Does Balance Mean a Drink In Each Hand?

If balance means a drink in each hand to you, let’s discuss your physical health and a healthy balance.

Have you ever wondered how to climb the ladder of personal success without getting all wrung out? I once climbed 45 terrifying feet to the top rung of a ladder to keep it from swirling and falling over during a windstorm. I climbed down and retraced my steps up the ladder with my chainsaw. Trembling in my boots, determined to cut gnarly branches that blocked the sunlight from my swimming pool, I climbed, shaking all the way. Whether you’re trimming trees in your backyard or climbing the corporate ladder, personal success takes a balance of the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being and awareness.

Physical Balance

You know that to climb a ladder four and a half stories high in a swirling wind with a running 15-pound chainsaw takes physical coordination, strength, and stamina. Life balance begins with physical coordination, strength, and stamina. Our physical life is made up of our health, weight, appearance, sexuality, energy, and exercise.

Did you realize that not drinking enough water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue? Most Americans suffer from chronic dehydration, and a busy professional can get lost in his busy schedule and ignore his need to hydrate. A mere 2% drop in your hydration can trigger fuzzy memory, irritability, and lack of focus. If you want to restore physical balance, practice these top 8 benefits to drinking water:

1. 8-10 glasses of water a day not only keeps you hydrated, but it also helps shed the pounds.
2. 8-10 glasses of water per day increases metabolism to fight the afternoon fatigue.
3. Staying hydrated flushes out toxins. Want to stay looking young? Drink water!
4. Drinking water lubricates joints and muscles. Staying young and productive depends on your mobility. Hydrate.
5. Water moisturizes the skin, staving off wrinkles and increasing elasticity. If you want to look younger longer, water can be the anti-aging formula.
6. Water makes up 85% of your brain and 80% of your blood. Drinking water increases focus, alertness, and strength.
7. At risk for a heart attack? Drink water. Research from Loma Linda University found that people who drank a minimum of 5 glasses per day were less likely to die of heart disease.
8. Drinking water decreases your chances of kidney stones and urinary tract infections. It keeps the pipes running for better health.

After Hydration

After you are properly hydrated, it’s important to exercise. Most of us make excuses not to exercise. If you find it hard to stay committed to an exercise routine, and make excuses, here are some solutions. Engage your focus and discipline strengths to support you in this commitment. Here we go:

1. It’s inconvenient. Make it convenient. Can you purchase a stand-up desk and do five minutes of walking in place every hour? Could you get a group of co-workers together to walk around the building before eating lunch?
2. I don’t have time. As a high-performing leader, you and I both know we all find time to do things we like. Make exercise enjoyable and schedule it as an appointment in your calendar.
3. It’s boring. If you are thinking inside the box, such as going to the gym and walking on the treadmill for an hour, it might get boring. Exercise encompasses movement and cardio. Do something you enjoy: skiing, golf, kayaking, or other sports.
4. It’s hard. Again, as a leader, you know how to tap into your strengths and understand what motivates you. Build in a reward system that motivates you.
5. I’m out of shape. Exactly. When exercise isn’t a habit, it’s easy and doesn’t take long to get out of shape. Start slowly and build on that.
6. I’ve tried and failed. We’ve all tried and failed at something–from the time we started walking. It’s okay. It takes 6 weeks of consistency for you to begin to see results from your workouts. Set small, obtainable goals and keep going.

There is so much more to being fit. Your physical health is simply one aspect of fitness; however, when you feel healthier, it always improves your mental performance and your mood. Start with something you can achieve, give it time to work, and build on that. You’ll be glad you did! And, if you want to connect with me, you can always Ask Brent Anything.