5 simple ways to self health

It's time we admit it, the way health care works these days there is nobody looking out for your health or your pocketbook but you. Yesterday after 25 years of treatment for hypothyroidism, I met a practitioner who identified why I might be tanking in the afternoons. I won't go into the intricate details of T3 and T4 manufacturing in the body, but let's just say for the first time in 25 years the future looks bright.

Great health is the foundation of a great life - fully lived as opposed to nursing a list of ailments and grievances. How can we be well heart, soul, mind and strength? It's a process of self discovery. Admittedly, my best plan may not be yours. There are so many variables in self care and health management, there's really nobody who can manage that better than you.

So, what next?

Especially if you are a woman in your 40s, you might wonder if you are crazy or, worse, going through peri-menopause. Before you run to the doctor or the pharmacy, check out this 360º check list:

• Have I had enough sleep? Sleep can affect the cortisol levels that impact weight gain. It also impacts brain activity. How happy are you when your computer runs 80% of the time? How much more would your boss say it would be nice for you to be 100% engaged in your work?
• What did I have to eat lately? Don't get caught up in rules about food. Keep a log of how you feel after you eat and seek out foods that give you energy. Unless you've mapped a plan for an afternoon nap, pasta at lunch might not be your best choice. Can't sleep? How much caffeine or sugar did you have after dinner?
• Have I had enough exercise? Ditch the voices in your head that tell you that all the things your should be doing. No time for the gym? All you need to stimulate the dopamine levels in your brain, reduce heart disease and improve the receptors in your cerebral cortex is 20 minutes a day. Nobody can tell you what that 20 minutes needs to be. As long as it raises your heart rate, it's good for you. Maybe it includes your dog, a bike or your favorite music.
• Do I spend enough time with friends? This is just as serious as the others. You need social connection for complete mental wellness. Your spouse cannot meet all your social and intellectual needs. Maybe combine this with exercise and go for a walk or combine it with lunch - you have to eat, why not with a friend?
• What have I created lately? Even if you have creative responsibilities at work, think outside of the wheel of productivity. Have you painted, cooked, woven a basket, planted a garden? Running out of ideas? Reorganize your pantry and bask in the beauty of order!!

Once all those things are running on schedule, then it's time to figure out if there's something really big wrong with you. Take a bit of control, one day, one action at a time.

Some of us have a more accurate view of ourself than others.