FEBRUARY 4, 2022
Written by Kristen McNary
So the big question is how do we listen? Where do we begin to unlearn the disassociation from our bodies’ needs that we’re taught starting from when we were young?
At Sapien we’re encouraging you to pay attention to the signals your body is sending, the impact your daily choices make, and then using that deeper understanding of your body’s needs to make healthier lifestyle decisions.
Now for the how? Let’s break it down:
CDA. Curiosity, data, action.
1. The first step is to be aware and get curious. Pay attention when you notice a pattern of breakouts. Are they large and cystic? Small? Itchy? Pay attention when your skin feels especially dry and flaky. Notice when you have a stomach ache, feel bad after changing something in your diet, sleep schedule, or routine. Instead of shrugging off any of these instances, try leaning into it and take it as a signal.
2. The second step is to collect data. Keep a journal of the patterns that you notice, both positive and negative. What’s going on with your skin, your diet, your sleep, stress, bowel movements (sorry not sorry for talking about poop). The more data you collect, the easier it will be to figure out the correlations between habits and effect on your body.
Ask yourself questions and write them down. What changed? What have you eaten that day or week? Have you been traveling? Have you been reapplying your SPF and moisturizer? How about refilling your humidifier? How’s your sleep schedule and stress management?
3. The third step is paying attention to the data, patterns, changes and taking action. This is your opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and to make positive changes. The more data you collect and the more curious you get, the more you will recognize patterns. It will become easier over time to notice the signals your body is giving you, whether they are positive or negative. The cumulation of these new habits is when you really start reaping the benefits of your health because your system as a whole is functioning more optimally.
Over time this process will become more and more natural to you as you strengthen your understanding of your needs and listen to your intuition. You’ll be amazed at how your body responds and continues to give you signs the more you listen to it. Leaning into your health is the best gift that you can give yourself.
As your professional skin therapists our job is to guide you toward a better understanding of what’s going on with your skin and why based on our observations, education, and the information you give us. You’ll never know how much we care about you.
For inspo and ideas, follow our lifestyle and food instagram account @sapienuniverse and check our website Sapien Universe for podcasts, recipes, and reviews.
For specific nutrition advice you should seek out an expert in that domain.
Xoxo,
Kristen
