As we move, you start to appreciate rest and sleep more than anything else.
The body appreciates rest.
Meaning, set aside some time away from your daily activities; a day or two in a week; with no unnecessary calls, just “you time.”
You’ll realize how your mood stabilizes. You become peaceful and have time to think through issues.
We are coming from an era where burdening yourself and working overtime is glorified.
This started with tuitions in schools, where no child, even during holidays, relaxes. They are loaded with assignments all through, and now it looks like punishment.
Coming to adulthood, a man who gets home late and leaves at dawn is seen as very hardworking. This man has no time for himself because even when he does, the time is allocated to family, children, etc.
As this trend continues, cortisol levels go up due to intense stress and lack of rest. This not only triggers systemic inflammation but also chronic conditions.
By the time this person gets to their 40s, they have a myriad of diseases like hypertension, erectile dysfunction, prostate issues, and other metabolic problems.
Society glorifies them as Mheshimiwa or Mr Chairman, which further massages his ego. In fact, he thinks life is beautiful from that societal validation. At this point, he’s even taking alcohol just to fit into that circle that massages his ego.
By the time he realizes there’s a problem, his feet are darkening and swelling. He has insomnia, liver issues, kidney issues, dementia, and so on. REST is a Need, Selfcare and " you time" is necessary, just like all the other pillars of healthcare.
The pillars of healthcare can never be ignored. If you think they are not important, you’ve already set yourself up for trouble.
Simply embrace:
= Fasting (intermittent and prolonged fasts)
= Hydration (water + salt)
Sleep (6 to 8 hours) every night
= Sun – intentionally bask in the sun; 30 minutes to 1 hour of sun exposure is therapeutic
= Grounding – walking barefoot, sitting on rocks/grass, hugging trees, etc.
= Exercise – 3 to 4 days of exercise is enough; take long walks over the weekend
Eating clean , prioritize protein, fat, and fibre
