How to Effectively Listen to Your Body’s Needs

Listening to your body’s needs is vital to attaining and maintaining the health you deserve. Sometimes, you can push your body too far without even realizing it. When you learn to listen to your body’s cues, however, you can live a life that’s calmer with more joy.

Getting in Touch with Yourself

If you think that you’re already in touch with yourself, ensure that you’re in touch with all of yourself.

If you feel fatigued or frustrated, your body is trying to tell you something valuable. Pay attention and heed the information. Slow down when your body demands rest. Listen to the cues your body is sending you.

Also, fuel your body with proper nutrition, drink plenty of water, and exercise regularly. Even light exercise gets your heart pumping and increases your energy. Your body will thank you for the effort! I love small, easy, daily actions that add up over time — the theory of compound interest. Do squats while you’re using the microwave. Capture smaller moments. Get a fun hydro flask or bottle to track your water, meal plan on the weekends to take some of the chaos off daily meal planning.

Reducing Stress

If you feel frustrated or aggravated at the circumstances of life, this will affect your body as well as your mind. When your body is stressed, your muscles become tight and you’ll know that something just doesn’t feel right. Therefore, one important step in the process of getting in tune with your body is to reduce your overall stress.

One of the best things you can do is to take a break for yourself during a portion of every day. Even a few short minutes to get your thoughts straight can work wonders for reducing your stress level. Concentrate on your feelings and see if your body is offering you warning signs of trouble.

If you reduce the “mind noise” in your life, you’ll find it easier to listen to your body. When you’re hungry, heed your body’s signal that it needs fuel. Make wise choices to fuel your body for success, and you’ll be rewarded with the vitality and energy to chase after your dreams.

Listening to Cues

Your body is sending you cues all the time. Listen to them. Can your body handle being pushed further at this time, or do you need to take a step back because you’re pushing too much? If you listen to yourself, you’ll know your limits and avoid burnout.

Ways to Stay in Touch with Your Body

Here are three practical steps to listening more effectively to your body:

1. Journaling. Journaling is a productive way to get in touch with your mind and body. Take a few minutes alone each day to free write, or write down 3 things you are grateful for each day. Choose a technique and commit to a few minutes each day.

2. Prayer. Prayer allows you to keep in touch with your soul. Prayer has the power to give you extra awareness about how you’re feeling, and what is on your mind that you want to have a conversation with God about. I treat him as my father and someone I can talk to about anything, as a running conversation in my mind (and out loud) with Him.

3. Start an exercise routine. Even a light exercise routine can work wonders for your body. If you get and stay in shape, you’ll be able to push yourself harder when you need to do so. You’ll also be able to recognize your limits in most situations.

Remember that your body will tell you what you need. Instead of over-thinking things, simply commit to attentively listening to your body. Choose one or more of the methods above, put a few minutes on your schedule for today, and keep your appointment with yourself. You’ll be glad you did!

You are worth it!