During nearly 20 years writing about health, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of top medical experts about how to live well. What I’ve learned from all of them can be summed up in four simple words.
Move. Nourish. Refresh. Connect.
—Tara Parker-Pope, Four Simple Words to Help You Live Well
Do those words mean anything to you? They resonate with me, presumably because I’ve been fighting a cold the past few days and have been in a low-energy state. I’m refreshing by resting a lot, but I’m also making sure I move some (exercise and doing some chores) and that I eat nutritious food and stay hydrated. And when one blogs every day one can’t help but connect.
What works for you?
January 12, 2019
my simple goals are to move more often and to just get away from this screen. it truly can be addictive.
since the scary and horrible experience of becoming severely dehydrated 2 years ago I now drink plenty of water and actually enjoy it!
to also just get out into the fresh air more often. I still have my windows open every chance I get. but to be out IN it is necessary for me too!
so my path is set! here’s to a healthy 2019.
thanks for the great post Monk! AND the link. simple and powerful.
Let us know how it goes! 🙂
commonsense once you know how that works, to keep one healthy on all fronts…but how to deal with the common cold, not so well sorted out!
I’ve been reviewing last year…and realise that something, I did to recover from all that nasty stuff, is still very much how I operate now. Everything “here and there”: rest breaks, food intake, open windows, get near the outdoors/sun, in/out if necessary… And I’ve been finding that I’m not clock watching, so often I find myself eating a “bit here and there” as well…I now see that I’ve had 2 lunches today (not quite 2pm)!
The main thing with the common cold is patience and continuing good health habits even if you tone down the activity some.
All good strategies, Jean and Catherine! For me, exercise is more important than anything–I can’t operate without it. But of course, eating properly and hydrating are important as well. If I neglect anything, it’s my social connections, and I’m not counting family in this. Family keeps me busy, on the phone, visiting face to face, even skyping with distant sisters. And of course, Bob–he and I spend a great deal of time together. Great post!
It seems to me you are connecting a lot with your family! Meaningful relationships count a lot more than a lot of social connections. My main face-to-face or phone-to-phone is with Andy and Kaitlin, but I also feel connected to internet friends. As we get older the internet can be a real blessing.
Diane, unfortunately, my extended family (whanau) have definitely gone “off edge” – mainly because “commonsense has flitted away from them…and a petty situation has escalated” – I’ve backed way off to the Left and doubt I will make it back Centre field for some time… But as one of my best friends reminded me recently “we, your friends are here for you … whenever you need us, we are a phone/text call away”
As the saying goes, “God gave us our family, thank God for our friends!” A lot of people think of their friends as family.
Yes, those are 4 very important words. My problem is that I know it but putting it in to practice is another story. I was doing really well a couple years ago then got off track and haven’t been able to get back into
For me taking a small step regularly gets me started. I’m impressed, and grateful, that you post every day — that has to be contributing to your well being. It’s definitely connection, and when I do it it’s also a form of mental moving and also nourishing my mind and spirit. What do you think?
What do they mean to me?
I move, at my job, which is rarely sedentary.
I’m moving at home, caring for my house and my critters but I really need to start WALKING!
Nourish- I’m trying to eat nothing out of cans or prepackaged.
Refresh- that’s where I’ve been failing. I’ve let stress that me over, but I’m working on changing that.
Connect – I connect mostly online and with a few co-workers but truly, the animals keep me sane.
What works for me? Hell if I know.
Good luck! We’re rooting for you.