On average you take about 15 breaths a minute. That is a lot of time and effort spent without you even realizing it, or needing to think about it. But, respiration is a vital sign for a reason, it is vital for you to breathe in order to survive (profound, right?). Your brain needs oxygen; you will die in about 4 minutes if you don’t get it. SO, to say breathing is important is the understatement of the year.
Fresh air, sunshine, clean water and movement are all necessary for a body to function properly. Spring, summer, fall these necessities tend to be easy to come by just by living life. However, when winter rolls around and the cold days, and early sunsets, set in, it becomes more important to be purposeful with your time outside. I know it’s cold, but getting outside during the daylight hours and getting your body moving is one of the best things you can do to fight the winter blues, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
This brings up the much larger topic of self care. This time of year it is vital for each of us to set aside some time for ourselves. Start small, you could even just wake up 5 minutes earlier than usual and lay in bed thinking about what a great day you’re going to have. Self care doesn’t have to be a two-day spa retreat, or a weekend fishing trip with your college buddies. It can be as simple as telling yourself that you value yourself. You can do that right now, ‘Hey there, self, I see you, I hear you and I value you, thanks for being there for me. I love you.
