Physical: Attending to Your Temple
We’ve been discussing the importance of self-care for caregivers. In a previous article, we posted a brief self-assessment inventory. It divides self-care practices into four main categories. One of the four areas considered is the physical.
When it comes to stress and mood, we are still only beginning to understand all the ties between our physical bodies and the rest of us. But it’s clear that the big 3 – food, sleep, and regular movement – can greatly affect our overall well-being.
Food – Most people know that serotonin is referred to as our “happy chemical.” But did you know your gut is where 90% of your serotonin receptors are? Click here to learn more from this Harvard article on how food affects our mood.
Sleep – The CDC tells us that one-third of Americans aren’t getting enough regular sleep. Have you considered how your screen time at night is affecting your sleep rhythms? Simply making a habit of turning them off earlier can help.
Movement – All movement counts (not just hard-core exercise)! Research tells us that just 22 minutes of moderately intense activity per day (like walking) can make a huge difference.
So, what are you doing for your temple this week?