Annual physical exams and employer-sponsored health risk assessments are excellent tools for assessing your physical and mental wellbeing. However, these checkups tend to be administered annually, or bi-annually at best, and administered only by medical professionals.
For executives and busy professionals who experience stress on a daily basis, a new paradigm is required. I suggest that we look at health assessments from a completely different perspective. We must gain control of our own wellbeing and not wait for a medical professional to identify areas in which we are lacking.
How do we do this?
We do this by engaging in a frequent self-assessment practice.
Your body talks to you all the time. The problem is, most people don’t even realize that their body is sending messages. Even if we recognize some of the messages, most of us don’t know how to assess them. And even fewer of us have the extensive health vocabulary necessary to select the best response.
For example, the rumbling in your stomach – does that mean that you’re hungry? Well, that’s what we were taught to think ever since we were children. However, that’s not the only way to assess that message. In many cases, the hungry feeling is your body’s way of telling you that you’re dehydrated. Respond first by drinking a glass of water and seeing if the hungry feeling disappears.
Many people drink coffee, even several cups per day, to give them boosts of energy. But a lack of energy may mean that you should include frequent afternoon stretch breaks to improve oxygen flow to your brain and body. It may mean a change is needed to your evening rituals to enable deep sleep.
And, of course, there are food cravings – one of the most commonly discussed messages our body sends to us. A craving is your body’s way of telling you that it lacks some kind of nutrient. Sweet cravings. Salty cravings. Crunchy cravings. Cold and creamy cravings. A craving may mean that your blood sugar is low, your body lacks minerals, or you need some emotional support.
Here are 5 metrics that you can monitor daily. You can also complete the FCO Assessment for more ideas on how to start a daily self-assessment practice.
5 Daily Health Metrics:
1) Are you dehydrated?
2) Do you get enough deep sleep?
3) Do your energy levels fluctuate drastically?
4) Are you thinking clearly?
5) How well are you managing stress?
Do not wait for your employer to sponsor your medical exam. Do not wait for your doctor to give you shocking news. Ask yourself these simple questions and if you feel the need to address your situation, then take action!
The above post contains excerpts from Edwin’s book: “Fit for the Corner Office: An Executive Health Guidebook to Achieve Peak Performance at Work and in Life.”