3 Ways to Listen to your Body BETTER

"If you listen to your body when it whispers, you will never have to listen to it scream." ~ Unknown

How often do you hear people say, "Just listen to your body"? It's a common phrase but what does it actually mean? These days we're all so busy and distracted that we hardly pay attention to what's going on around us, let alone what's going on inside us.?Do you know what to listen for?

In order to hear what mind and body are saying, you have to pause long enough to become aware of the cues. If you listen, you'll hear, and next steps will become clear.

Watch the video below, or read the expanded blog post after it, for three ways to listen to your body better. Pay attention, and then give your mind and body what they're asking for.

When I started writing The Success-Energy Equation the plan was to map out my formula for success through an examination of goal setting, self-belief, personal discipline, and the energy we need to do those three things better.

As I dug into the process though, I quickly realized that busy people (myself included) would have a difficult time embracing the four factors of my success-energy equation without first slowing the heck down.

To strengthen my formula, I ended up writing two chapters focused on how to recognize and shut off autopilot; to pause long enough to listen to the body and hear what it needs.

Hey, Michelle Cederberg here, contemplating what actually means to listen to your body, and sharing three ways for you to do it better.

The speed of life means most of us live a busy life stuck in our heads. Our minds are full of appointments and to do’s. We’re processing all day, shifting in and out of autopilot, just so we can get it all done.

The idea of being told to listen to your body can feel strange and a bit out there. “What am I listening for?”

It’s a good question, and I’m going to share some answers.

In a busy day of crushing to do’s, we often ignore how we’re feeling. Our body will try to tell us that it’s hungry, or thirsty or that it needs a bathroom break… but we push through to do.

We might get hints of fatigue or overwhelm but we push through to do. We’ll tell ourselves, “I’m fine”, despite feeling distracted or fidgety, and we push through to do. Can you relate?

Being productive, useful and busy have always been valued and praised in most work cultures, and even at home. It’s why so many of us feel uncomfortable with the idea of slowing down or resting.

And when the to list is long, to STOP and listen to our body and give it what it needs can feel counterproductive. But it’s exactly what you SHOULD be doing.

And, in keeping with this month’s exploration of GOALS, you won’t be able to set clear, exciting goals until you slow down, get present to the mess, and listen to what your head and heart need from you.

Here’s a downloadable exercise Assessing Autopilot successenergybook.com from my book. It’s the first step to getting off autopilot so you can truly hear what your body is saying.

Complete the assessment, then try a couple of these strategies:

1) Check in with yourself before you check in with the world. A great way to hear what your body is saying, is to check in with it first thing, before you get out of bed…before you check that damn phone. As you’re lying in bed, do a mental scan of your body from head to toe. Ask yourself:

“How am I feeling?”

Do you sense any aches and pains, tight muscles, bodily fatigue, or are you feeling strong? Are you feeling energized, anxious, focused, flat? Pay attention. Honour the feeling.

“How did I sleep?”

Are you feeling rested or restless? Was your sleep fitful or restful? Did your pre-sleep routine last night serve you well this morning? Take note.

“What do I need for myself today?”

What are you excited about tackling? Or dreading for that matter? What would make your day a good one? What would help you get through the day feeling focused and empowered?

Just listen and try not to censor your answers. Your intuition is often spot-on if you give it worthwhile airtime.

2) When Nature Calls, LISTEN. Perhaps the simplest way to listen to your body is to pay attention to the physiological needs of your body. Hunger, thirst, fatigue, the need to pee are all basic messages your body sends you to say “Hey, listen to me!”

When those needs arise, pay attention! have a snack, drink some water, take a work break, a nap even. Stop long enough to go to the restroom. They’re all positive acts of self-care.

3) Just Breathe. In the busyness of the day, if it feels like the wheels are coming off the bus, stop and just breathe. It’s a dead simple way to regain control. And it’s a tool that’s easily accessible 24/7.

When you pause and breathe you connect with the Parasympathetic Nervous System …that part of your Autonomic Nervous System that will move you from ‘fight or flight’ and help you ‘rest and digest’. Your body will get oxygenated, your heart rate will come down, and your muscles will release tension. Don’t overthink how you breathe. Just press yourself up against a wall and breathe deeply and slowly until you feel a bit of calm settle in. Then listen. Just listen.

There are many other ways you can practice listening to your body. You can meditate regularly, you can pay attention to how your body feels when you’re exercising, you can cue into how you feel when you eat certain foods. What works? What doesn’t? You can pay attention to how you feel when you drink alcohol or too many sugary beverages.

Your physical body and the brilliant mind in it are an amazingly intuitive system that wants to move you toward better, but that won’t happen if you don’t listen. If you’re someone who knows the value of it, please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.

If you’re forever on the go, and need practice, let me know how these strategies go.

As always, share this with anyone who might need to a lift. Subscribe to my socials (links below), AND check out my FREE 6-Day Work-Life Reset … which also shares opportunities to practice presence.

Until next time I’m Michelle Cederberg reminding you we’ve got once chance to do this life. I say Dare to Live It Big, and to facilitate that, dare to slow down and listen to what your mind and body want from you. You might be surprised by what you hear.

Resources Galore!

? Don’t forget to sign up for my 6 Day Work-Life Reset . This is the perfect time of year to do it, and it’s free, so click the link, and get going!

? Sign up for my socials below, because there’s all sorts of interesting stuff coming down the pipe.

Michelle Cederberg, CSP , MKin, BA Psyc CEP , CPCC , ORSC

Empowering today’s dreamers, leaders and go-getters to create the life and career they want.

www.michellecederberg.com

403-850-5589

Get Social with me on: Instagram , My Facebook Page , Twitter , YouTube