“Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”
Sarah Bernhardt
Peak performance matters: To do our best work, we need to feel our best. Creating a healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to keep our writing goals on track. John Gallucci, Jr., a sports medicine consultant for elite athletes, recently shared three simple steps we can all take to stay healthy and strong:
Drink water: Staying hydrated boosts oxygen uptake in the body, which nourishes our cells and keeps us mentally sharp. When we’re dehydrated, we feel sluggish and even foggy. Nutritionists recommend drinking from 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day — if 50% of that fluid is water, all the better.
Keep moving: To stay heart healthy, we need to engage in aerobic activity for 30 to 40 minutes, 6 to 7 days a week. The options are far-ranging: taking a daily walk, jogging, swimming, tennis, bike riding. Just taking time each day to get moving can lower our cholesterol and keep us heart-healthy. What a simple step — and what a huge result!
Build strength: Along with aerobics, we need to stay flexible and strengthen our muscles. We can do this through band exercises, by using weight machines, or by working with free weights. Push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups are all great, if you have the stamina and enjoy them. Yoga or Pilates are also wonderful ways to boost both flexibility and strength. And, as john points out, always remember to warm up before you stretch.
Why not invest in ourselves by designing a simple stay-strong program? Spending a little time and energy to figure out what works best for each of us can make a huge difference in both our lives and our writing. I recently started jogging just two times a week on our rubberized town track and it’s boosted my energy and improved my sleep. I also have started walking around town instead of driving — and that’s made me more alert, especially in the afternoon. Just a few simple steps can give our creativity a jolt of adrenalin. Let’s start taking them and write on!
