Written by: Michelle L. Raymond, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Many elements can contribute to the quality of your life, but none are more important than the three I am about to mention.
They can set you up for success, both professionally and personally, because they are aligned to enhance your performance and well-being. Two components that make up exceptional leaders.
Most people confuse the quality of life with lifestyle, in terms of how much money you have, how frequently you go out for nice dinners, how big your house is and what fancy cars you drive. But in fact, it is the simple things and the simple pleasures in life that has the greatest value and impact.
For instance, to be fit and healthy enough to play with your children or grandchildren. Having the resilience to bounce back quicker from any setbacks or having the mental, physical and emotional capacity to dream big for your life.
Unfortunately, many people only value these elements, i.e. their health and well-being, when they no longer have them. So to enhance your quality of life, one needs to take a proactive approach.
Here are some essential building blocks to improve your quality of life.
The first and most important building block of creating quality of life is quality sleep.
A good night's sleep is directly proportional to your overall well-being. I am not going to go too much into science because there is a lot freely available.
Sleep is a very complex process consisting of various stages and phases. Once you understand the purpose of sleep, you will understand the importance of it.
The purpose of sleep is restoration. In other words, it is the only time your body can restore itself on a cellular level.
The research suggests that sleep plays a critical role in your neurological, psychological and metabolic health and memory consolidation.
If you are not getting quality sleep, it is not giving your body what it needs to restore itself.
So many influences and factors can disturb sleep, such as worry, stress, and anxiety, as well as physical factors such as disturbances at night, like children, insects or noises, medications or your daily routine.
PS: If you are a parent of young children, then this will not necessarily apply right now because your sleeping patterns will change. You will go through a phase in your life where you are not getting efficient sleep. But it should only be a phase and should end. If it is not ending and persisting as your child is getting older, you must seek help. Lack of sleep can cause serious harm now and in the future.
So with that said, How does one then get better sleep?
Here are a few simple things to try:
Get at least 15 to 30 minutes of daily sun exposure to boost your overall well-being and vitamin D intake.
Reduce your exposure to electronic blue light before bedtime.
Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon or evening.
Avoid tobacco and alcohol in the late afternoon and evening if it's something that affects your sleep. Remember, we are talking about the quality of your sleep, and all these things affect the cycles and processes you'll go through.
Try to use your sleep area only for sleep and intimacy. Avoid clutter and electronics as much as possible.
Daily exercises and walking can enhance the quality of sleep.
Consider the temperature in the room and yourself and regulate it if necessary.
Notice the sounds and noise that could disturb your sleep.
The second building block of creating quality of life is the quality of your relationships.
You may have many relationships in your life, including family, friends, extended family and colleagues, but how many of these are quality relationships? Do they add value to your life, and do you add value to theirs?
Often the quality of your relationships come down to the quality time you spend with them. So to then enhance the quality of your relationships, consider these points:
Are you present? When you are with the people you love, are you fully attentive?
Do you listen? Listening is not a passive activity. It takes practice to be able to listen without thinking about your answer, response, or counterargument. You will be amazed at what happens when a person feels heard, regardless of whether you agree with them or not. Most arguments or heated discussions can be diffused by simply and authentically listening.
Do you create a space for others to feel that they can belong?
The third building block of creating quality of life is the quality of the food you eat.
Your body is a machine and needs the proper fuel to perform efficiently. So what you eat and how you eat it are key indicators to whether you are coping in life and just trying to keep your head above the water, or you are someone who is thriving and in control.
If and when you are ready and able to nourish yourself correctly, keep in mind that each person and body is different. What is healthy for one person may not necessarily be so for the next person. It is worth investing in a proper inspection of what foods are appropriate for your specific mind/body type and in what quantities. You do not necessarily have to visit a dietician or nutritionist - simply grow an awareness. When you are eating food, take notice of how you feel afterwards. Consider starting an eating journal and documenting the types of foods you eat and how you feel afterwards.
Your quality of life is a choice, so empower yourself with whatever knowledge you need.
There will, of course, be times and seasons that demand a lot from you, but if your foundation is solid in terms of your well-being (and the elements mentioned above), you will be able to be much more resilient.
Michelle L. Raymond, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Michelle is a multi-potentialite. She has worked in numerous industries throughout her career, gaining extraordinary experience and perspective. This has given her a unique ability to creatively problem-solve, strategise and connect with people on a deep and authentic level.
Her experience includes Executive and Leadership Coaching, Psychoneuroimmunology Diagnostics, Trauma Coaching, Relationship and Family Coaching, Young Adult Coaching, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consulting, Integrative Well-being and Spiritual Coaching. Michelle looks at things holistically and has a practical and "down-to-earth" approach. She is trained and certified in numerous methodologies and frameworks and thus can pull from her knowledge and intuition to find the best fit for her clients' journey and outcome.
As well as being an avid writer, Michelle also records podcasts and vlogs to promote conscious living, personal mastery, spiritual growth, healthy relationships and parenting and mental health.
.jpg)