Why Reflecting Back Matters.

In the business of everyday life, it is hard to step back and say hey, am I still on the life path for me. Everything needs your attention and your to do list is getting longer and longer for the new year. I do not know about you, but for myself I always have good intentions at the start of the year of things I want to accomplish, but then there is always something that comes up and my attention gets diverted.

For a while, it was running towards heath emergencies with my father, but he has been gone for 2 years now, so I can’t use that as an excuse. Or I get busy with teaching at the university or consulting projects, which as a matter of fact I just signed another contract today on top of another contract that I have not completed yet. Hmm…

Deciding on your priorities for the Year

What are my priorities for the new year?

If I answer that question, my response is: health (including self-care), following my curiosity and my relationship with ‘A”.

Are they aligned with my values?

With ‘A’ in Japan November 2024

I think so, as if don’t have my health including self-care, I will not have the energy to follow my curiosity into different topics of study I want to do, or hike and bike with ‘A’ in our world travels.

Take a moment for yourself and ask the same question of your priorities for the year align with what you value most?

Age Well by Prioritizing Your Health

In all of the articles and books I have read this year on the topic of ‘aging’ well the information points to the most important thing you can do for your health is:

  • Get moving.

    Feeling good cross-country skiing by Kimberley, BC.

Try to find some type of exercise that you enjoy and try to move each day. Even better if you can get outside and move enough to get your heart rate up. It improves circulation, heart health, mental wellness by reducing stress and overall general well-being.

Follow Your Curiosity

‘You’ll never have all the answers, and that’s okay. The important thing is to keep learning, growing, and embracing the unknown with curiosity instead of fear.’

I like this statement and I first heard this being spoken by the author, Elizabeth Gilbert. (Remember the book, ‘Eat Pray Love’.) Around 15 years ago there were many books written on the topic of finding your passion/purpose and working hard at it. I never did feel like I had a passion, but I have always been curious.

If I feel stagnant or bored, following my curiosity is a good start to finding out what is next.

Biking in the rice paddies, Japan, 2024

For 2025, I want to follow my curiosity to:

  • Getting in touch with my inner voice (or soul).

I have been reading material by Elizabeth Lesser – Broken Open and Marrow – A Love Story. I am interested in learning more about spiritual practices.

Gradually Add Activities

As I age, it is not so much changing my life direction, but adding to it and then reducing activities or behaviours that no longer give me fulfillment. I mean some activities are necessary like: making a living; keeping the household going; and connecting with those that are important. But is there something that you are interested in, but never had the time or energy to pursue it?

It is similar to what all the experts are saying about your diet in making gradual changes by adding healthier choices (vegetables and other plant-based foods) and decreasing those that are harmful, e.g. alcohol, ultra-processed foods, too much sugar, salt, etc.

I decided to add these activities to my routine.

  • Self-care
  • Mediation
  • Strength training
  • Stretching
  • Drinking More Water
  • Adding more fibre and protein to my diet.

Coming up with a Plan

Pick One Activity at a Time That You Want Add to Your Routine for Better Health

It is suggested to not change everything at once as you will overwhelm yourself. I think the one activity I will start with in January is adding strength training 3 times a week. ‘A’ bought me a weight lifting gym for Christmas, so I have no excuse to get going with this. It is set up right next door to my office!

 

Make sure to include Self-Care as a Priority

Although the experts say start with one activity, I am also starting additional self-care.

Prioritizing your own time is not selfish. In fact, self-care can provide a needed mental health release from any stress and anxiety that happens in your daily life. Whether you prefer to take a long bubble bath, or read a new book, it’s important to schedule time to make yourself a priority and tend to not just your physical needs, but your emotional and mental needs as well.

I think the key here is to schedule it and bump it up the scale on the list of priorities.

Avoid Temptation

For the items that you want to eliminate from your habits for better health try removing the temptation to engage. For me, if I want to keep up the habit of not having wine with dinner (a habit that I did succeed with last year). I will not buy wine unless it is a special occasion or I have guests over.

Keep Track of New habits to See Progress

I am a big one for keeping track of things with an old-school paper day-timer. I do this with my consulting hours and running, but I could also include the strength training scheduling in this book. This way I can remind myself to do reps and also, hopefully, over time, see myself improving.

Keep Going On This Aging Well Journey

I wish all of my readers and friends all the best for 2025. I appreciate your support of this blog and I hope I can connect with you at some point either in-person or online.

As always, enjoy life and feed your soul,

Shimanami Kaido biking route, Japan, November 2024

Take Time to Reflect

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