With the current coronavirus pandemic, now more than ever is an important time to reflect on what is and isn’t helpful to our health.
Many of us will have spent much of this year (other than that important exercise time), being cooped up indoors.
‘So just how detrimental can this be to our health’?
It is proven that staying indoors too much actually affects our immune system as we lack the access to normal microbes that help to build our important defence system.
Staying indoors too much also affects our natural circadian rhythm that controls our innate sleep-wake cycle. This is because of the lack of natural sunlight that enables our body to adjust naturally.
Spending time in nature however has the opposite effect as being in nature naturally relaxes us, improving our overall mood and mental health.
One great example of this is forest therapy (shinrin-yoku) which in Japan is now offered as a part of health prescription and advised for overall health improvement.
Results have actually shown that two hours of mindful exploration in a forest can reduce blood pressure, lower stress levels and improve concentration and memory.
Pretty amazing results for some enjoyable time in nature.
Whilst working with personal training and coaching clients we often do our session outdoors in parks and it always enhances the positive effect, as clients feel much more relaxed as well as reporting feeling more positive than when just in the gym or training at home.
Overall if we can make a concertive effort to spend more time in nature we will find it having a positive effect on all areas of our life by leading us to feel healthier and happier thus leading to a healthier society. Spending time in nature also provides a great sanctuary for when times get difficult, of which we all have these.
Please don’t just take my word for it. Give it a try for yourself. Try setting in your schedule regular times each week in which you can spend time in nature and see for yourself what a difference it can make.
Enjoy connecting with the beauty of nature and the natural sounds and you may even discover more about yourself.
‘Nature itself is the best physician’ – Hippocrates
Tag Archives: Health
Focus
The power of focus is one of the greatest powers we have and when we are aware, it can be directed towards that what is greatest for us.
Our attention is always directed somewhere, however we either choose to direct it where we want to, or it is directed for us. Wherever our attention is directed it is far greater if this is as much a concious choice as possible.
There are many possibilities in life and many perceptions and once we are aware of the power of focus we can have it work for us rather than against us. As what we focus towards is what we will see and experience.
From experiencing the ups and downs of directed and misdirected focus I’ve put together 5 top tips in applying the power of focus in your life. I hope you find them helpful and allow it to work some magic for you.
- Focus on what you want – too often we can be led astray either by others, outside forces or our own undisciplined mind and begin to focus on things we do not want. Train your mind to focus on what you want and then you will experience more of this.
- Discipline – We have to train our minds to get them to work for us. We can do this through various ways such as meditation, visualisation, affirmations and more. By doing this we are choosing to direct our mind rather than be easily influenced by outside forces.
- Feeling – Our feelings are a great indicator of our dominant focus points. Observe how you feel and redirect your mind where needed and necessary.
- Association – Those who we associate with have a powerful influence on our focus. Energy transfers, so choose your company wisely, be around those that you can be positively influenced by and where you can also have a positive influence.
- Diet and exercise – what we put in to our bodies is as important as our minds. The exercise we do will also affect our focus as the body affects the mind and vice versa. Be mindful of both the food you take in and the exercise you do as this will either positively or negatively affect you, the states generated and subsequently the outcomes.
I hope you find the above tips useful especially as we are now approaching the end of lockdown and we can use this as a time to reset and refocus. Make sure it is you who is in charge of it 🙂
Focus on where you want to go
Focus on being the person you want to be
Not on the old or what you’re told to see ♡
Miranda ♡
How to deal with unfairness in life
As much as we dont want it or like it, life can be full of unfairness. Some people work hard all their life and dont have what they need. Others may do little or nothing and seem to have everything.
Our liberty can be taken from us, we can be faced with endless difficulties and our health can be threatened.
All of these are simply a part of life; life can be hard and a struggle and these are facts we have to face sometimes, yet there are many ways in which we can approach these times in life that simply just are, to make it far easier.
The following are ways I’ve found most helpful;
- Accept things as they are; the more we struggle against things and people as they are, the harder it is for us.
- Find the positive; there is always positive amongst difficulty. We just have to look for it. For example right now admist the coronavirus pandemic there is a beautiful peace outside and the birds are singing beautiful symphonies together. The air is cleaner and the earth is healing.
- Change the meaning; ultimately it is not what happens to us, but the meaning we give it that counts and that is something completely within our control, no matter what the circumstances. Find the most empowering purpose and meaning and apply it to the situation and everything changes.You are the one who sets your sail. No one else.
A few years ago I wrote this small poem and it seems so apt right now for those of us who may be struggling;
Every difficulty can be an opportunity
Every struggle can be a strength
It is what you choose to focus on
That will really get you through anything,
To be place where you thought you would never be,
To be place where you’re more than you’ve ever been ♡
Use this time to grow stronger, to become more, learn more and find your way to soar.
Turn this to your advantage ♡
To your growth,
Miranda ♡
Your Health
It is your health that is your real true beauty in life,
So easily given and then more easily taken, it is the real true gift
Value it with your life, for it depends on it so
There are many a people who aren’t even fortunate enough to know
Always remember the real true gift,
It is right there within you; don’t wait for it to fly by
Many a people have done so and then they realise,
That their real true gift was right before their eyes
Many a true scholar have told us these words before
It is now time we listen, for its more important than before
Our world is filled with guises that hide us from this gift
The only way to truly know is from how you feel inside
So stand up for your life and be true to yourself;
Don’t hide from your health it is your real gift of wealth
For once you really have it, then you will truly know
That the real gift of life is right there before you,
If only you choose to let it be so
~ Miranda Adams
Health and Health improvement is a huge passion of mine and I’m lucky enough to have been able to pursue this professionally. The above poem I wrote to inspire people to recognise the real value of health, it is unfortunately too often not recognised until our health begins to suffer , and our health really is the greatest gift we have, always treasure it.
To find out more about my health business and to check out my blog there you can find it at www.miralahealth.com , Enjoy a great and healthy day 🙂
Journeys in Writing 