4 Key Ways to Balance Your Mind, Body, and Soul
by: Sophia Smith
Nowadays it’s extremely common for people to find themselves living stress-ridden and hectic lives. We often find ourselves in a hurry to do and achieve so many things – trying to balance careers, families, side-hustles, social lives, workouts & more leave us feeling for lack of a better word – drained. It can be considered somewhat of a recent phenomenon for people to feel dissatisfied if we’re not experiencing complete happiness & fulfillment in every aspect of our lives.
How do we address this? Has balance become such a lofty goal that for most people it’s no longer feasible? Maybe a good place to start is by simply aiming to find holistic balance in regard to your overall health – aka your mind, body, and soul. Below are 4 ways to help you begin the process.
1. Start with the Food You Eat
Not everyone understands how big of an effect the food we consume has on our body as well as our mind. By fueling your body with healthy & nutrient-dense foods, you will ultimately feel more rested, energized and able to do tackle your to-do list without feeling like you need to reach for that second (or third) cup of coffee. Take it from this study that states there is a connection between eating fast food and chronic depression – what you put in your body matters.
The benefits don’t just stop there. Eating foods full of vitamins & nutrients have an amazing effect on your skin, hair, nails & more. Who doesn’t want stronger nails, shinier hair and clearer skin!? Remember these benefits next time you’re tempted to go through a drive-thru.
2. Give Yourself Time to Rest
It’s all too common to keep pushing on with your daily tasks and responsibilities, even when your body and mind are screaming at you to take a break. When you find yourself heading towards the point of burnout - the first step to do is to take a minute, recognize what your needs are and make those needs a priority. More & more companies are starting to recognize Mental Health Days as crucial for overall productivity & employee satisfaction. Taking 24 hours to spend time outdoors, go on a walk, get a massage or do some yoga can do wonders to your mind & spirit. Too often women view taking time for self-care as “selfish,” which is anything but the truth. How can you have the energy to take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself? Here's your permission to spend an evening in the bathtub with a glass of wine, eating ice cream while watching your favorite movie or simply practicing a simple meditation. Which brings us to our next suggestion…
3. Arrange a Spa Day in the Comfort of Your Own Home
Maybe you’re not able to visit the spa as often as you’d like due to your budget. No problemo – because it is possible to create a spa-like atmosphere in your own house or apartment! Start out by lighting some candles. Candlelight has a calming effect and combined with soothing scents such as lavender, vanilla or rose they can help you drop into a state of relaxation. From there, apply a face mask, drop some essential oils & epsom salt into your bath to help soothe sore muscles and voila – you’ve brought the spa to you. Aside from playing some calming music, leave your devices in a space where you’re not tempted to grab them and enjoy some screen-free time. Which leads us to our final topic…
4. Disconnect from Technology
We are a society that has become entirely too dependent on our laptops and smartphones. Our busy lifestyles have created an underlying urge to be connected at all times, but constantly engaging with our handheld devices can have detrimental effects on our overall health and wellbeing. Which is why people, especially millennials are tapping into the the concept of mindfulness in droves.
What does mindfulness look like? It can be as simple as going on a walk without your phone, focusing on one task at a time, and not constantly checking your phone while in social situations. Multitasking has been debunked as the way to get more done and be more productive – in reality it leaves us giving a small percentage of our attention & effort to a multitude of things. Allow this to serve as your wake up call to step away from the role of “multitasking extraordinaire” and become more present in your day-to-day activities. Not to mention, the constant scrolling on apps like instagram do nothing for our self-esteem & make us tap into comparison mode WAY more than we need to. If this is ringing a bell for you, time to disconnect for a bit in the name of self-love.
Taking care of ourselves is something that should always be on our to-do list, even if it means doing small things like leaving our phone at home or taking a bath. There are no wrong choices when it comes to what fills up your cup, so start to get in touch with your needs and re-prioritize accordingly. The goal is the balance between mind, body, and soul, but the fun part is the journey that gets us there.
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