HOW TO ALIGN YOUR LIFE AND BUSINESS
There isn't one size fits all when it comes to wellness. If you feel unwell, unaligned, or just not the best version of yourself mentally and or physically, this may be a sign that you’re not treating or fueling your body with what it needs. Maybe you’re consuming foods that aren’t right for your body constitution, you’ve been too restrictive, or you’ve been eating at the wrong times on an irregular schedule (hint: our digestion loves routine!).
Take inventory on your energy levels, mood, and sleep every day.
Notice how different foods make you feel a few hours after you are done eating. Is there something you should eliminate for a while? Consider exploring your body type or constitution as explained in TCM or Ayurveda.
Eat a nourishing, balanced meal for dinner, including foods that will not contribute to cravings late at night.
Notice how you feel when you wake up. Do you feel fully rested? Are you excited to jump out of bed in the morning? Consider getting off your screens 2+ hours before getting ready for bed, to minimize heightened brain activity caused by blue light that disrupts your ability to fall asleep or sleep deeply. Make sure electronic devices are 6+ feet away from you while sleeping, to minimize potential radiation that disrupts your sleep. Is there something you could do to enhance your bedtime routine, allowing for a more refreshing start for the next day?
Sometimes, we can already be living a “healthy” lifestyle with “healthy” habits but they don’t align with exactly what our body needs.
Listen closely and adjust accordingly.
2. Follow the things that light you up
Easier said than done, we know. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t 100% love to get us where we want to be.
On the flip side, we often have more freedom than we think to pursue things that make us feel good, excited, energized, and inspired, despite how our brains have been wired to think (many of us tend to stay in fear, without even realizing this— writing it off as rationality. When in reality, you can still think critically and make good decisions for yourself while also pursuing what your heart wants, which you may currently just refer to as your passion projects or hobbies).
This is another place where you can take personal inventory:
As you move through your day...
- Which parts of your day excite you?
- Which parts drain your energy?
- Are there things you wish you could schedule into your day?
- Are there things you wish you could start or try?
Because we are always going to have to include things we don’t absolutely LOVE into our schedules, is there a way you could shift your day to simply do a little bit more of what you love?
Perhaps there is something that you’ve always wanted to do but just “couldn’t find the time” to do it. Well, enough of the excuses! Not every new endeavor needs to be time consuming. Make it a priority, schedule it in (even if it’s only a few minutes a day), and allow yourself the freedom to explore!
Create your dream schedule. How do you want your life to look? Start making decisions that align with that lifestyle starting now.
3. Set personal and work boundaries
This can be really difficult to do especially when you’re a business owner but it is really important to set boundaries for yourself and those around you.
Boundaries (work and personal) are necessary, and can be difficult to set. But this doesn’t need to be complicated. Just do it. You’ll thank us later.
Outline the little things you know will improve your life as soon as you have the opportunity to implement them. These may be things you’ve wanted to set boundaries with, but haven’t gotten up the nerve to do so. Well YOLO! The time is now. This could be as simple as not checking emails after 6:00pm or on weekends. Or not reading/sending texts after 9:00pm.
Setting boundaries can also mean not allowing those around you to persuade you into things that don’t align with your goals or ideal lifestyle. Maybe that means when you meet up with friends for “a drink,” you really mean one drink and stick to it. Maybe that means if you have a family event to attend but still want to prioritize your sleep, you set a time for yourself to leave at that time without allowing mom to guilt you into staying longer.
A helpful trick for deciding on whether to attend or stay at social events: pay attention to what your body wants, before your head has the opportunity to rationalize why you should attend an event or stay somewhere longer than you want to. Ignore the guilt! If your body wants to jump up and run out the door when you receive the invite from your friend, that’s a great sign! But if your body wants to stay at home and relax, that’s a great sign too. Either way, follow your instincts.
4. Show up and act in alignment with your dream reality
Do you have dreams? Goals? A vision for your future? You should and if you do, the only way to achieve them is to actively work on them.
The decisions you make now, day-to-day, are going to directly impact what happens to your future. There is no “I’ll get to it later.” The time is now. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the present but it does mean that over time, your habits will build up and design your future. It’s up to you to intentionally create those habits.
If you want to build a successful business, are you going out and creating opportunities or waiting for them to come to you?
If you want to have children and grandchildren that you can play with, are you staying mobile and active?
If you want to be financially comfortable, are you learning how to manage your money, saving, or looking for new ways to increase your income?
If you want to be a morning person, are you creating the habit of waking up early (even though getting out of bed can be so hard!!)?
If you want to feel confident, strong, and in shape, are you working out and eating right consistently?
Your habits are your choice. Create habits that align with your DREAMS.
5. Give yourself grace, understanding, and permission to prioritize yourself
Not every day is going to be your best day. Some days, our energy is low, we are uninspired, we are tired, we are grumpy - turns out, we are human and these things happen.
But because we are human, we also need to give ourselves a little grace. It’s ok not to feel perfect every day. Our hormones change, the weather changes, our schedules change - and they all affect how we feel. Low energy may be a sign that you need a while to recharge. We need rest just like other living things!
We know, this is much easier said than done. But give yourself permission to prioritize yourself and your health (both physical and mental). If you’re tired, take a nap if it’ll help you be more productive when you wake up. If you’re sore from too many workouts, give yourself an active recovery or rest day so you can attack your next workout ready and refreshed. If you’re just having a tough mental day, give yourself time and space to bounce back.
We encourage you to feel your feelings and be present in your body. Work through your emotions, journal them, reflect upon them, and always listen to your body.
Don’t be afraid to get to know yourself a bit better. You are more powerful than you may realize.
Xo,
Cole Spike, @spike_society
and Paige