099: Your Longevity Needs a Rhythm
Do you have rhythm?
Not the bust-a-move, gettin' jiggy with it, disco-dancer kind of rhythm.
I'm talking about your daily flow - being in-synch with your wellness, emotions, and habits.
There'a s rhythm to how you live.
If you're a few beats off the music you'll feel like life's living you rather than you living life.
But if you're keeping time with the beat you'll experience less frustration and fatigue and be more inclined to experience fulfilling and sustainable longevity.
Longevity relies on a healthy and sustainable rhythm of routine habits
I'm a creature of habit in many ways.
I'll even confess to being bit OC (Obsessive Compulsive) about a few of my routine habits.
But without them, I would be out of rhythm and a random mess of unfocused energy.
It's the rhythmic way you live that has a substantial impact on your overall health, well-being, and longevity as you age.
- Circadian rhythm rewards you with restful sleep and productive wakefulness
- Emotional rhythm supports you through inevitable changes and challenges
- Routine rhythm creates sustainable flow and habits
Reset your circadian rhythm for restful sleep and productive wakefulness
Speaking of a reset, this quote awakened me about the value of the "circadian rhythm:
"Your body isn’t a machine you can just switch on and off. It runs on a built-in rhythm—the circadian rhythm. Light and dark. Sun and shadow.
When you fight that system—scrolling past midnight, “catching up” on weekends, pulling late nights—you’re not just tired.
You’re misaligned.
And misalignment doesn’t just feel bad. It’s dangerous."1
You might think that "dangerous" is an overstatement.
But, as noted above, your body was meant to run "on a built in rhythm - the circadian rhythm."
The sun rises and sets - on schedule.
That's not random - that's rhythm.
You sleep - you wake.
The circadian rhythm fills the space between sleeping and awakening.
If that space lacks proper rhythm...well...you know how that feels if you toss and turn in your sleep.
The problem isn't always sleep it could be the set-up - the rhythm - you follow.
I do realize that sleep issues (such as insomnia) are common (and potentially serious) and can be the result of deeper physical and emotional issues you carry to bed with you.
Even so, being more intentional about resetting your circadian rhythm is worth a try (and might produce some sleep and wakefulness breakthroughs).
- Turn it down before turning-in: lower the ambient light, slow-your-scroll (phone, tablet, etc), curb your appetite.
- Wind down to calm down: read, write/journal, reflect, meditate, step outside for some fresh nighttime air, gaze at the stars for a moment or two.
- Wake up and walk out: get outside in the morning light and fresh-air for a few moments every day when you awaken (this one habit will have a major impact...trust me).
Renew your emotional rhythm to deal with changes and challenges
Think of your emotional rhythm as you would your moods.
You know how that works.
A good mood can quickly become a bad one.
How? Why?
Something triggers you and your emotions take over.
Emotional rhythm flows according to your reserves of emotional strength and maturity.
The changes and challenges you encounter test and try your emotions on a daily basis.
Those emotional tests are a training ground you can use to renew your response each time you're tested.
- Avoid an emotional ambush through increased self-awareness about what sets-you-off: take evasive measures.
- Monitor your emotional diet by reducing the "drama" you allow into your life: change the channel, limit your scrolling, suspend judgement, mind your business.
- Anticipate and welcome change and challenge as an opportunity not a liability.
Refocus your routine rhythm to create a habitual flow
Routines become ruts when you feel trapped by them or when they've outlived their usefulness.
The better part of a routine is when it produces a rhythm and flow-state in your life.
Sustainable routines are key to longevity.
Unsustainable routines drain your energy and are hit-and-miss at best - sort of like New Year resolutions.
The problem, according to James Clear, isn't necessarily your habits or goals but your system or routine that drives them.
"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." - James Clear, Atomic Habits
The key: find your routine rhythm that naturally produces a habitual flow.
- Start small: incremental changes to your routine give you room to flex as you find your flow.
- Stay consistent: some action is better than no action.
- Stir it up: experiment, innovate, try something new or different and monitor the results.
Longevity is achieved by living according to a restful, emotional, and routine rhythm
- Reset your circadian rhythm
- Renew your emotional rhythm
- Refocus your routine rhythm
Press on...
Eddie
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