Physical Replenishment
Subject: Physical Replenishment – It’s goes beyond drinking more water
Objective: Three ways you can improve your daily self-care and replenish the physical man.
Opener: Replenishment can be described as an action verb of returning our physical bodies back to their homeostasis. Replenishment is necessary when our busy lives and schedules are simply too demanding. Knowing how and when to replenish is important as we perfect a life of balance found in biblical teachings. Some people think that a life without of work in best and while others believe in nothing but work. Notice Solomon’s counsel on a life of balance.
Key Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) 1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 4:4-6 4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. 5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. 6 Better a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
We all require replenishment at various times in our life. “It goes beyond drinking more water.” When you are feeling physically depleted it is probably linked to living a life that’s out of balance. When working with people who are physically drained or exhausted, determining where our life is out of balance is important. Our life is in balance when we are physical, emotionally, relationally and spiritually are operating at the optimal level in each of these areas. Replenishing from a physical perspective can be challenging today. There is a cost to the daily grind of life and when one’s life is not in balance. It can lead to being physically drained and operating at less than optimal functioning. Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
There are a couple of things you can do to return your physical state of being back to its normal operating level.
1. Lifestyle changes in areas of how you take care of your physical being include eating food that give your body more energy. When we talk about the four-letter word “food,” try not to focus on what you cannot eat. Consume more of the healthier foods that you can eat and gives you more energy. Your energy levels are greatly impacted the foods you eat. A healthy mix of complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, vegetables, proteins and healthy fat can increase your physical stamina. For more information you can contact a registered dietitian.
2. Exercise is another way to make lifestyle changes. When you are physically exhausted, it can be tempting to decrease your active lifestyle. However, this only makes you feel even more tired. Instead of sitting down to replenish, try getting up moving around. Walking for 20 minutes can leave you feeling energized for hours and assist in replenishing you back to a more optimal level faster.
3. Practice better sleep hygiene - sleep is the ultimate body recharger. It is recommended that seven to nine hours of sleep per night for healthy adults to reset each day. Less than six hours of sleep per night is a major contributor to compassion fatigue or burnout. Start a healthy schedule by going to sleep and starting your day at the same time. Other healthy sleep habits include decreased caffeinated products and reducing electronic stimuli up to two hours before bed. For more information research sleep hygiene. (CDC)
Our physical replenishment is more than just eating the right foods, staying in shape or getting enough sleep. However, when we combine a balance of enough sleep, healthier food and regular exercise it’s a great start to a more balance life. Making small adjustments to your lifestyle can help you replenish in your daily walk with God. In Genesis 2:2 (NKJV) And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. We are encouraged to keep the Sabbath day holy by resting. Striking a healthy balance between work and rest will get keep you running at an optimal level. Developing a balance life of physical work and rest can keeps you healthier and active for a long time to come.