking to help you tackle a problem you’ve been trying to solve for months.

READING NOT ONLY CALMS DOWN YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM, BUT IT NOURISHES YOUR IMAGINATION.

Secondly, you get to learn from others without ever having to talk to them. Yes, I’m talking about the writers and their colourful characters inspired by the very people that inhabit planet Earth. Not only do you get to learn about foreign subjects, but also about the human nature and what it means to experience heartbreak, achievements, competition, and the list of human conditions goes on.

And finally, reading supports your continuous growth into a better human being. Why? The act of choosing to look within is what creates people with more consideration and empathy for others, with increased perspective and ideas of unity, and a whole lot more patience than non-readers.

4. MEDITATING

The moment you find yourself is the moment you stop running from yourself. The tricky part is facing your inner world in its entirety — flaws present since your childhood and gifts beyond your imagination.

Even a 10-minute meditation break mid-day can have a tremendous impact on your ability to focus, communicate and collaborate with others.

Just like the 3 habits outlined above (drinking water, exercising and reading), meditating offers a calming practice for your nervous system to understand there’s no real “threat” — only the illusion of it created by the Ego that likes to but can never be fully in control of everything to give you a false sense of security.

THE MOMENT YOU FIND YOURSELF IS THE MOMENT YOU STOP RUNNING FROM YOURSELF.

There are many things that we can perceive to be at the level of a threat that require a full-body activation, such as giving a presentation to your team, sharing how you feel with your partner, or setting a boundary with a friend.

Unfortunately, when your body’s operating in survival mode, or in fight-or-flight response, there’s limited functionality available to us when it comes to using our mind and heart to express ourselves and understand complex ideas. To overcome this barrier, it’s essential that we adopt the habit of meditation and being at peace with ourselves regardless of the many unexpected stimuli of the external world.

While meditation does get easier with practice, it’s a life-long commitment. The more you discover about yourself, the more you’ll find out there is unlimited amount of information to discover (and not just about you, but about the Universe as well).

5. COOKING ALL* MY MEALS

The food you eat is the fuel for your body. The more you pay attention to what you eat, the higher your chances of sticking to your routine, achieving your goals and preserving your inner balance.

In other words, if you frequently consume s%!t food, you are likely to feel out of energy. And if you’re out of energy, you will fumble the bag when it comes to delivering results with your goals — or sacrifice relationships in the process.

IF YOU FREQUENTLY CONSUME S&!T FOOD, YOU ARE LIKELY TO FEEL OUT OF ENERGY.

Since not everyone’s born to be a chef or has the time / energy / resources to master the habit of cooking overnight, there are a few approaches you can take if you are ready to change your diet.

The first option is to accept this as a challenge — a learning experience — and actually become an expert at learning what your body needs. This will give you the autonomy and creativity to always have a meal idea in mind that’s both healthy and yummy!

The second option is to seek the help of a professional, whether that’s a nutritionist or a personal trainer, who can create a personalised plan for your specific needs and tastes. This can be a stepping stone as you start to learn more about your preferences and what foods give you more energy than others.

The third option is to subscribe to a meal prepping company and start to experiment with different meal options. While this option limits your choices to what is available at any given time, it is still an entry point to clearing your body and becoming a more conscious food consumer.