Dump the Junk and Be Mindful
“Nourish the mind like you do your body. Your body can’t survive off junk food” – Jim Rohn
We’ve been lectured one too many times about the detrimental effects of that cookie we already have shoved halfway down our throat; the harsh-reality that our sudden weight gain over the weekend was the result of one too many pieces of Halloween candy taken from our kid’s pumpkins; and let’s not forget the death stare and “support” from our workout partner that time they didn’t see eye-to-eye on our our choice to choose the full-fat, creamy double scoop of ice cream as our post-workout recovery.
TV Addict
…but what’s this thing about keeping our minds healthy?
That sugary, fat-laden, caloric bundle of goodness doesn’t help our growing body – but just as the food put into our body affects everything from our head to our toes…so does the information we consume.
One of the most significant lifestyle changes to happen over the last 20 years is the increase in the amount of time we each spend in front of one screen or another: television, video games, computers, mobile devices. By some accounts, the average adult spends over eight hours a day in front of a screen.” – Linda Stone
Eight hours. EIGHT HOURS.
So it’s clear we not only do we tend to over-indulge in not-so-great food, but screen-time as well. As with work, sports, and our health – the same rules apply – what we put in is what we get out.
If our body can’t run off junk, how do we expect our mind to either? That “junk” can come in the form of food, but we forget that it also comes through our TV’s, phones, and to take that a step further, the advertisements and media we consequently consume.
I’m all about the occasional vegging on the coach, catching up on the latest scoop, the hottest new series…but obesity, decreased mental functioning, and compromised productivity as a result of this sedentary lifestyle and media influence….not so hot.
Just as we when we try to understand how we become motivated to go to the gym more, we must understand how we are motivated to use social media, tv, etc…and WHY.
Am I bored? Looking for validation? Avoiding something I should be doing? Will this add value to my life?
“Every new tech can be abused, the more powerfully it gives the more powerfully it bites” Wired, Kevin Kelly
The power of any tool lies in the intentions of it’s user! Here’s to a week of being mindful of not only what goes through our mouth, but also our mind!
How do you plan on unplugging this week?