THE PURE LIFE BLOG

Okay, so I’m going to get right to the point - why is no one talking (loudly) about how important it is, now more than ever, to take care of our own health? I’m not talking about the complicated notions of getting rid of stress, being grateful for what we have, helping other people…things like that…but more basic and simple things we can be doing to actually improve our physical health. Things like lowering your stress levels, having a positive attitude, and doing nice things for other people, usually comes naturally to people with a healthier lifestyle. It has been frustrating, day in and day out, to see the lack of conversation about something so fundamental to good health - that is activity and healthy food choices. The media doesn’t talk about it, the doctors don’t talk about it, and it doesn’t seem to be on the minds of very many people. I wish I could change that. Most of the conversations during the last couple of months has been about the indulgence in comfort foods, the excess drinking, and general attitude of ‘oh well…we’re in lock-down so we may as well make the best of it’. People are sharing food and drink recipes, which is a very nice thing to do, but most of it is very unhealthy. And the other topic of conversation is along the lines of ‘which Netflix shows are you binge-watching?’ So we have the combination of food and drink indulgence and sitting around watching too much TV - no wonder people are stressed. I know a lot of people find it hard to be motivated during these strange times, but the fact that we are in a health pandemic should be an eye-opener for us, and it should be all the motivation we need to take back control of our lives. About a month into the Covid-19 lockdown a former client of mine reached out to me. During our conversation she shared with me her struggles about the changes in daily life, and something she said really put things into perspective. Here is part of what she shared with me “The stress has really been weighing on me the past 6 weeks. I’m starting to come to terms with the lack of control and trying to focus on what I can control. It clicked for me that my health is something I can control, so I made a plan to do just that…The pity party is over!” I think she speaks for many people about the lack of control over our situation, but we do have control over how much activity we get and what we eat. There are many things you can do to help ensure that if you get sick from this virus, or any other, that you will be in the best possible condition to fight it off. Set a daily activity goal. Before you go to bed each night set a goal for the next day. Make a plan - it doesn’t have to be elaborate - to get movement into your day. Get creative, just aim to do more than you are doing now. Go for a walk around your neighbourhood, do some housework, find an online workout, go for a bike ride, walk up and down every aisle when you’re grocery shopping…these are just a few of the simple ways to move your body. Set a daily healthy food choice goal. Look at what you are currently eating and if you are not getting enough fruit and vegetables each day, make a plan to add more. The minimum servings is 5, anything else is bonus. It doesn’t have to be a fancy recipe…simple is best…a banana, steamed broccoli, carrots & dip, a bowl of grapes, caesar salad…whatever fruit and veg you like. Don’t worry about a complicated diet plan, just start by adding in more of the good stuff. Do something you enjoy…have fun. Take a few minutes every day to do something that brings you joy…that you truly love to do! Something that gets your body moving or engages your mind. Doing enjoyable activities - whether it’s playing a board game with your family or dancing around your kitchen - can go a long way to relieving some of your stress. Search your memory for things you did in the past that you enjoyed and do them again. It’s a great idea to take time out, even if it’s 15 minutes, to focus on something other than work and responsibility. It recharges your engine and resets your mind. My hope is that more of us take back control over our own health knowing that it’s the most important thing we can do.