Your Body is a Wonder Lab
As a physician trained in the scientific method, I spent years immersed in the key elements of conducting experiments: making observations, developing testable predictions, gathering data to test these predictions, and then refining, altering or rejecting the hypotheses to come to a conclusion. Simply put, as scientists we research actions and reactions. While most scientific experiments are conducted in private labs or clinical settings, you, yes, YOU, have VIP access to the most precious lab ever created: your body. That’s right. your body is a living lab in which experiments are conducted on a daily basis. From the foods you eat, to the personal care products you use on your body, to the way you move, sleep, interact with co-workers, friends and family; you are generating and processing data constantly. The way you feel as a result of these experiences and interactions can guide whether you iterate or pivot your behaviors or repeat them to make them habits.
The pressures of modern daily living — busy schedules, demands of work, limited family or personal time, inadequate rest, environmental challenges — all of it can lead to a life thrown out of balance and cause a disturbance of our natural equilibrium. As a result, many of us feel like we are holding on by a single thread on most days and regardless of how we feel, we take the path of least resistance and repeat behaviors that create habits which adversely affect our overall health. I get it. I’ve done it too. Habit trumps behavior change because it’s easier, it’s familiar, it’s faster. But here’s the thing, habit can be making you sick, exhausted and unpleasant to be around. Nobody likes a grouch. Just sayin’.
So now what? It’s time to plan some experiments. There are four core principles that pave the way to experiencing and maintaining optimal wellness which include:
1. Eating well
2. Being active
3. Restorative sleep
4. Stress management
The interpretation of each of these principles is highly personalized, as well it should be to fit your lifestyle, however there are basic guidelines which I will outline to increase the likelihood of fruitful experiments.
1. Eating well = eating real food. Translation: Nothing man-made or manufactured. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients on the label, put it back on the shelf. If you don’t know what it is, your body doesn’t either and can’t process it efficiently or effectively. Choose whole foods as they occur in nature, cook with fresh herbs, and have fun eating the colors of the rainbow.
2. Being active = just move. Go for a walk, take a fitness class, put on your favorite song and dance around the room. It doesn’t have to be a formal practice, the key is to just do it.
3. Sleep = precious resource that most of us overlook. Abnormal circadian rhythms have been associated with obesity, diabetes, depression, seasonal affective disorder and immune suppression. Catching some z’s is the best preventative medicine.
4. Stress management = making space for you. Taking time to nourish your passion, connect with friends, spend time with family is not selfish; it’s self-preservation. Make it a priority.
So here’s where the magic happens. Put on your virtual lab coat, as a scientist of your own body lab you can research your daily actions and reactions. Observe how you feel: mind, body and skin. As your largest organ, your skin is a window to your underlying health, so take notice of the texture, the turgor and color as you explore the core principles. Take your data points to generate your own questions like: if I replace soda with water will my energy level change? If I dial my bedtime down by an hour every night, how will this impact my productivity?
The key to experimentation is to appreciate that there is no bad data. You learn something from every experiment. If you feel improvement, take note and expand on that. If you try something and feel terrible, good news, you’ve gained valuable insight enabling you to pivot and try something else. It’s easy and understandable to get frustrated when you don’t get the results you predicted or hoped for, but don’t give up, simply adjust or refine your method. Enjoy the process!
