Welcome back to Day 15 of 31 Days to a Life of Purpose!
As we wrap up our discussion on habits, I want to address the importance of building healthy habits, meaning those specifically related to our health and well-being.
First, I want us to consider why making healthy choices should be a priority, and I want to draw your attention to two verses from Scripture:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
God has created our bodies and made them a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. In taking care of our bodies, we glorify the One who made them. Taking care of our bodies should not come out of a desire to live longer or look better, but should come from the desire to glorify God. This mentality was a game-changer for me. I have always hated exercising and have had a love-hate relationship with food, bouncing between being overweight to losing too much weight in too short of a time through avoiding food. Now, I am trying to view my body as the temple that God tells me it is. I want to clean it up for His glory, not mine. I hope this can be an encouragement to you, too.
When working towards building healthy habits, here are some things to consider:
(Please note, I am not a medical professional, and this is not medical advice. I am sharing my thoughts on healthy living to encourage you. You should always speak with a doctor regarding health concerns or before making major changes that will affect your health.)
Food
The easiest way to make healthy choices about what we eat is to plan ahead. Make time in your schedule for meal-planning and be intentional about your grocery list. Also, DON’T SHOP WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY! (This is also a money-saving tip!)
Health
Go to the doctor regularly. Don’t miss those checkups! Many of us have health insurance that we never use. Routine visits are sometimes even covered 100% or have small co-pays. When attending these appointments, be honest with your physician about any issues that you have. Your doctor’s office is a completely confidential zone to address any issues that you may be experiencing. Don’t forget dentist’s and vision appointments, too!
Mental Health
If you are struggling emotionally or feeling symptoms of anxiety or depression, talk to someone. There is no shame in seeking help. Counselors also provide confidential zones and can be very helpful in helping us to address problems that we are sometimes to overwhelmed by to take action. Along with this, make time regularly to talk with a friend. This is especially important for those who stay/work at home. It is easy to feel isolated when all we deal with are little people all the time.
Exercise
Exercise helps make your body physically stronger and can increase your energy. If you struggle in this area, try finding something you enjoy or incorporating exercise into things that you already do. I hate just getting on a treadmill because I feel like I’m not really doing anything (even though I am, I’m exercising!) so I rarely resort to this form of exercise. We have both a treadmill and an elliptical so when I do use those, I try to listen to an audiobook or podcast or watch a show from the DVR or Netflix. I have used the Wii for exercise through the Just Dance games or the Wii Fit games. I also like to go for a walk in the neighborhood with my husband. This way, we are spending time together and we’re both getting exercise. Sometimes, my exercise is just cleaning the house, but I make it into a workout (seriously…I will break a sweat) by trying to move as much as possible. Figure out what works for you to simply add more movement to your day to keep your bones, joints, and muscles healthy.
Sleep
I mentioned the importance of sleep earlier this week, but feel it necessary to mention again because it is a health-related issue. Sleep allows your body to reset and repair from the days strain. Sometimes, we can even prevent illnesses (or treat them) simply by allowing our bodies time to rest, recover, and allow our immune system to do it’s job.
Other Healthy Habits
Other habits that are simple to incorporate into our day including taking vitamins and drinking plenty of water. Vitamins can help make up for nutrients that may be lacking in our diet. Water allows nutrients to be transported throughout our bodies.
I hope this will serve as an encouragement for you to recognize that having a healthy lifestyle leads to glorifying God, and that you will be able to incorporate simple healthy habits that build up the temple God has created you to be.
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