Taking Care of Yourself

I’ve never been a fan of getting older. I refused to turn 30, but somehow that didn’t stop me from actually turning 30. And as my 35th birthday approached I began to get really sad that I would now be closer to 40 than I was to 30. It really bummed me out! I know 35 isn’t old, but it felt old to me. I think it made me sad because as I get older, my kids also get older which means I don’t have babies anymore.

When I turned 35 I realized my reluctance to get older wasn’t working and it was time to age with grace. I want to age like Jennifer Anniston…man, to be 54 and look that good…getting old wouldn’t be so bad. Am I right?

I don’t like going to the doctor, I just feel there are other things to do with my time and money especially when our kids were younger. But I decided that if I’m going to get older, then I’m going to grow super old so I can watch my children grow up, get married, have babies, and watch my grandchildren grow up. To do that, I needed to see a doctor to make sure all blood, heart, hormones, etc. were in order and functioning properly.

To my surprise, everything wasn’t at optimal levels and functioning properly. This was very eye-opening to me and made me evaluate how I’m caring for the body that God has blessed me with. Not just how am I going to age gracefully, but am I honoring God by how I care for my body? Would God be pleased by the food I eat, would God be proud of my physical activity, would God be honored by what I mentally consume?

The short answer is no. He wouldn’t be pleased with the way I neglected myself over the years to care for my family. Yes, as a Christian and mom, you are supposed to give to others, but you are also supposed to treat your body like a temple and honor God by how you treat yourself. And I was not being the best example to my children in this area. So, things needed to change.

Ways to Take Care of Yourself

Here are some things I started to evaluate and change so that I was honoring God, being a good example to my children, and feeling my best.

Make sure your blood work is right on. Like I said, I was surprised when my bloodwork came back and things were a little out of whack. My doctor and I talked through those things, and he understood my desire to try all-natural remedies before relying on medications. So, we tried a few different things until everything was right where it should be. And I make sure to recheck bloodwork periodically to make sure everything stays at the right levels.
Check your diet. At the time when I started this journey, our family was in a very busy season of life and we had been relying on a lot of take-out. Take-out is very convenient, can be tasty, and so easy to prepare and clean up, but not the healthiest option. The lack of clean eating really took a toll on my body. I was often sluggish, had headaches, achy stomach, bloated, and just felt yucky.
Oftentimes, as moms, we are going and going and we forget to eat a wholesome meal, eat the scraps from our kid’s plate as we clean up, or get take-out because we are so busy. We need to fuel our temple so we are at our best. And what better fuel than good, clean food without all the extra junk? I’ve tried to start shopping around the outside of the grocery store (or even at farmer’s markets) and avoid processed foods. I believe this real, clean food is exactly what my body needs to help me grow old but feel young.
Move your body. Moving your body is so good for your physical health and also your mental health. It’s a great way to relieve stress, improve your mood, and feel encouraged as you see what your body is capable of doing. For my 35th birthday, I received a gym membership because I felt I needed and wanted to push myself physically, but you don’t have to have a gym membership to move your body. You can go for a walk around your neighborhood or park, find a workout video on YouTube, find a group fitness class, or get out in the yard and play tag or sports with your children.
Consume healthy knowledge. Mental health is a huge factor in taking care of yourself. You need to be careful what you consume because what you consume begins to wear on you, whether positive or negative. For this reason, I had to take social media off my phone. It’s hard for me to not compare myself to what I see on other people’s feeds, so for the betterment of my mental health I have to limit social media and avoid news reports. I don’t think these things help me grow or feel better.
I enjoy learning, growing, and trying to improve so when there’s something new I’m trying to learn I find a good book or podcast. If you need any book or podcast recommendations please comment below.