I saw an article/advertisement on social media that caught my eye. I presume it about supplements—perhaps testosterone boosters. I didn’t read it. I did steal the title, though. So, here is my list of the “seven things every man should be taking”.
Time for his partner. We all get busy, and, for many of us, we don’t take advantage of the opportunities for “date nights”. I know that I am guilty. So, take some time for date night. A while back, I established a “15-minute check-in” with my wife. We sit (usually for much longer than 15 minutes), drink a glass of wine or beer, and talk about our day. It is something we look forward to and miss when our schedules don’t permit. (We try to make it a priority.) A key to a successful “15-minute check-in” is to allow space for the soul to speak—to listen (really listen) and be open.
Time for his children. Our kids need a regular “15-minute check-in”, too. Sometimes, we are with our children but aren’t really present. Take time to focus wholly on each child—to create space for their souls to speak. Eat dinner at the table as a family as often as possible. Turn off the TV and play a board game. Do things with each child individually. Give them a piece of your time!
Time to exercise. No excuses! You have time—if you choose to make it a priority. It doesn’t have to be hours a day at the gym. It can also be smaller scheduled blocks of exercise accumulated from more frequent short exercise sessions. Just take the time—some time—to exercise regularly.
Time to eat. Most of us eat—often too much—but we don’t eat well. We especially rush to eat. Take time to eat slowly. Allow time to taste and enjoy the food. Chew. Take your time to eat (less) and facilitate better digestion.
Time to sleep. Have a regular sleep cycle. Have a bed time. Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Turn off the electronics at least a half an hour before bedtime and establish a routine for bed. Stick to it. Sleep is essential to good health and exercise recovery.
Time to read. Just like exercise, we have time to work on our Intellectual well-centeredness—if we make it. Thirty minutes is a reasonable goal. Take the time to read! Carry a book (hardcopy or electronic) to have on hand for waiting times. There are plenty of times throughout the day when we can read rather than scrolling social media, watching television, or wasting time playing Solitaire on our phones.
Time for contemplation. Prayer. Meditation. Productive pause. Reflection. There are many names and approaches, but we need time throughout the day to decompress—to reconnect with the Universe (Spiritual well-centeredness) and re-center Emotionally. A few minutes here and there is all it takes. Starting and ending the day with a period of contemplation should be a minimum goal. Take time to check your grattitude.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!