Frank R.Everyone’s day is a little bit different. We have different careers, hobbies, and lifestyles; our connections — both between friends and family — may never intercross, but they each define us and bring us joy and laughter. However, despite our undoubtedly many differences, there is still much that brings us together. Plus, you never know, the things that make us different may also be the things we find most interesting about one another. Sometimes, it can help to walk a mile in another person’s shoes. To explore our differences and what we have in common, I would like to give you a glance of a typical day in my life right now.
Trigger Some Morning Endorphins
Getting adequate physical exercise has a wide range of benefits that are both important and well-documented. According to research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, regular exercise helps prevent a variety of chronic diseases — such as diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and obesity — and even reduces your chance of suffering premature death (meaning before you celebrate your 75th birthday). But one of the unsung heroes of physical exercise are endorphins. They are one of the best reasons to exercise, and are why I do a workout each and every morning.
Endorphins are natural hormones that our brain produces to help send a positive signal to the other parts of our body. Essentially, whenever we undergo physical stress or hardship, our brain pumps these out in order to give our body encouragement and reward our hard work. They serve to block pain signals to the brain, and make us feel good when things are getting tough. While these are released during exercise, eating great food, having sexual intercourse, and enjoying other fun activities can help release them as well. They are a helpful gift from our brains that helps us survive and thrive, and, according to the Mayo Clinic, exercise may just be the best way to make sure we get some!
Meal Prepping
Meal prep does not have to be a drag. In fact, when you get it out of the way on the weekend — when you don’t have to worry about hitting the hay and getting a good night’s sleep before work, or completing some project before a deadline slips by — it is actually fun, productive, and quite easy to get into. To do that, you need to find the proper balance. Sure, being healthy is important, but if you don’t enjoy yourself, chances are you are not going to stick to meal prepping for very long.
The trick is to prep in a way that helps get you excited for the meals coming up on your agenda. The last thing you want is to have nothing but grilled chicken breast and sliced squash on the menu: it will make you regret having a stomach or tastebuds. Add in some reasonably unhealthy options that don’t totally derail your diet, but also add in healthier options that round you out when it comes to minerals, vitamins, and caloric intake. You don’t want to overdo it, but you also don’t want to cause yourself undue stress and suffering, either.
Practicing Mindfulness
Mindfulness can help you focus, concentrate, form memories, and beat back the stresses that compound during our personal and professional lives. That is why I practice mindfulness each and every day — usually in the morning. Usually, I do what is known as mindfulness meditation, where I sit back and concentrate on my breathing (in through the nose and out through the mouth) while tuning out outside noise. Sometimes, however, I like to do what is known as a mindful pause. This is when I take the time to notice the beauty and majesty of the present moment, slowing my perception of time and making the day less mundane and more meaningful.
Conclusion
Knowing what others get up to can be helpful in forging your own path. Personally, I love to prepare meals each week (with a great mix of delicacies and healthy staples), practice meditation in the mornings, and get some exercise whenever I can. It helps me maintain a schedule and daily routine that works for me. If you are interested in other lifestyle, wellness, or mindfulness articles, please check out our blog for more!
