All posts tagged: better health

6 tips for stress relief

October 15, 2014 Matt Kenney Blog

6 tips for dealing with stressStress is something that we are all faced to deal with; often on a regular basis. Here are some of my tips for dealing with stress more effectively:

1. Get off your butt. Exercise creates profound physiological changes within the body. Simply going for a walk or hitting the gym for a quick workout can dramatically decrease the stress toll on our bodies. Aside from the physiological benefits, I’ve also found that exercising during stressful times clears the mind enough to find effective solutions to many of the complicated issues we face.

2. Learn to say no! These days we seem to pile more and more things onto our plate each day. While it’s commendable that we want to be involved in so much, there’s potential for us to become overloaded and stressed as a result. Learn to say no to the people or activities that aren’t as important to you and you’ll find you have less stress and a better quality of life.

3. Sleep more. When we neglect sleep it affects us in profound ways, one of which is to become more sensitive to stress. Make sure that you’re getting 6-8 hours of restful sleep per night and you’ll deal with stress much more constructively.

4. Stop glorifying being “busy.” These days it seems that people are always eager to explain how busy they are as a form of validation. Unfortunately the busier we are the more stressed we often become. My personal opinion is that simply doing a bunch of stuff is irrelevant, what matters most is being productive. Instead of trying to stay busy, try to be more productive by delegating more, relying on other experts, developing more efficient systems or pursuing anything that allows you to create your desired outcomes with less time and stress.

5. Keep yourself in the present. A common response to stressful times is to make it worse by either reliving past failures and bad times or by thinking too far into the future and becoming overwhelmed about what is to come. The most effective response to stress is to deal with it as it happens and create solutions for the problems affecting you now.

6. Visit a specialist. As a chiropractor I’ve helped many people with stress over the years. Chiropractors help remove nerve tension which is a main cause of physical and emotional stress. Others I’d recommend for de-stressing are acupuncturists, massage therapists and exercise specialists.

6 Tips for a stronger mind and more productive life

September 17, 2014 Matt Kenney Blog

I’m a big believer that one of the most valuable tools a person can possess is a strong mindset. This enables a person to plan effectively, deal with crisis and move forward productively. Like anything else, thinking in a constructive way takes practice. Here are 6 tips I recommend for strengthening your mind.

1. Keep the past behind you. Far too many people spend crucial energy focused on what has already happened instead of what could be happening. Instead of dwelling on what used to be, start focusing on how you want things to be.

2. Take “smaller bites”. Many of us have so many things that need to be done that it can become overwhelming. Rather than allowing the stress this causes to set us back, the key is to take “smaller bites.” Focus on and complete 1 task at a time before moving on to the next. This will allow you to simultaneously focus on the task at hand, accomplish things, feel better and still progress toward your ultimate goal(s).

3. Trust yourself. When things get challenging many people have a tendency to question how (or if) they’ll ever be able to find a solution. Rather than adopting that negative mindset, have faith that one way or another you will succeed. Many of the most admirable people I’ve encountered were just normal people that refused to give up on finding solutions to their problems.

4. Don’t compare yourself. With things like Facebook, there is a greater tendency than ever for people to compare themselves to their friends and acquaintances. Ultimately this is damaging, exhausting and unproductive. Rather than worrying about how you stack up versus others, focus on whether you’re growing into a better version of yourself.

5. Put others first. As human beings we often have a tendency to spend so much time in our own heads that we don’t focus enough on those around us. Placing energy into helping others (even in small ways) without worrying about what we’ll receive in return has the tendency to produce profound results. I’ve personally experienced time and again in my personal and business life that those I help often end up returning the favor to me in amazing and unexpected ways.

6. Use the ” 1 hour rule”. This is a trick that I adopted many years ago and often tell my patients about. When you’re faced with an obstacle in life there is nothing wrong with admitting you’re upset. Take an hour to feel the emotions – cry, scream, punch (preferably pillows not people) or do whatever necessary to allow some of that emotion to be released…but only for 1 hour. After that hour you need to come out prepared to create solutions to whatever issues you may be facing.

4 Quotes that continue to inspire me in my daily life

September 3, 2014 Matt Kenney Blog

I am a huge fan of using quotes for inspiration to help me achieve greater happiness and success within my personal life, business and athletic endeavors. Today I’d like to share 4 quotes that continue to inspire me and why.

1. “Action expresses priority”. This is a quote from Ghandi I ran across years ago that I think of often. I don’t care what you are trying to achieve – whether it’s making more money, being more competitive in a sport or landing a date with a pretty girl; it will take action. Ultimately the effort you apply to your goal will determine whether or not you succeed. If you really want something, begin laying out the steps necessary to attain it and then start making it happen!

2. “Don’t let a win get to your head or a loss to your heart”. Like most people, I’ve had some enormous victories in my life as well as some extremely low points. This quote is my reminder to try and always keep myself on an even keel. When things are going very well for me I’ve learned to appreciate those blessings but never to be arrogant or selfish about those successes. Conversely, if I encounter difficulties I don’t feel sorry for myself or act as if they’ll continue forever; I just accept that it’s part of a cycle and move forward. Being able to enjoy good things and deal with the bad things without changing who you are as a person is extremely valuable.

3. “Run when you can, walk if you must, crawl if you have to; just never quit”. I think of this quote often while out on long runs or during grueling workouts. Aside from the motivation it provides to me physically however, I also feel that it applies to everyday life. There are times when life does “run” along in amazing fashion – new jobs, bigger raises, new relationships, etc. Sometimes our life proceeds more like a “walk” and brings a mix of good and bad. Finally, there are times when we feel like we’re “crawling” through difficulties such as losing a job, divorce or the loss of a loved one. This quote helps remind me to enjoy my life and maximize my opportunities while realizing that at times things may slow down or even become extremely difficult. Regardless of where I’m at in those phases I maintain a focus on the big picture and keep moving forward, refusing to ever be beaten or to give up.

4. “All the money in the world can’t buy back good health”. As a chiropractor I see a variety of people every day spread throughout the spectrum of health; from excellent to terrible. The constant among those in excellent health is that they are always proactive in their decisions and happy with their results. Conversely, those with poor health are often regretful at the poor choices they’ve made and where it has landed them. This quote reminds me to always strive for great health because when it’s gone it can be difficult or often impossible to recapture. In order to maximize my health and the enjoyment it brings to all aspects of life I will always strive to eat well, think well, exercise and continue the holistic care that has served me so well for so many years (chiropractic, acupuncture and massage mainly). Knowing how successful this formula can be I also recommend my patients do the same for themselves.

For more information or to schedule appointments please visit visit our homepage at www.NewBodyChiro.com, find us on Facebook (New Body Chiropractic & Wellness Center) or call (303) 347-9906.

Are you playing OFFENSE or DEFENSE?

August 19, 2014 Matt Kenney Blog

In honor of the return of my favorite sport, football I am posing the question – are you playing offense or defense with your health?

Offense starts with a definable goal and every action is intended to lead toward the fulfillment of that goal. In terms of health, offense means being proactive. Defense by nature is more reactive. Being defensive with your health usually means waiting for things (usually bad) to happen before taking action. When it comes to health, NOTHING beats a great offense. Below are some of my favorite tips for building a great health offense:

· Regular exercise – if you don’t move it, you lose it
· Healthy nutrition – 80% or more of the time you should be eating healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and proteins and avoiding heavily processed foods and toxic ingredients
· Drink more water and less soda, juice, sugary drinks, alcohol and coffee
· Be more active – get outside to walk, hike or pursue activities that get you moving more
· Get enough sleep – make sure you’re getting 7-8 hours of restful sleep per night
· Spend time with people that motivate you, inspire you and make you happy – your personality is a combination of the 5 people you associate with most often so choose wisely
· Make time for yourself – time to decompress is crucial even if it’s not long
· Pursue only things that seek to build your confidence and eliminate those that don’t – this applies to people, activities, what you read and much more
· Think more positively – try not to dwell on mistakes, complain or focus on potentially negative outcomes
· Seek regular preventative/maintenance checkups to specialists such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths and massage therapists – a little prevention helps everyone!

For more information or to schedule appointments please visit www.NewBodyChiro.com, find us on Facebook (New Body Chiropractic & Wellness Center) or call (303) 347-9906.

Is your body giving you these 5 warning signs?

August 7, 2014 Matt Kenney Blog

Listening to your body is an important part of achieving great overall health. Below are 5 signs that your body may be prompting you to make a change in order to rebuild your health:

1. You feel less energetic/depressed/moody. There are various reasons this can be the case but my personal belief is that your body has its own inherent energy and if it is not directed properly your body will suffer. Moping around and being sedentary are prime examples of this. The Fix: Challenge yourself physically and mentally. Perform any type of exercise that leaves you exhausted and you’ll lose that moody or depressed feeling. Mentally, learn to judge your thoughts as they occur. If you notice they’re negative or dwelling on the past then focus on something positive and more in the present.

2. Your clothes are fitting tighter in the wrong places. If you’re noticing it’s more difficult getting into the same clothes that fit you in the not-so-distant past than your body is telling you it’s time to make some changes. The Fix: Start with exercise but understand that no form of activity can outdo a poor diet. For nutrition, change your diet by adding in more fruits, veggies, and healthy proteins (lean meats, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, etc.), as well as drinking more water and less soda/coffee/alcohol. Do this for even 2 weeks and you’ll notice a difference.

3. Your mind feels cluttered. The most common symptoms of a cluttered mind is beginning a task, losing focus, and starting on something else until you realize nothing is getting finished or completed properly. The Fix: Start by evaluating your home and work spaces. Do you have things everywhere? If your environment is messy than believe it or not it will spread to your mind. De-clutter your office or any areas in your home that give you an uneasy feeling when you walk into the room and you’ll take a quick step toward clearer and more productive thinking.

4. You complain a lot. Complaining is often a sign of unhappiness and insecurity about how to proceed. Ultimately it’s unproductive and probably very annoying to your friends and family. The Fix: Add more fun/fulfilling things into your life and you’ll immediately start complaining less. Also, come up with action steps to solve a problem rather than just criticizing and you’ll feel much better.

5. Poor posture. Bad posture can lead to problems or it can be a sign of an existing issue. Sometimes your spine is damaged or out of place causing you to lean or contort in a certain way to avoid pain. The Fix: See a chiropractor! I start all of my exams with a postural check of the patient and they are amazed at how much information I can infer just from watching them stand in place. Usually after a single adjustment patients will come back to me and remark that they are standing straighter, less lopsided and no longer hunching over.

All posts tagged: better health

6 tips for stress relief

6 Tips for a stronger mind and more productive life

4 Quotes that continue to inspire me in my daily life

Are you playing OFFENSE or DEFENSE?

Is your body giving you these 5 warning signs?

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