Getting from A to B...

For someone who isn’t car person at all, I have to say I love mine. Not because it is a Swift with “go faster” stripes.

But because it gets me from A to B with minimum fuss (usually). When I say minimum fuss it means I’d tend to think it’s bulletproof, forget most things about it and only take action if there’s lights on the dash board.

Or it stops completely on the way back to Dublin from Donegal…

Most people are the opposite of me to be fair. When it comes to their cars at least. Checking water levels, making sure there’s loads of oil in the engine and keeping them spotlessly clean.

For me, looking after a car will always pale in comparison to the importance of looking after what you’ll bring on every journey you’ll ever go on.

Your body.

However too many people treat their bodies like I treat my car. Except when little warning lights come on such as tiredness, colds, cold sores etc they tend to push on. Maybe getting something to cover the symptoms and ignoring the route cause.

Which would be the equivalent of me turning up the radio in my car if I heard a strange rattle. Until the car breaks down completely.

Truth is you should be walking around with good energy, feeling enthusiastic and free of colds/aches and pains most of the time.

If you’re not and don’t have any underlying conditions, then the following are good areas to start considering if before you burn out:

-?Hydration: Are you drinking enough water? Or does your hydration consist of tea and coffee throughout the day and a glass of wine/beer in the evenings?

-?Stress Management: Stress is unavoidable at times, but consistently doing things to help

-?Exercise: Leave the car behind a bit more regularly and make sure you’re getting your daily steps in. Make sure you’re getting some resistance work in weekly and develop your own engine even further with some solid conditioning. Move your body in all the different planes of motion and movement patterns and you’ll be far less likely to break down with injuries as a result.

- Nutrition: Eat as naturally as you can and practice Hari Hachi Bu (eat until comfortably full). A good question to ask before sitting down for a meal is; “How would I like to feel after I finish this?” Feeling sluggish and having enough gas to fill a Hummer probably won’t be your answer.

- Sleep: Getting a good amount of quality sleep will help you in so many ways. Think better immune system, stress management, energy levels, recovery, memory. Making the efforts needed to get the right amount for you will lead to a huge return on investment over time.

Following the above tips won’t mean you’ll never hit the odd pothole when it comes to your health and fitness again.

But I am confident that the energy etc they bring you will have you feeling as bulletproof as I used to think my Swift was over time…