At this time of year you might hear the word audit and freak out a bit. Because it can be preceded by the T word, tax.
Today though I am not talking about that.
I saw a click baity post recently that said ‘If you are horny, you are healthy.’
Look there is some truth in it, but sexual desire isn’t the only thing to gauge if you are healthy or not. Hence why I reckon it was a click bait headline. Oh, and here I am using it too…haha
Have you thought lately about where you are at when it comes to being fit and healthy and what you are doing to improve those areas of your life that can in turn improve all other areas?
The Mid-Year Health Audit
The audit I want all of us to undertake right now is a health audit. Not only getting a check up at the GP and getting bloods etc checked, but sitting down and auditing where you are at right now in relation to your Movement, Eating, Sleeping, and Headspace.
Beyond the Clickbait: Spotting the Signs
So back to that click bait headline.
When we aren’t the healthiest we lose interest in things, and that desire is a good one to get people’s attention. After all, it is one of the few things that even if it is ‘enough’ we always think more is better!
But just as important to look at is a lack of interest in other things. Maybe hobbies, catching up with friends, even TV shows you love. When conducting a health audit it can help to look at a wane in interest in even some of the simplest things. Even just conversations.
Breaking Down the MESH Framework
So today, let’s look at all the things that can help us at this time of year! I will go through it in the order of MESH.
Movement
Movement. How much are you getting? Is it good movement? Do you feel invigorated after? How long does recovery take afterwards? Are you doing any?
Eating
Eating. How regular are you eating? Are you eating the rainbow? How much protein do you get? Drinking enough water? Is take away more common than not?
Sleep
Sleep. Do you feel rested after you wake up? How many hours a night unbroken are you getting? Is this ‘normal’ for you? Are you going to sleep easily? Or are you tossing and turning? Do feel like you need to nap through the day?
Headspace
Headspace. Where in your day might you feel anxious? Sad? Worried? Are you feeling increased stress in aspects of your life? Can you switch off? Or are you ruminating on things? What do you find your mind wanders to the most?
Overcoming the Winter Slump
All of this may seem a bit overwhelming. But we aren’t looking to change absolutely everything all at once. And once we ask a few of these questions it may not be that we have to change much at all, it might be a few small tweaks and you are back on track.
It is now July, winter is almost half done and usually people aren’t looking at getting into an exercise regime and they are turning to a few of those ‘comfort foods’ that we all know so well. This can be the time when it all gets packed in, the mornings are dark and cold, the evening can seem miserable. But in reality, the days are actually getting longer, the sun will rise earlier soon and the darkness won’t be as long lived.
How to Conduct Your Self-Audit
So this to me is the ideal time to grab a pen and paper, or open your notes on your phone or computer and start asking those few questions.
To make it not too overwhelming though we can take each piece and look for one thing.
Maybe that is; Movement, is it good movement? Well, it could be better. So then this week, once you can try to improve that one movement. Do one more quality rep, spend five more minutes on your walk, add half a kilo to a lift.
On that piece of paper, divide it into four, you can use columns, rows, or blocks, just whichever makes the most sense to how your mind sees things.
Then in each of them write Move, Eat, Sleep, Head.
Then in each one of those write down one thing you would like to improve in each one of those.
So it might end up with, get to the gym three times a week, eat an extra serve of veggies each weekday, listen to calming, soothing music or sounds for 10 mins before bed, do a five minute morning brain dump.
You have then done your own self audit, and put measures in place to improve yourself right away.
Let’s Build Your Plan Together
BUT, if you are left thinking you are overwhelmed still and aren’t sure where to start, send me a message. We can sit down together for 20 mins and come up with a great plan based off your audit. It doesn’t matter if you are a member here at CFA or not, I would love to help both members and non members with this.
This really is the time of year to get a solid plan in place, people that start and/or recommit to themselves in winter tend to stick to their programs a whole lot better than people that make it a new years resolution!
So, either get onto your own audit and plan now, or shoot me a message and we can get your underway right now.