Tuning In To Your Body and Mind {WIAW}

Tell me, has a more woo woo title ever existed? I think not.

But I do hope you’ll bear with me because I think this is something so many of us struggle with. We live in a world where we are constantly inundated with external messaging. Everyone knows the “right” way to live, from the way to eat to the way to work out to the way to be happy. Living in a digital world where we have access to all the information in the world can be a blessing and a curse. It’s incredible to be able to get advice from others and find connection with a kindred spirit you wouldn’t have otherwise met, but it also makes it easy to fall prey to marketing ploys and blanket advice that is just plain wrong. Or if it is right for some percentage of people, it won’t be right for someone else.

Overnight chocolate banana protein cookie from The Fitnessista

We are all so different. Sure, we have the same basic genetic structure, but everything from our bodies and our minds varies based on our genes, histories, and environment. The myth of everyone needing the same amount of calories and the same workout plan needs to be BUSTED, as is the myth that there is one way to live a balanced happy life.

Listen, some people are happy living in a small town, working a comfortable job, and living a quiet life. Others need to be in a bustling city, working long hours and also side-hustling on the side, and partying every night. Saying either way is the RIGHT way does not make sense.

There is no RIGHT way to live. You know what your body and mind needs better than anyone else.

Baby carrots and snow peas with a big scoop each Kale Spinach Greek Yogurt Dip and hummus (both from Trader Joe’s!) + 2 unpictured cheddar cheese sticks as part 1 of lunch

Over the past couple years, I’ve been working on tuning in to what both my body and mind are telling me. It’s a daily process, and I’m definitely still learning. Honestly, I don’t think we ever stop learning because we are also always changing and adapting. That’s why I think it’s so important to learn to really listen in, so that you know how to deal with the change that inevitably will come.

Handful roasted nuts as part 2 of lunch

Oftentimes, the physical and mental are going to overlap. If you’re feeling down in the dumps, your body will probably not be feeling its best. You may feel more tired, your digestion might be off, and you might have random pains in your body. Likewise, if you are physically exhausted and overtired, or really hungry, your emotional state is probably not its finest.

Last week, as I found myself on the brink of burnout, I found it incredibly difficult to tune into the mental. I was journaling every night as usual, but during the day, my mind felt like a blank. Hindsight tells me this was all stress-related and was just a defensive mechanism for my brain to keep going with all the work I kept piling on it.

Quest bar snack

But at the time, all I felt was the physical. I felt more lethargic than usual, and my body craved rest and slow movement. I ended up going on walks or doing yoga for most of my workouts because that’s what felt good. I know for sure that had I pushed through with my routine of HIIT and weights that week, I would have only perpetuated the problem and probably spiraled much deeper than I actually did.

I also did my best to dial into my hunger and fullness levels, paying attention to my cravings but also noticing when they seemed emotional in nature. If it was one of those, “OH I GOTTA HAVE THIS RIGHT NOW” moments, I know it’s usually an emotional craving, and I wait it out to see if it persists. If it does, then I’ll usually oblige, but more often than not, it disappears. I find weeks like this, what helps a lot is eating particularly clean, in the sense of minimal processed foods and sugar. Nothing wrong with sugar at all, and often that’s exactly what you need on a crummy day, but sometimes it will only make you feel more tired and bleh.

I was actually craving veggies like WOAH, so this Sweetgreen salad hit the spot on all the levels.

My usual Sweetgreen salad of kale, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, portabella mushrooms, tofu, and balsamic vinaigrette. 

Again, all of this comes with trial and error, but you need to accept that YOU hold the key to figuring out what your body needs to function optimally.

Also on the mental side, I’m a huge proponent of journaling as you know. No, it is not the holy grail, and sometimes there’s just too much mental gunk, and journaling will only do so much, but it helps a substantial amount. I credit journaling for playing a huge role in
managing my anxiety.

A bedtime snack of this amazing granola from Trader Joe’s and some sliced pineapple.

Also, I would strongly suggest having times in the day when you’re simply alone with your thoughts. No music, no podcasts, no people. Just you, sitting, or lying down, or maybe walking in nature. It’s so easy to defer to distraction and fillers to get your mind off whatever is bothering you, but it will only get worse if you ignore it.

I noticed for me, when I’m particularly stressed, I start filling every free moment that I’m alone (being in my room, walking somewhere, etc.) with podcasts so that I never have to be alone with my thoughts. Now as soon as I catch myself doing that, I know to put a brake on the noise and try to tune into what is actually going on.

As with everything, practice makes perfect, and in the realm of our bodies and minds, perfect doesn’t exist anyway. What we should really be striving for is developing a partnership with our bodies and minds, one built on trust, respect, and love. Only then will they respond in kind.

Have a lovely rest of your week, munchkins!

Linking up with Laura for What I Ate Wednesday

 

How do you tune in to your body and mind?

Do you ever find yourself filling up free moments with fillers to avoid dealing with uncomfortable emotions?

Best thing you ate recently?