Have You Tuned Into Your Body's Bio Signals Lately?

The human body is a wonderful creation. It lets you know when it's feeling great, but it's also quick to tell you when things aren't so wonderful.

How many of us can truly say we're actively listening to the signals our body is sending to us every day? And have you ever found yourself wondering why you feel out of sorts?

By using the strategies listed below, tuning in to your body's unique frequency can help you restore a sense of feeling centered and at peace with yourself.

1. Assess how you feel each morning

The early morning hours are an ideal time to take advantage of the peace and quiet. Use this time to close your eyes, relax your muscles and breathe slowly in a meditative state.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I feel any different from yesterday morning?
• Does something feel "off" even though I got plenty of sleep?
• Do I have any new aches or pains that I didn't have before bed the previous night?

2. Compare and contrast the effects of mixing up your daily food choices on your overall feeling of well-being

Avoid foods that may be responsible for gastrointestinal discomfort. Try limiting consumption of foods with excess wheat flour, gluten or processed carbohydrates. Jot down any differences in how you feel while digesting these meals. Grains, beans and lentils can often be culprits of discomfort as well and should be tested separately.

Consider paying attention to the bullet points below as well and ask yourself the following questions:

• How do I feel following an intense workout a day after eating junk food?
• Does my mind function better on days when I eat natural, vitamin-rich foods rather than processed?
• Am I eating carbohydrates or high calorie meals before bedtime?

Studies show digesting food during sleep may actually interfere with night time healing and repair, so the next time you feel tempted to have a big snack before bedtime, you may want to reconsider.

3. Get regular checkups with a professional

Even though you may not have seen or felt anything to worry about, it's important to get regular checkups with your doctor to make sure everything is as it should be.

• Mark dates on the calendar in advance for checkups and stick to it.
• If you're about to start a stressful month at the workplace, now would be the best time to schedule a checkup.

4. Understand your physical capabilities and limitations

Although you might consider yourself healthy and in great shape, there's only so much that the human body can manage to deal with at one time.

Whether it's exercise or mental work at the office, it's important to know what your limitations are so you don't end up burned out and exhausted. It's okay to work out until your muscles start to feel sore, but you'll know you've gone too far if your recovery time is longer than expected.

The same rules apply for mental exhaustion. Learn how to recognize signs of overwork and psychological stress.

More importantly, become an expert at managing your stress - it's not always selfish to put yourself first and get some much needed self-care. Finding a quiet time during each day to center yourself can provide a host of benefits. For many of us, it's the only time we can truly connect with ourselves to hear the messages our bodies might want to share with us.

Your body is one of the most valuable assets that you have, so do what you can to nurture it. Always be quick to take the necessary steps to address issues when something begins to feel out of alignment.

SUMMARY: Due to the stress and pressures of daily living, it can often be hard to sit down and listen to the things our body wants to say to us. Try to take some time each day to engage in mindfulness when it comes to paying attention to how your body feels. Tuning into our body will always give us an advantage and help us form an action plan when something is not feeling quite right.