Like everything else in life, such as our
career and family, and relationships - our health requires a vision with goals
and actions. I usually say our health is simply complicated - so simple that we
complicate it.
When I understood that my health is the
foundation on which my dreams are built, and my life is lived, that’s when I started
owning my health. This led me to do two equally important things;
1) analyse my
everyday actions and change/tweak them to make them healthy positive acts and
2) look at the big picture of my health and not obsess over the little stuff.
From this, my tagline was born - ‘Magnify
your Health’.
Did you know, of all the people suffering
from autoimmune conditions, 78% are women? As women, our bodies go through more
physiological/hormonal changes than men do. On average, women go through
puberty, two childbirths, and menopause. If we add to this mix of external
stressors like gender inequality, the fight for equal opportunity, or
discrimination, the statistics are not surprising.
For me personally, the six significant
experiences that have shaped my journey and mentality as a health coach are
also the most painful - 1) sexual abuse as a child, 2) depression and weight
gain as a teenager, 3) a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia in my 30’s, 4) postnatal
depression after my second child, 5) spinal surgery in my mid 40’s and 6)
menopause in my late 40’s.
Health is not a physical accomplishment, but the manifestation of our awareness of who we are and integrity of living out of that knowledge.
- Rand Olson
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Here is what I know for sure:
Our health needs focus and prioritization the same (if not more) as our career and family.
In my case, except for the spinal injury, I waddled through all other challenges. Only when I began to own my health and have a vision for my health, did I manage it. I proactively made time for it and learned to cope better with it. For example, my vision at a macro level entails being happy. At a micro level, it means wearing particular outfits, eating food I like, engaging fully in physical endeavors of interest, etc.
I also realized that my health was dynamic and multidimensional. Inculcating a growth mindset helped break the cycle of negative thoughts such as; ‘I cannot do it’ or ‘I am not good enough’. It made it ok for me to not chase perfection but gradually become better at managing my health. It allowed for curiosity and experimentation and made this journey more enjoyable.
Knowing that each of our bodies is unique and responds differently to different scenarios made me open to trying new things and figure out what eventually worked for me. I know I might never be the healthiest, but I am healthier today than I was yesterday!
Health is not just food and exercise - it's
nourishment, movement, mindfulness, and relaxation, all of which need to be in sync for us to optimize our health (that’s what I call
The Balanced Bandwagon!).
While we all have a genetic predisposition, environmental factors play off our genomes about health. Life factors, such as; stress, long working hours, binge-watching tv shows, less sleep, too much activity, etc., cause continual misalignment, and the way to bring back alignment is through mindfulness and self-management.
How I feel about myself matters. It dictates what I do, how I interact with myself and with people around me. I always tell my clients that if you feel good where you are, keep at it and maintain it! Of course, there are deviations in this journey - it’s definitely not linear, and coping with those deviations requires personalized coping strategies, such as journaling, meditation, grounding techniques, vision boards, etc., to get through the downtimes.
Simple routines
are important; they get stuff done - CONSISTENTLY AND SUSTAINABLY.
- Nourishment - Meal prepping and meal planning are important. Use simple cooking
procedures and stay away from overcomplicated recipes. Cook and eat the same
wholesome, unprocessed things each week with minimal seasonal variation. You
don't have to be a goddess in the kitchen. On the days you want variation, you
can always order in. Be clear about what is food/snack/treat and stock your pantry
accordingly. It’s ok to keep the treats away if you are a person who
overindulges or has a portion control issue with specific treats (for me, it’s
ginger nut biscuits!)
- Movement - If you are working from home, wear clothes to stretch or exercise
in. This doesn’t just involve “exercise” but also how much you move throughout
the day. Change daily routines to fit in activities that make you move.
- Relaxation - Think about the tasks in your daily life that you outsource. Some
of them may actually be therapeutic and relaxing. You can try setting a conscious
pace with a lot of them and change your mindset to view them not as chores but
as calming & relaxing things to do. For me, gardening, cooking, organizing
are just that. I do draw the line when it comes to dusting, ironing, and
cleaning :) .
- Mindfulness - Incorporate a small practice into your day, such as; journaling,
meditation, breathing techniques, sitting in silence, etc. I began these as
separate micro-practices; until they became a habit, and I began enjoying them.
A good way to begin is to calendar it all in. This creates space and brings continued attention and focus to all that needs to be done. Personally, I have chosen not to separate my work, health, and family activities. Knowing there is only one of me, I intentionally incorporate it all into my days.
The need, as always, is to strive for a dynamic balance, whether it be in work-life or aligning the Four Wheels of the BB Program - Nourishment, Movement, Relaxation, and Mindfulness towards Holistic Health.
So, what one action will you take towards being health aware?
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Rittu
is a certified Health Coach and a Behavior Change Specialist; she founded
The
Balanced Bandwagon and coaches clients on holistic health and lifestyle to enable them to magnify their health!
She is a health enthusiast, and all
her insights and perspective have been gained through her personal journey,
corporate experience, and coaching assignments. The
BB Program advocates the
concept of
striving for a dynamic balance on the four wheels of the bandwagon -
nourishment, movement, mindfulness, and relaxation.
Rittu
has an MBA, and prior to becoming a health coach, she has 15+ years of
experience as an industry HR practitioner and HR consultant with companies like
Aon Hewitt, Hewlett-Packard.
Rittu has lived and
worked in multiple countries like India, Australia, Singapore, and the United
States. This gives her a diverse cultural background that she leverages in her
work with clients across multiple geographies.
Connect with Rittu on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Website
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Check out
Pinkcareers' Incubator Leadership Accelerator, our 6-months program for new (and aspiring) female managers who want to level up their leadership skills and own their career success.
NEXT COHORT STARTS 15 NOVEMBER, 2021.Discover your authentic leadership style, get comfortable with self-advocacy, enlist sponsors, and become a confident contributor to your career success.
Save your spot now!
