Written by The lump in my upper back began to throb as soon as I opened my eyes, and my neck stiffened in sympathy.
Agh!
I hadn’t been this stiff in the morning in years.
I silently blamed all my travel—trying to “sleep” on a red-eye flight, long car journeys, and sitting for hours at a conference—for the apparent seizure happening in my body.
I also blamed the pillows…all of them.
They were all too hard or too thick. Some of them were both. None remotely measured up to my “flat as a pancake, soft as a pile of feathers” dream pillow at home. (I made a mental note to try and figure out a way to travel with my pillow in the future.)
But for now, I needed to do something. The stiffness and pain were ridiculous.
Because I believe there aren’t many problems that can’t be improved by fresh air, exercise (and occasionally ice cream), I grabbed my sneakers and headed out. I intuitively knew I needed movement—not a workout per se—so intuition set my pace. Sure, my pace was brisk—it’s almost impossible for me to stroll—but it seemed to be exactly what I needed…
Until it wasn’t…
I was aiming for a short walk—three miles or less—but because I was walking in an unfamiliar town, I lost my bearings and meandered longer than I planned.
By the time I finished the walk, I had clocked about 5 miles, and my whole back felt like concrete.
Although I walked further than I intended that morning, there was no way I should have still felt so stiff. I couldn’t figure out what was happening to me. After all, a walk almost always fixes what ails me.
Unfazed, I took time to stretch every part of my achy body. I could almost hear every cell sigh in relief. It was glorious…
…until about an hour later when deep fatigue overtook me.
It was only then that I realized I was getting sick.
In retrospect, I could see that my body was communicating that a virus had invaded it; I responded to the symptoms accordingly. I noticed my need for water and rest increased, as did my urge to stretch. My body was great at letting me know what it needed, and I did my best to respond. Not surprisingly, I craved oranges (vitamin C) and soup (fluids), and naps sounded better than long walks. Within two days of giving my body what it needed, I markedly improved; within five days, I was ninety-five percent healed.
I continue to be in awe of the wisdom of the body.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)
Although most people would likely agree that the human body is a marvel to behold, I believe that too few people pay attention to what it says and needs. Many people seem pretty content to live disconnected from their bodies, relying on external prompts like eating when a clock says it’s time rather than internal prompts. The truth is that we have internal sensors to know when and how much to eat, drink, sleep, and use the bathroom. If we have learned to tune into our body, it will also communicate when it’s time to move. Contrary to what some may believe, being sedentary for hours (days or weeks) on end is against our basic design.
We were created to move…
So—how well connected are you to your body? Are you tuned into the feedback mechanisms God has placed in your body? Perhaps this is something you haven’t thought about before now. If you have spent most of your life ignoring your body, you may not be aware of the signals it’s communicating.
Let’s practice, dear reader. Take a minute to pay attention to what’s happening in your body right now. Ask yourself:
- Am I hungry? On a scale of 1-10, what is your level of hunger/fullness?
- If you are hungry, what kind of food does your body need: hot or cold, soft or crunchy, salty or sweet, a meal or a snack? What sounds good to you?
- Do you need water? When was the last time you had a drink?
- Do you have any tightness in your body? Do you need to stretch?
- Are you tired? What is your energy level? Do you need to stand up or walk around? Do you need to take a 15-minute cat nap?
- Is your breathing steady and calm or short and shallow? Do you need to stop and take some long, deep breaths?
- What’s happening in your mind right now? Are you thinking clearly, or do you find it hard to focus?
Do you ever ignore what your body needs or mask it with a pseudo-fix? Could it be that when you think you need to eat, your body really needs fluids instead?
In a similar vein, it’s equally rare for people to be intuitive eaters. Intuitive eaters use internal cues to determine when, what, and how much to eat. Dr. Susan Albers explains intuitive eating this way:
“Instead of following rules and restricting what you eat, you trust your internal hunger, fullness, and satiety cues to help you decide what and how much to eat. No food is off the table.”
Do you allow yourself to eat when you feel hungry, or do you put off eating for a “safer” or socially acceptable time? I wish I had a dollar for every person who told me it’s unhealthy to eat after 6 pm. Ditto for everyone who avoids carbs or insists that dairy is bad for you.
I encourage you to listen to your body’s needs and honor what’s best for you. Some people have allergies and intolerances and must avoid certain foods to feel well. It makes sense to take those things into account when you choose what to eat. Pay attention to what is happening inside you and make adjustments that help you feel your best.
So, where do you go from here?
Why not start with doing regular check-ins with your body throughout the day? Even if you have mostly good habits, it’s easy to run on automatic without noticing how your body feels about those habits. For example, I have some clients who eat salad every day for lunch, no matter what. That’s not a bad thing, per se, but it doesn’t allow their body to “ask” for something different.
Your body is a living organism that will have different needs based on what season you’re in. Stressful seasons of work or travel will put different demands on your body than easy seasons. Nursing mothers or women during their menstrual cycles have different needs that can sometimes be expressed as cravings.
Even the weather may impact your needs. I’ve noticed that as temperatures drop, I drink more herbal tea and less cold water.
What about you?
As you check in with yourself throughout the day, I encourage you to pause and ask yourself how to best respond to what you’ve identified. If you’ve been disconnected for a long time, you may have no idea what your body is telling you. For example, you may have gotten so used to feeling tension in your upper back that it hasn’t occurred to you that your body needs a stretch. If this is you, I suggest you get into the habit of asking yourself questions and making suggestions. You and your body can build a great friendship starting today!
- Would you like some water or a cup of tea?
- How does a fresh air break sound to you?
- You’ve been sitting for a long time; where are you tight? Would you like to stretch?
- It’s been a while since you’ve eaten; do you need a snack?
- That was a stressful conversation. How about you deep breathe for a few minutes to calm down?
- What sounds good for lunch?
Of course, those questions are just starting points to help you learn how to pay attention to your body’s needs. As an example, as I tuned in to my body while typing, I recognized I needed to put on socks (cold feet), make tea (need fluids and to get warm), and stretch my back (I’ve been sitting long enough).
What about you? What have you noticed?
In summary, doctors and medicine are great, but the wisdom of the body can be even better for keeping us healthy and fit.
If you need help learning to listen to your body, I am here to support you. You can book a free 30-minute call here to discuss where you are, where you want to be, and whether I am a good fit to be your guide. Don’t stay stuck!