My friend, Tamara Jacobi AKA “Jungle Girl” is the founder of Tailwind Jungle Lodge, an eco-retreat center here in San Pancho, Mexico. This jungle lodge idea was sparked from a college course, which she in turn made into a reality by literally building it, rock by rock, from the ground up. She is currently writing a book about her story, “Wild Entrepreneurship: A Real Life Jungle Book” – an inspiring look at entrepreneurs who are living their life by design and a little off the beaten path. I was honored to share with her my tips for staying healthy and balanced as a busy entrepreneur:
1. You are not what you eat, you are what you absorb!
We all know to eat organic whole foods – fruits and vegetables, meats and whole grains, but if you are not absorbing all the nutrients, your health (mental, physical, sleep, etc) can suffer. I highly recommend having a food sensitivity test, or doing an elimination diet to really get clear on the proper foods that are right for you.
2. When it comes to your workouts, always have a plan B.
There are going to be times a kid is sick or your meeting runs late, and you cannot make your workout. Have an exercise video, a regular run, a 2nd exercise class time, or written workout plan that you can do at home. No excuses.
3. Plan fun into every day.
Fun isn’t just for weekends. For me, exercise IS fun so I kill two birds with one stone. My friends and I have Taco Tuesday Fight Night – We box, we eat tacos, and then watch a movie. You may not have 4 hours to commit to fun, but try to plan at least 10 minutes (out of 1,440!) of joy into your day. Because if you are not feeling joy, then what if the point?
4. Breathe in gratitude.
I take a few minutes everyday to FEEL grateful. Sometimes it is during my morning meditation, or when I walk my dogs. I take deep breathes and thank the universe for x,y,z. It always makes my not-so-good days better and my good days – AMAZING!
5. Breathe some more.
I am big on breathing. You can use your breath to calm your mind in the middle of a crazy day (or yoga class), or you can use your breath to bring power and energy to your body. 20 years ago, my boyfriend at the time was heavy into martial arts and yoga. He taught me a breathing pattern, that I believe is similar to Apnea breathing. It is something I practice almost nightly while I am in bed, before I fall asleep. It is a 1-4-2 breath count. Meaning, breathe in for 1 count, hold for 4 counts, breathe out for 2 counts. I typically breathe in for 7, hold for 28, and breathe out for 14. Long exhalations, are scientifically proven to calm your nervous system. I also breathe to power myself up. My close friends make fun of me because before I do anything “big” like point my bike down a steep trail, or speak in public, I always give it a big (loud), quick exhale before I begin.
Simple right? It really can be this easy to stay healthy during busy times. These are just 5 out of 10 tips I shared with Tamara. You’ll have to wait for her book to see the rest!