Self-Care Saturday #2– Physical Health

My self-care Saturday post is coming, but first an important announcement.

We’re closing in 400 blog posts next week, and that calls for celebration. I’ll be off next Saturday and have plans to eat out and do a restaurant review as part of my James The Food Slayer segment. People read my reviews to see if that’s where they want to go for a meal, and I’m always happy to help in their choice of restaurant. You may have remembered this as Stylish and Hungry and while I loved the name too, I had to go with something more hip.

And now, on to my feature presentation.

This was a not a good day to be outside unless you really loved the cold. The sun may be out, and I’m trying to make more opportunities to be outside when the weather is a little nicer, but not on a frigid day like this. It’s amazing how the weather has an impact on your mental health.

Beginning next week, I’m going to take time to commit to my physical health. Whether that’s a 45 minute workout running on the treadmill or exercise my leg muscles, or a two-and-a-half mile walk around the lake, it’s time to show my body some love. Not that I didn’t pay attention to it before. I’ll put some gym time on my schedule.

I’m in the market for some new amazing activewear and plan on visiting Going, Going, Gone in the near future for some great deals. They have locations in Monroeville and on McKnight Road.

Some of the benefits of physical activity are that it helps lower blood pressure and decreases the risk of heart disease. I had a health scare back in 2021 and was hospitalized for four days. My blood pressure was off the charts and it was imminent I was going to have a stroke or heart attack if we didn’t address that concern. Fortunately, I was prescribed medication to keep my blood pressure under control. My last visit to the cardiologist was a good one.

Physical activity also helps to promote positive mental health. I was down for most of 2022 because of events that unfolded the year prior and those took a toll on my mental health. Leaving a job after 13 years and co-workers who became family; not feeling like I was supported in my non-binary journey; and trying to figure out a new job and work schedule took its toll on me. But you have to go through the rain to see the rainbow, and that’s exactly what happened. This past holiday season turned out better for me than the last two, and I have more support on this journey than I realized.

While I do get out for a walk or go the gym every so often, I feel my attention to detail has been sporadic and that needs to change. It needs to be more of a set schedule. This can be hard with work and my involvement in Toastmasters but it’s easier than it looks. It’s all about time management, confidence, as well as behavior and head knowledge.

It’s like Dave Ramsey’s stance on winning with money:

What to do isn’t the problem; doing it is