Listening to Your Body: What Does It Actually Mean?
Source: Bruce Mars
Have you ever stopped to think about what your body is saying? Many of us are unaware of what our bodies are telling us. When we don’t listen to our body, we risk getting burned out – or worse, getting seriously ill.
So what does listening to your body actually mean?
Listening to your body means paying attention to the physical, emotional, and mental signals it sends, and using this information to make informed decisions about how to take care of yourself.
Like many people, I didn’t know how to listen to my body. I always felt like I needed to push through, no matter what. As a result, I experienced my first burnout in my early 20s. I had ignored all the signs and signals that I was headed in the wrong direction – until it was too late.
I wish I could say this was when I started to listen to my body. But instead, I temporarily made some lifestyle changes (until things had improved), and then went right back to my old ways. I blamed the burnout on my circumstances, rather than realizing that I was the one who wasn’t taking care of myself.
It took a chronic illness for me to actually start listening to my body. I finally understood that I needed to completely rethink how I was taking care of myself. It meant practicing self-care every moment of every day. Not just when things went wrong.
If you feel like you’re disconnected from your body’s messages, I hope this article will inspire you to start paying attention to what your body is saying. In this post, I’ll discuss what it really means to listen to your body, why it’s important, and how to start.
What Does Listening to Your Body Mean?
Listening to your body means you are aware of your body’s needs and respond to them in a way that supports your well-being. This involves paying attention to physical and mental cues, recognizing when you are tired or stressed, and being mindful of physical sensations. By doing so, you can develop a better relationship with your body and improve your physical and mental health.
Unfortunately, many of us feel disconnected from our bodies and what they’re telling us. It’s so easy to get caught up in our busy lives and forget to pause and reflect on how we’re actually feeling.
To truly live a healthy, happy life we need to be able to stop and practice self-care on a regular basis. I know, it’s frustrating when your body is telling you to rest while you still have so much left on your to-do list. But I promise, honoring your body’s needs in each moment will get you much further in the long run.
Why Is It Important to Listen to Your Body?
The human body has an innate intelligence to keep us alive, and it knows exactly what it needs to be nourished, happy, and whole.
Your body is constantly giving you feedback: you may be feeling tightness in your chest, a dull ache in your back, or a general feeling of fatigue. These sensations are there for a reason and it’s important that we take the time to respond to them.
When you chronically ignore your body’s messages, it will eventually lead to exhaustion, burnout, or serious illness.
Everything you feel is a signal you can use to make decisions about your self-care. Do you need to drink some water? Do you need to take a break? Taking the time to listen to your body on a regular basis, can make a huge difference in your quality of life, health, and well-being.
Here are some benefits of listening to your body:
Better physical health. By listening to your body you’ll be able to provide your body with the rest and nutrition it needs to stay healthy.
Improved mental health. Listening to your body can help you identify sources of stress and anxiety, and take proactive steps to manage them.
Increased energy. By paying attention to your body’s signals and providing it with the proper self-care, you’ll have more consistent energy levels throughout the day.
Better sleep. Listening to your body can help you make adjustments to your sleep routine so you can get the optimal amount of sleep.
Improved digestion. Listening to your body can help you pay attention to how your body reacts to different foods and make adjustments accordingly.
Better athletic performance. When you listen to your body you’re better able to identify when you need rest or need to modify your workout routine.
Greater self-awareness. By listening to your body you’ll develop a deeper understanding of your own needs and limitations, which can help you make better decisions for yourself.
How to Start Listening to Your Body
Source: Gaelle Marcelle
With all the modern-day distractions, listening to your body can be hard. Even though some signals are very obvious (“Ouch that’s hot! Don’t touch that stove”), many other messages are more subtle and easier to miss. That’s why listening to our bodies and being aware of our physical bodies should become a daily practice. Here are 3 steps to start listening to your body and practice self-care:
Step 1 — You actually need to slow down
To be able to hear what your body is saying, you need to slow down. Meditation and yoga are two practices that can help you to become more mindful of your body. Try introducing a 3-5 minute body scan into your daily routine, during which you mentally scan your body from head to toe. But it can also be as simple as taking a couple of deep breaths to become more aware of your body.
Step 2 — Check in with yourself
As you become more mindful of your body, schedule time to check in with yourself. Start with once or twice a day, and work up to checking in with yourself more often. Stop and ask yourself: How am I feeling? How are my energy levels? Am I hungry or thirsty? Am I holding any tension?
Step 3 — Practice Self-Care
Once you’re more aware of your body’s signals, the next step is to make sure you respond. If you’re feeling a little sluggish, maybe you need a quick walk or some fresh air. Tension in your neck could mean you should do some stretching or meditation. A lack of concentration might mean you need a break or some rest.
When you’re not used to listening to your body it can be hard to know what your body needs at every moment. So try out different ways to practice self-care until you learn what works best for you.
Final Thoughts
Many of us are unaware of what our bodies really need because we’re so distracted by our busy lives. But the body has a lot to say if we take the time to listen.
To become more in tune with your body you must slow down, check in with yourself throughout the day, and respond with self-care.
Listening to your body will help you make better decisions that support a healthy and happy life.
XO
Annie
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