Look After Yourself – You Know What You Need To Do

We all know the importance of our health.
We all know the benefits of making it a daily priority.
Put simply – Looking after our health makes absolutely everything in our whole life a bit better!

This post isn’t designed to tell anyone what to do.
Because…you know.

Right now, in this precise moment, you know exactly what you personally can do to improve your health.
And it’s different for all of us.

Maybe it’s cutting back on a lousy habit.
Maybe it’s introducing a great habit.
Maybe it’s both.

This is me:
I need to cut back on alcohol for quality sleep.
I need to be consistent with Yoga and Pilates to stretch and support my aging back.
I need to reduce my intake of delicious salty snacks that provide zero nourishment.
I need to go for a medical test I have been putting off.

So why don’t we do it?
For me, in all honesty, it’s simply because I don’t want to.
I could make loads of other excuses, but when it all comes down to it – I’d rather do something else.
For some people that is absolutely NOT the reason. It takes energy and determination to make changes. You may not be in a place where that is possible at the moment.
Or maybe you are a bit like me.
There is no underlying medical condition or life circumstance holding you back.
You just don’t want to either.

But…
Now is the perfect time for teachers in Australia to start nurturing our health.
We are on spring holidays, we have the time.
We are well rested, so we have the energy.
The weather is stunning, summer is on the way.
Our hibernating winter mindset is shifting.

You are the only one who knows if you’re ready to start the cogs rolling in a more healthy direction.
A wise person once told me, the only difference between a healthier me and the “same old me”, is my choices.
It’s me choosing to do today what I wasn’t willing to do yesterday.

That means that the only blockage in the way of a healthier me – is ME!
And…
the healthier version of me is the always happiest version of me (ask Shane).

So if you have been waiting for some motivation to start, here it is!
Follow NIKE’s advice and “Just Do It!”

How to be a happier, healthier, stronger, less stressed, more confident, well rested, well hydrated, quick minded, energetic teacher… You know what you need to do!

Thanks for reading,
Jen
PS – Feel free to ask me how the less alcohol, less chips and more stretching is going.


If you are looking for some easy ideas that have helped me to start and maintain a few healthy habits, keep reading.

I am definitely NOT an athlete, but I am married to one.
Shane has always encouraged me to prioritise my health. Added to this, I have had a front row seat to some extremely hard things, watching my own mum and dad age.
As I now get older myself, I am more aware than ever of how important being active is.
I keep moving, so that I can keep moving.

These are just a few things that have worked for me. I’m obviously not a trained professional so this is not medical advice.
But it might be a place to start.

Book to Read
Atomic Habits by James Clear
It is the absolute BEST book for starting new habits and quitting old ones!
I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Health Program
Noom
I did the free trial of this app several years ago (after Covid). I found it a great starting point. It works with your overall health. It has little surveys that helped me to understand myself and the habits I had developed. I found it educational, motivational and very easy to use.

Apps to Purchase
Down Dog
It gives you access to Yoga, Pilates, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), Barre and a Running Coach. I LOVE the time feature. You just set how long you have (from 5 min to 60 min) and it creates a workout for you. You get to choose the coaches and music you like. Great for people who like to exercise in the privacy of their home, or who travel. I can do a high energy HIIT session or a relaxing yoga stretch, anywhere, anytime.
Couch to 5K
This is literally made for people who aren’t active at all. It motivates you to get moving at a gradual pace. I loved using this one. Sometimes it jumped up a level a bit too quickly, so I clicked back and just stayed on the same level for a few extra days.

Piece of Technology
A Smart Watch
Get anything that looks after your health. I started with a cheap Fitbit (which was great). I now have a Garmin Vivoactive. You don’t need to spend thousands on the latest Apple watch. My Garmin tracks my sleep, steps, heart rate, exercise, stress levels, oxygen level and hydration. It helps me train within my ability zone, the “Goldilocks Theory” (not too hard, not too easy, just right). This means I never hate exercising anymore, because it’s never too hard.

Gym Membership (If that’s your thing)
Somewhere Close to Work or Home
If you work with the NSW Department of Education, get the Fitness Passport! It allows you access to loads of gyms and their classes. I enjoy doing gym classes. Being on the Fitness Passport means I can always find a class at a time I am available.

Other Stuff That Has Helped Me Over The Years:-

* Treat exercise like cleaning your teeth. You never think to yourself “Will I or won’t I clean my teeth today?”. It’s just part of your routine. It is important, so you get it done. It feels great afterwards and not so great if you skip it.

* That being said, find an exercise you do enjoy – There is always something for everyone. Cycling, swimming, yoga, dance, walking, taekwondo, trail hiking, HIIT, community events (like the 8am Saturday morning park run/walk). There WILL be something for you.

* Make it fun – Do it with a friend, do it outdoors, do it to music.

* Build gradually to avoid fatigue, illness, injuries and burnout. This is where a smart watch is so helpful. It stops you overdoing it.

* Be accountable – a trainer, an app, a program, a step counter. No cheating.

* Be consistent – A little bit every day is way better than long sessions happening here and there.

* Avoid extremes – Don’t deprive yourself of things you love and overdo all the things you hate. A balanced approach takes longer to achieve results, but will always be more sustainable. You can be healthy and have a piece of cake.

* Avoid all fads – None of them work for the long term (you know that right). It’s always the “basics” that achieve real results. Move your body, eat well, drink loads of water, get enough sleep, stretch, rest, recover, seek medical advice when needed.

* Sleep – Create a healthy pattern and stick to it. Get your circadian rhythms in balance.

* Vitamin D – Get outside in the sunshine for a while. Long enough for the good things, not so long you cause damage.

*Use the time well – Do two things at once. Listen to a podcast or audio book, watch a show, catch up on your emails, call someone for a chat.

* Rest Rest Rest – Build guilt free relaxation and recovery into your routine.

That’s it from me.
If you would like any support or have any questions, click on the CONTACT ME tab on the menu.