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Arete Warriors – spirit, mind, body s
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You Weren’t Meant To Feel Like This
My biggest obsession is convincing you to not settle for mediocre.
Especially when it comes to your energy.
Every week, I try to give you another tool to feel a little better. Sometimes it’s a major shift. Sometimes, a small tweak.
Either way, the goal is the same: to help you reclaim more energy, joy, and resilience to reach your full potential.
Yes, some of those changes require discipline. But sometimes knowledge is the only thing standing between where you are and where you want to be.
And sometimes…
the most important thing isn’t another supplement or habit.
It’s patience.
I’ve lived through seasons of grief after losing people I loved, seasons of exhaustion while raising young children, and seasons of illness that threatened to outlast my hope.
During those times, feeling amazing wasn’t realistic. No amount of optimization was going to bring someone back, give me more sleep, or magically heal me.
My season of sickness lasted seven years. In that time I saw allergists, ENTs, Naturopaths, gastroenterologists, D.O.s, acupuncturists… you name it. I underwent procedures, took countless medications, experimented with remedies, and still cracked three ribs coughing.
Each specialist had a different idea of how to fix me.
I was so desperate for a cure I tried them all. I learned a LOT through this season of suffering.
I think this is where my love of “fixing what ails you” came to be.
Sometimes, the season itself, and the struggle it contains, is what’s needed to turn us in to who we’re supposed to become.
The challenge is that our bodies never stop changing. We evolve physically, emotionally, hormonally, and spiritually.
The science evolves too. What worked five years ago – or even five months ago – may not be exactly what you need today.
That’s why it’s worth revisiting the basics now and then.
Maybe you’ve overlooked one because it didn’t apply to you before. Maybe your body is asking for something different now.
Let’s Prepare – the warm up
Here are some basic fixes in case you’re in need of a refresher.
If you’re tired:
- Obviously – prioritize sleep.
- Creatine has been surprisingly helpful to me. I normally take 5-10 grams daily, but after a terrible night’s sleep, I’ll increase it to 20-25 grams for that day. (Build up gradually first to make sure your stomach tolerates it.)
- Try a 10-30 minute NSDR (Non Sleep Deep Rest) or Yoga Nidra session. I use them to get to sleep at night and as power naps during the day. They help me!
Then ask yourself:
- Are allergies to blame? Try a different medication, daily nasal rinse, humidifier or air purifier. Certain foods can be triggering. Pay special attention to these seven foods: soy, corn, dairy, gluten, nuts, eggs and sugar.
- Is your sleep quality, or quantity, the real issue? Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet.
- Could hormones, thyroid, or low vitamin D be contributing? A comprehensive blood test can be worth every penny.
- Is your nutrition to blame? Are you eating enough? How much water are you drinking? Did you recently change your diet in any way?
- Obviously exercise helps, if you can find the energy to get started. Take the 10 minute pledge. Go for 10 minutes, if you still want to quit, quit.
- Are you in a season of heavy stress? Is there anything you can do about this? Talk to a therapist? Hire a coach? Quit the job?
- See “Consider what you’re consuming” under mood. ⬇️
If your mood is low…
- Find your purpose. Do something that excites you every day.
- See above about stress, nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
- Is your environment cluttered? Does it promote peace?
- Get outside, ideally in nature. Sunshine and expanding your view are both scientifically proven to lift your mood. If you can, do this in the morning for added bonuses.
- Who are you spending time with? Do they inspire you? Or bring you down.
- Consider what you’re feeding your mind. This can not be over-stated. Listen to positive, uplifting podcasts or books while gardening, cooking, folding laundry, vacuuming, driving… etc. You could also replace some of your scrolling or TV time.
If you keep getting sick…
- Sleep, stress, nutrition, and your environment still come first.
- Immunity starts in the gut. Eat real food and take a good probiotic daily. I use Seed.
- We add L glutamine (5g) and colostrum (1-3g) when we need extra protection.
- Zinc, vitamins C and D are also key players.
- Look into NAC and quercetin if you need additional help.
Let’s Work – the exercise
Do NOT under-estimate the power of the basics!
None of these suggestions are magic, but in different seasons, for different reasons, each can play a significant role.
Recently, I started focusing on what my brain was consuming (reading, listening to, and watching) and it has made all the difference.
It gave me a sense of power and control back that I had unknowingly been losing.
I was reminded that my mind is my greatest ally or my biggest obstacle. What I feed it determines which.
It is an amplifier. It magnifies whatever I feed it. It will grow whatever I plant.
Feeling fine is NOT the goal.
No one is going to change your life for you. Go get the one you want.
