Ignoring Our Bodies

Busy professionals like me are so focused on what is going on in our heads, that we often ignore the inconveniences of our bodies.

When we take our bodies for granted we are less happy AND less productive.

Yet our whole way of working is disconnected from the reality of what our bodies need.  People are still praised for how MUCH they work and for “pushing through” for example.

Sometimes, I get a glimpse into how simple our bodies really are and it reminds me how important it is to take care of them so that we can show up fully for our jobs and our lives.

How do I get a glimpse of this you ask?

Well, I happen to have two tiny humans that I care for. And being tuned into how their bodies and minds work is literally like watching how a miniature me operates. Except that they haven’t quite figured out how to confuse themselves or others into thinking everything is just fine when it’s not.

My younger daughter is 3. And when she is tired, like really tired - she can seem almost drunk. She careens around the house knocking into things, almost falling down out of sheer exhaustion. And emotionally she’s one little surprise away from an absolute train wreck of a tantrum.

When one of my kids hasn’t had a snack in a while, it can feel like the world is going to end. Howls. Sobs. Incoherent ramblings. And then, a few pieces of dried mango later, it’s like a different person is in the room.

If you are a parent I bet this sounds familiar.

We grown ups are basically the same though. We need sleep. We need sunlight. We need food and water.  We need to move our bodies.

These are the basics of how our bodies work. And sometimes it takes looking in the “mirror” to remember the simple math of the inputs and outputs that make us tick.

We pretend it’s more complicated. And sure, there is a lot going on upstairs. But until you’ve got your body’s basics cared for, your mind will be operating at a severe disadvantage.

I have to remind myself of this when I sit down and try to focus on something difficult at 4 pm.  Or when I try to enter a hard conversation at night or on an empty stomach.

How does tuning into and taking care of your body impact your work?