Downshift: The Importance of Regular Self-care Practices in Midlife
Not unlike a car that runs at high speeds for too long and too often, our bodies, if treated similarly, will too break down faster and will be more costly to repair.
As a result, in my membership community, the Theme I chose for this month was “Downshift,” based on the book we’re exploring: “The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons For Living Longer From the People Who Have Lived the Longest.”
We’ve learned that they don’t take Caribbean vacations where they veg out on the beach for two weeks a year; rather, they infuse stress-relieving activities into their lives on a regular basis:
- They take walks in nature.
- They stop to savor the sunset (even if they’ve seen it every day for the past 40 years).
- They meditate to slow their minds down and get centered.
- The Adventists take a Sabbath day to spend time with family and gain perspective.
- They limit their time online and in front of screens and even the radio.
- And, they get together with their friends to have fun and laugh together.
Perhaps these are things you do now and again, but maybe not as often as you’d like.
Here’s why this is so important.
All this comes down to much more than the desire to lose weight, look more refreshed, or have more energy.
That’s the least of one’s problems in the grand scheme of things.
What we’re learning in the Blue Zones is that not having regular self-care practices is not only shortening our lives, but being in “high-gear” too much and too often leads to high blood pressure, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s, to name a few.
When you’re faced with these problems, it really puts health into perspective.
Just like it might take the car to overheat or a blown tire on the freeway, unfortunately, sometimes it takes people experiencing burnout, the doctor putting them on medication, or being diagnosed with a serious condition before they do something about it.
Like they say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
And this is what I help my clients in midlife do – make small, realistic lifestyle changes – which I believe is a small price to pay now, in order to avoid larger costs later.
I shared recently about the highlights from my 2018 Summer Redwoods Retreat.
This was a chance for the ladies to take their foot off the gas pedal for a weekend and not necessarily come to a screeching halt, but instead slow down.
When we practice “an ounce of prevention,” it’s manageable – walking around the block before dinner, shutting down electronics a half hour before bed, five minutes of controlled breathing and centering your mind before work…
These are all things that take very little time, energy, or effort, but go a long way in keeping you healthy and happy.
What might work for you?
In what way(s) can you take your foot off the gas pedal on a regular basis?
What are you willing to start doing for the sake of your health and well-being?
If you need some help, you know where to find me.
It’s your turn to take care of you,
Need Some Help?
Book a time to talk with me here.
