“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. Then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present, and as a result he does not live in the present or the future. He lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.”
– The Dalai Lama, after being asked what thing about humanity surprises him the most
The problem of time
We’re all acutely aware of the importance of our health, particularly in 2016. Countless entrepreneurs and thought leaders speak of the importance and benefits of good sleep, meditation, fitness and nutrition. We know that keeping our minds and bodies healthy means that we can perform at peak level consistently, which is imperative in progressing our careers and businesses.
But there’s a common issue plaguing busy professionals that always seems to get in the way: Time.
Who has time to get 8 hours of sleep every night, cook healthy meals, exercise AND meditate? Nobody wants to work 12+ hours a day, only to go home and burn through what little leisure time they have with “health stuff”.
The power of habit
But actually, staying on top of your health is not as time consuming as you might think. There are ways to sneak health-conscious activity into your pre-existing daily routine. Simple habit changes and alterations to your daily processes can make a huge difference.
But more importantly: Bad health might be why you feel you need to “unplug” in the first place. If you come home from work totally exhausted, maybe it’s because you’re underslept. Maybe it’s because you let the stress of the day deplete your inner resources. Maybe it’s because you aren’t fuelling your body with all the nutrients it needs.
Bring health into your lifestyle, slowly but surely
Of course, 12 hour days are taxing. Fast-paced career paths and intense work takes it out of us. But so many young professionals don’t realise they could feel better (and be more effective) each day by changing their habits: Adding small things to their daily routines that would provide them with all the energy they need.
Here are a few suggestions for easy ways to start bringing health into your life, no matter how busy you are:
In the morning:
Hal Elrod, author of “The Miracle Morning”, advocates a simple six-step process for starting your day. The process is condensed to the following acronym: SAVERS, which stands for silence, affirmation, visualisation, exercise, reading and scribing.
Part of the genius of Hal’s Miracle Morning is that you can take anywhere from six minutes to a full hour to go through the process. It’s completely flexible depending on how much time you have.
Sleep
Arianna Huffington says that “We are in the midst of a sleep deprivation crisis”, and who could disagree?
Sleep is an investment in yourself. Make the investment. Sleep in as dark and as quiet a room as possible, avoid caffeine after a certain time and avoid screens in the hour leading up to bedtime. If you MUST use your laptop, at least install f.lux.
Movement and exercise
The media and marketing industries are more health-conscious than ever. We know all about the dangers of prolonged sitting and the importance of stretching. Take advantage of this by asking for a standing desk, taking regular walks and stretching out your back whenever you get a spare moment.
As for exercise, keep it diverse and exercise according to your mood. If you’re feeling a little hyper, take a boxing class. If you’re feeling mellow, try some yoga. Perhaps you could invest in a treadmill for the living room, allowing you to walk while you watch your favourite TV shows.
Nutrition
Nutrition is a complicated, heavily involved subject. There are countless resources out there that can teach you how to prepare healthy meals that are inexpensive and simple.
Our advice would be to start small. Don’t try changing everything at once – it’ll be too draining an endeavour and you’ll want to give up early. Maybe start by packing lunch instead of eating out during work breaks. Once that’s normal, try changing up your dinners.
As for avoiding those midday crashes, avoid caffeine after a certain hour and keep your lunches smaller than your breakfasts.
There’s an old adage: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” Sound advice for keeping your energy levels high!
