The Body and the Brain (21 The Blog Series)
I believe that God has
called us to be good stewards over everything that He has given us. It is important for us to keep our spirits
healthy by feeding them the Word of God, but it is also important to take care
of the physical bodies that He has given us.
Our God is intentional, so
we should not take Him blessing us with a body for granted. He did this for a reason. As young adults, we often view ourselves as
invincible. We put our physical bodies
through so much trusting that our young immune systems will be okay with any
and everything.
Today I just want to talk a little bit about
taking care of these physical vessels that He has given us. I also want to touch on keeping healthy the
mind that He has given us. I am by no
means a health professional and the information given is general, not specific
to anyone’s particular health condition.
It contains a few tips for staying healthy that I learned throughout my
time in college.
The Body
1.
Eat
No matter how busy we
are, we should always make time to eat as many of the required meals as
possible. When we do not eat, we lack
the energy we need to make the most out of our days. When I eat before class, I am much more
focused and ready to learn. I am not
usually tired and fixated on whether or not I want a slice of pepperoni pizza or
white pizza after class.
2.
Eat Healthily
Not every food should be
consumed regularly. We all know there
are some foods and drinks that we should take in every once in a while, like coffees,
sweet tea and donuts. And we also all
know there are some foods and drinks that should be taken in regularly like
fruits, vegetables and water.
3.
Sleep
Sleep is so
important. Without enough sleep we
become less cognitively keen and cannot fully concentrate. I also read somewhere that a lack of sleep
increases stress.
4.
Remember Your Doctor’s Orders
Many of us have been
prescribed certain vitamin supplements and/or medications by our doctors. Although we may feel fine and look great, we
cannot always visibly see what is going on inside of our bodies. It is important for us to consume these
prescribed materials until told otherwise for the best possible health.
5.
Go to Your Doctor
It is important that we
go for our routine check-ups and/or referrals to make sure that there are no
unfavorable changes to our physical bodies.
This goes along with the principle described above, just because we
cannot see it or feel it, doesn’t mean it is not there.
The Brain
6.
Schedule and Prioritize
A lot of times this is easier
said than done, but even a general outline, whether it is written down, or just
accounted for in our minds can reduce wasted time. We are a lot more likely to have productive
days when we make lists of what we need to do.
We also give ourselves more time for self-care.
7.
Talk to Family and Friends
It’s good to have someone
or a group to talk about your day, laugh, and release stress with. It is not mentally healthy to handle these
types of things on your own. You will
feel burdened and stressed. We should go
to God with our problems first, but the
Bible says we should also bear one another’s burdens.
8.
Workout
Working out isn’t just
good for losing weight. It has other
physical and mental health benefits as well.
It reduces the risks for heart disease, high blood pressure and many
other illnesses. For me, it is yet
another way to reduce stress. Also, similar
to when I used to participate in sports, it gives me a sense of accomplishment to
try new things and see progress.
The Body and the Brain
9.
Keep God First
This is the best possible
way to have a balanced life. God’s Holy
Spirit will lead us and guide us into all truth. He will let us know when to stop, when to go,
for how long, and how to do so. Listen to
Him, and be the best version of yourself in every area of your life.
But seek first the kingdom of God and
His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
~Matthew 6:33
These are just a few tips
that I have learned during my time in college.
They seem pretty simple but are overlooked so often. I’m sure there are several more. Comment below if you have any! And remember, take care of your shell.
