Your most precious resources are time and health
As humans, we strive to make things better, bigger and stronger, and relentlessly search for ways to prolong our lives. Time is, without doubt, one of our most precious resources, and health our most valuable commodity. We should be committed to respecting and using both wisely.
While time management has been the theme of many books, and we all have the same amount of time, ultimately it’s about becoming a master of our time, not a slave. Learning to manage ourselves within the time we have, directing our focus in our time. Furthermore, carving out time for our health, the other of our most precious resources.
Becoming as focused as possible and increasing effectiveness, positively influences both these precious resources. When I trialled structuring my day into shorter time blocks, it revolutionised the way I worked. I became more productive and focused. I felt more in control and more energetic. Taking charge of what I did in my time and what I focused on led me to view time from a different perspective. Furthermore, when we see things differently, things change. To discover this revolutionary, simple secret, watch the short two-minute video here.
- What would happen to your results if you spent more time doing what you love?
- And what would happen if you become a master of your time and health?
- Would you feel freer, be in flow more, have more fun and get more done?
- Perhaps your overall sense of wellbeing and life satisfaction would improve?
- Now, wouldn’t that be worth it?
The first step is to ensure you have a positive attitude to all that you do in life, and your attention is in the here and now. Often easier said than done. I have other solutions for you to maintain your most precious resources as follows:
Be a master of your time not a slave to this most precious resource
- When you do more of what you love you won’t be fighting with time. You are neither bored, where you wish time would go faster or stressed, where you wish it would slow down. Being in flow, or the zone is when time seems to standstill. You are at one with the moment and absorbed in the task at hand. Athletes aim for this peak state when they race.
- Many years ago I came across the Wealth Dynamics Profile Test. It was a key for me in ensuring I spent more time doing what I love and what I am naturally good at. I found my path of least resistance, a key for producing more and enjoying life more. When we increase the time we spend in flow even by a few per cent every day, it has a profound effect on our lives. It helps us cherish both these precious resources. Moreover, this profile test was so insightful and useful to my life and business I became a trainer in Wealth and Talent Dynamics. Furthermore, I use it with most of my clients and witness the positive impact on their businesses and lives too.
- Take charge of your mornings. When you create a life that begins with daily rituals and that allows you to manage your focus, energy, time and improve your health you will become a master of your life and time. Creating helpful routines and habits take time, discipline and consistency, yet they are key to your future success. Habits shape your identity and influence your results.
The energy of the mind is attention
Neuroscience shows that attention is the fundamental energy of the mind. How we direct our attention will determine our mental habits, emotions and feelings, which in turn, determine our actions and results. Everything is made of energy and where your attention goes energy flows. Managing your energy is also one of your most precious resources. You are not a machine but an energy being so must replenish this regularly throughout your day.
When you put more attention on being intentional about what you do, you have a powerful key for managing your precious resources of time and health. Furthermore, keys to longevity and a higher quality of life.
Solutions for longevity and quality of life are highlighted from research by Dan Buettner, Founder and CEO of Blue Zones. Dan teamed up with the National Geographic to research areas in the world where people lived measurably better, longer, healthier lives. He found five areas in the world with the highest number of octagenarians, those over 100 years old. They have the keys to managing the precious resources of both time and health.
I first wrote about Blue Zones in an article called ‘A Healthy Life – Recipe Revealed,’ In this article, I specifically talk about the island of Ikaria in Greece. Another area in a Blue Zone is Okinawa in Japan, where the average lifespan for women is 86 years, and men, 78 years. Some of the lowest rates of heart attack, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis and dementia have also been reported here. In Ikaria, people were found to be four times more likely to reach 90 years of age than their American counterparts!
Keys for preserving your most precious resources of time and health
As you read, consider what small changes you could make to your life?
- Okinawa is an ‘us’ place, not a ‘me’ place. Okinawans have a tradition of forming a moai – a group of friends that provide a secure social network, who literally support and take care of each other throughout their lives.
- The typical Okinawan household has very little furniture. Residents eat meals and relax on tatami mats on the floor so that even the elderly practice getting up from and down to the floor throughout the day, which helps build lower body strength and balance.
- Exercise is necessary due to the steep terrain of Ikara. Hillwalking is a daily activity!
- Exercise is also helpful in negating stress.
- The Okinawans have a meaning and purpose to their lives. Older Okinawans can readily articulate the reason they get up in the morning. Their purpose imbued lives give them clear roles of responsibility and feelings of being needed well into their 100s. Note how they consciously direct their attention because of their purpose.
- Both communities have social activities and spend time with friends and family, often sharing meals. They take time to eat and enjoy a real lunch break.
- They eat healthy food, and many have access to a garden and green homegrown vegetables.
Simple ingredients, so why do most people choose to ignore them?
The question is, why do so many people struggle with creating and maintaining behaviours that will aid longevity and well-being? As a nation why do we not all value our health more and respect our time on this planet? We all want to live healthy, happy lives yet many fail to do this. The key to creating better habits is to start small. To prove to yourself you are reliable and you can do the things that you say you will do. What one small behaviour will you select from the above list? And of course, now is the best time to get going. To read more about how to get started with small steps, click here, or simply put the word habits into the search bar on this website for help in this area.
In conclusion, make sure you look after your precious resources of time and health. Both are limited. Time, you can never get back, however, health, you can improve and reclaim. It takes a decision, a plan, focus, desire and small consistent steps.
About the Author
Mandy Napier BSC, owner of Mindset for Success is a Global Mindset & Performance Coach who coaches professionals to develop their mental game so they can break through their current level and achieve the results they desire, both professionally and personally. Using her Winning Edge Formula to help them PERFORM optimally, extraordinary results and transformations are the expectation.
To contact Mandy:
Email: info@mindsetforsuccess.com.au
Web: www.mindsetforsuccess.com.au
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for weekly videos.
Further Resources:
By the way, if you are looking to discover more about your amazing mind and how you can harness its powers to be more consistent, then grab a copy of my free PDF guide Your Winning Mindset
