5 lessons 2021 taught me about health and life
For many of us, 2021 was jam-packed full of challenges to overcome and situations to navigate. This was particularly true for our health. Some faced serious flare-ups, and others developed new health concerns.
But with every challenge we face, there is a new lesson to be learned. Although 2021 was not my favourite year, I did take away a lot of new insight. That’s why I thought I would share the 5 biggest lessons I learned over the past year.
5 lessons I learned throughout 2021
It’s ok to say no
How often do you say no to another outing, another responsibility, another to-do on your list? For many people, the answer is ‘rarely’ or even ‘not at all’.
But one silver lining that has come out of the pandemic is the greater awareness of physical and mental wellbeing. Every day, more people are realising that they can only do so much before it takes a toll on the body and mind.
I know that it can feel like the end of the world to ‘let someone down’ (although you will probably agonise over it for 10 times as long as they do!) But every time you say no to something that isn’t a high priority, you have space for something that is.
Have a look at everything that is on your mental list for this week or this month. Is there something you can say no to, and free up some time for something more important?
Self-care is non-negotiable
Over the pandemic, we have really started to redefine what is meant by ‘self-care’. Sure, it can mean things like a long hot bath or a regular massage. But it goes much deeper than that - what do you need to survive and thrive in your current situation?
The answer is different for everyone, depending on where they are at. It could mean:
Seeking help for a health concern
Including hobbies and interests that light you up
Establishing basic healthy habits as a foundation for longer-term goals e.g. moving your body daily, eating 3 different veggies per day
Breaking an unhealthy habit or pattern such as not eating because you are depressed or punishing yourself for something
Leaving an unhealthy relationship
Practising mindfulness
Working with a counsellor or psychologist
Uninstalling social media apps for a day, week or month
Unfollowing people who make you feel bad about yourself
Something simple like changing into fresh pjs and drinking a glass of water during a bad thyroid flare
As you can see, self-care can mean so many different things. But at its core, it’s about the steps that either maintain you at your current state of health or move you towards a better state.
So how can you incorporate more self-care into your life, given this new perspective?
Strong boundaries serve everyone
Do you feel run down, exhausted, overwhelmed and over it all the time? Don’t get me wrong, there are often physical factors at play here… but it also comes back to a lack of boundaries. It could be:
Lack of boundaries at the workplace - saying yes, working overtime, checking emails at all times of day and night
Lack of boundaries at home - doing all of the chores because it’s easier than nagging, running everyone around, being first up and last to bed
Lack of boundaries in your social life - overgiving to friends, always being the one to travel or arrange meetups, getting dragged into gossiping about others
Lack of boundaries with yourself - not sticking to your healthy habits and routines, letting external influences throw off your goals, values and beliefs, pushing yourself well past what you would expect of others
We are all guilty of these from time to time. But if you continue this pattern, you will continue to run yourself down until you are physically and/or mentally incapable of coping.
Now is the time to figure out the boundaries that keep you healthy and balanced. Some people in your life may not like it, but you need to prioritise your own health and wellbeing - no one else will do it for you!
We need to embrace the power of nature
This year I went out of my way to spend more time in nature. Sometimes it was my local area, and others I was able to travel throughout WA to soak it up.
But no matter where in nature I went, I was aware of how it recharged me.
The research supports this - in fact, it has been found that spending time in nature or forest bathing is associated with:
Lower blood pressure
Lower heart rate
Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
Decreased physical and psychological pain
Increased parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous system activity
Lower cortisol levels
Lower stress
Improved mood and sense of wellbeing
Better quality sleep
Reduced inflammatory markers
I think that all of us could benefit from at least a couple of those changes! That’s why I will continue to make time to spend in nature as we move into 2022.
If something isn’t working out, find a new way
Humans tend to be creatures of habit. We start doing something one way, and we often get stuck doing it that one way - even when it no longer serves us.
As a Taurus, I find change really difficult sometimes! When something does need to change, I need some extra support and accountability from my own support team.
2021 was a huge year in terms of changes, particularly in my business.
Firstly, I needed to make my clinic more sustainable long-term by scaling back my 1:1 work. It became clear that I could not physically see every single person who sought my advice and still practice what I preach.
So I created some options for those who are on a tighter budget or who are looking for a program to complete in their own time. That’s where the thyroid ebooks, hypothyroidism program and hyperthyroidism program came into being.
A similar process occurred with my practitioner training options. After running my level 1 training live for years, I realised I couldn’t run that live and still have time and energy to create the much-demanded level 2. So now, the level 1 training is becoming evergreen, and level 2 will be run live each year.
Bonus lesson: ask for help!
No one is an island. There are so many reasons why we want to do things ourselves - independence, lack of trust in others, perfectionism, feeling responsible.
But at the end of the day, we cannot do it all and still be healthy and balanced.
Look at your life and pinpoint where you are struggling or could improve. How could you ask for help? It doesn’t mean having someone take over it for you - it could be getting some 1:1 support, or getting someone to run their eye over and give you some unbiased insights.
I have expanded my team so that I can focus on what I do best - serving my clients, training practitioners, and creating offers to help those with thyroid conditions. The more we are supported, the better we can support and serve those around us.
If you are looking for some support with your thyroid concerns in 2022, I am here to help. Start off with the ebook that best fits your needs. For additional support, you can explore my programs or book yourself for a 1:1 appointment here.