In a time when no one agrees on anything, there’s one point of consensus: life is chaotic. But not just normal chaos. Craziness seems to be happening at breakneck speed. Everywhere, all the time.
So you have a few options. A: Glue yourself to CNN to “stay informed” (kill me). B: Numb yourself in a food and drink induced stupor (tempting, but no). C: Take control of your body and mind, and give space to the mayhem around you (yes, please).
Most of us are practicing an angsty blend of A and B. So to make option C your modus operandi, take advantage of my 3M strategy for navigating the crazy (no relation to the tape company).
Mindfulness
Having “no time to meditate” is sort of a catch 22 (and probably a half-truth). But if you have this problem, there’s a solution.
I like to practice Walking Meditation. It’s a super easy way to combine movement and mindfulness, and it requires no extra time.
When you’re our and about, walk deliberately at a comfortable pace. Once you have a nice cadence, begin to sync your breathing with your steps. Inhale slowly for five steps, exhale slowly for five steps. Do this for five breaths, check in with yourself, and adjust your rhythm as necessary.
This may sound a little hippie dippy, but trust me, it works. When you sync up these otherwise mindless activities, the brain has a way of calming itself. The best part is that you can be in a mega-crowded space, and no one will know you’re meditating.
Movement
Stress and lack of motion are a recipe for a jacked up, stiff body.
And considering our always-on, work-from-home world, deliberate movement is critical.
The easiest way to do this is to walk more. Take more walks, park further away, get off the subway one stop earlier. Simply taking a nightly after-dinner walk has major health benefits.
Once you’ve mastered that habit, add some resistance. Strength training, yoga, and uphill runs will build physical control and mental toughness. And your new slammin’ bod will be a great side benefit.
Meals
Eating healthy is a lot easier when life is calm. More time, fewer cravings, better decisions.
But stress eating doesn’t just come from lack of time or a few bad decisions. There’s a hormonal stress response that makes us crave sweet, salty, fatty foods.
To help mitigate this potential disaster, focus on nutrient-dense, real food. If it came from the ground or it had a face, it’s probably a better choice. If you have to tear open a bag to eat it, proceed with caution.
When you’re feeling clear-headed and focused, take five minutes to plan your options. You don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen, but do think ahead so you can make easy decisions in the moment.
I can only guarantee one thing: the chaos around you will continue. At least for now. But you can fully own your experience of it. So get out, breathe easy, and eat well.
Anthony Nehra is a fitness and nutrition coach based in NYC. He specializes and fat loss and strength for guys 35+. Get your custom fitness plan at nycfit.com
