We can all have high ideals and good intentions, but if the basics of life aren’t taken care of adequately, we can often frustrate our own progress without realising it. Sleep, food, exercise and self-esteem are the foundations that we ensure are generally in order before progressing to chasing higher ideals. If you are constantly exhausted, you are more likely to procrastinate, become irritable, perform poorly and make ill-considered decisions. Ideally, 7-9 hours of sleep is recommended to allow your body to mentally and emotionally process your day, repair any damage, reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels and energise you for the next day. Fuelling your body with healthy food is just as vital – attempting to run on low-quality, nutrient-abandoned food is asking for miracles that your body is simply incapable of performing. Colourful, fresh and minimally processed food gives your body and mind the vitality to think, repair and perform at its peak – naturally providing you with the sense of energy that will assist in boosting your motivation to achieve other goals. Exercise is shown to provide MORE energy and increase one’s metabolism – often providing sorely needed ‘me’ time where thinking and focus allow you to practice overcoming boundaries and challenging yourself which can be transferred to other areas of your life. Self-esteem encompasses far more than it implies – it does not signify a huge ego, but a healthy respect and estimation of self. You must love yourself first, or you will not respect yourself enough to stay accountable to your own promises and plans and you will find yourself trying to gain acceptance from those around you, rather than performing in self-acceptance and quiet confidence that you will succeed. So, if there are any of these elements that are unbalanced in your life – seek to take tangible steps today and this week to re-balance them, and watch your other goals benefit from it.
LLUMI Australia 