Strong Body = Strong Mind

“Your body is just as important as your mind,” asserts Shi Heng Yi, the headmaster of Shaolin Temple Europe who teaches self-mastery through the practice of Qi Gong and martial arts. He recommends allocating a minimum of one hour a day for Qi Gong, but better if two. Two hours! I smiled and thought to myself, “Perhaps after I’m retired.” He also talks about how we live in our head and neglect our body. This, I could not agree with more.

We need both a strong body and a strong mind in order to function well. Instead, we give priority to other areas of our life: work, children, elderly parents, friends, and cohorts. The one thing that we need the most—taking time to nurture our mind, spirit, AND our body—is the priority that often gets jettisoned.

Our body is like a car that takes us places. It needs constant maintenance. Otherwise, it stops and breaks down. If we make time for cars, surely we can make time for our body, which needs rest and tune-ups. Unlike our car, we can’t replace our body.

An unhappy body with absorbed stress that’s not released and recalibrated leads to physical, mental, and emotional health issues. An exhausted heart and mind that do not have downtime can only offer cloudy thinking and poor execution.

I’ve been there, juggling home life and an entrepreneurial schedule that was constantly on the verge of spinning out of control. Years ago, I experienced a health scare due to lack of sleep and nonstop activity. In spite of my daily exercise, I felt utterly worn out. At that time, two of my best friends—serious workaholics—also experienced health issues.

These events jolted me out of my default comfort zone. I had prided myself on my time management skill, but I clearly needed to reassess. For an entire summer, I monitored how I spent my days. I concluded that I didn’t need an overhaul, but I did need several micro adjustments. I did two things to improve my self-care routine.

First, I increased what I call my Time-for-Me (TFM). In addition to daily exercise, I blocked time on my calendar where I can just be and not do. I am not allowed to give this time slot to anyone (unless it’s an emergency). I use a timer.

Second, I look for TFM opportunities every day. A meeting gets canceled. I head to the park to check out the Dahlia Garden. Or when I drive across the Golden Gate Bridge with slow moving traffic, I lower my window and inhale the brisk ocean air. You get the idea.

Everyone has a different definition of self-care. Yours can mean a run, a bicycle ride, yoga, Tai-chi, Qi Gong, meditation, painting, writing, cooking, reading, sitting on the park bench or at the beach, or doing nothing. I’ve discussed this issue at length with friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers.

Everyone admits they need self-care, but balks at giving themselves permission to allocate their TFM. It feels self-indulgent. It isn’t. TFM is a gift to yourself. It’s an opportunity to decompress from daily stress, recalibrate, and nourish your body and mind—away from the world. It’s a moment to turn inward and take care of you.

You may not have one to two hours a day for exercise and/or meditation as Shi Heng Yi had advised, but you can certainly give yourself 15-30 minutes each day for self-care. For all that you do for your family, friends, workplace, and community, you deserve your Time-for-Me (TFM). Once you’ve created that space, you’ll find it easier over time to expand it to an hour or more. Most important is that you give yourself permission and commit to it. And use a timer. It takes time to create a routine, so be patient with yourself. Think of your TFM as an investment in your long-term well-being. If you haven’t already, prioritize your health starting today. Your future self will thank you.

Remember, a strong body equals a strong mind!

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