With this understanding, there are three areas of focus for me: physical activity, nutrition and rest. My goal is not to get six-pack abs but to discipline my appetites and maximize my energy levels and mental health.
Our bodies were made to work. Muscle and bone gain strength and density through the stress of physical activity. Physical activity is associated with improvement of mental health and staving off disease. In a world where so much of life is sedentary, it is crucial to get regular physical activity.
My recommendation for those wanting to develop a practice of regular physical activity (perhaps from no activity) is to start with something you already enjoy. Do you like walking, hiking, biking, basketball or martial arts? There is nothing wrong with aligning your new habit with something you already enjoy and find motivating. Some of these physical practices like walking and hiking go well with spiritual disciplines like solitude, silence and prayer.
Contrary to the advertisements, our bodies were not made to “run on Dunkin.” Much has been written elsewhere on the subject of the typical American diet, but we can certainly say a diet high in processed foods is associated with all kinds of problems affecting our health, energy levels and mental sharpness.
My recommendation for others is not to go all-in on an extreme diet that is not sustainable. Rather, focus on simple, incremental changes where you can develop new long-term habits. Do not focus just on food to avoid but start by focusing on what you need to add. Focus on eating more whole foods, more servings of vegetables, more water, or preparing your lunches. As you do this, you may begin to feel better and naturally begin to avoid foods you need to cut out.
Isn’t it interesting that one of the Ten Commandments is to rest! Why? Well, rest is an act of faith. It is the recognition that God is God, and I am not. When I cease to work, the world does not fall apart. By putting a limit to my work, I am trusting God as the provider of my daily bread. As embodied creatures, God has made us to have regular rhythms of work and rest.
My recommendation is to evaluate your current way of life. Perhaps monitor your time for a week. Discover what the patterns of your life really are. Then, plan where you need to make some boundaries between work and rest. Perhaps it is shutting work down at a particular time each night. It certainly means carving out a day of rest. Maybe you need to start by saying “No” to certain activities (even good ones). Rest is an act of faith, especially in our anxious and busy culture. Limiting your children’s after school activities for the sake of your health and theirs may be necessary. Saying “No” to some ministry involvement (shudder to think) may be an act of faith.