It can be easy in our busy lives to put our physical health on the back burner. With family, jobs, extracurricular activities, church events, and more filling up our day, finding time to care for our physical health can feel nearly impossible. But we must remember, as Christians, that we are to live a life devoted to God and use our bodies to worship Him. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- This is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1. We are called to take care of the bodies God has given us and use our bodies to serve Him.  When not taking care of ourselves physically, we can feel run down and lack the energy to do the work of God’s plan. We can do more to serve Him when we care for our bodies.

We don’t have to run a marathon or have a vegan lifestyle to thrive physically. Here are a few steps you can take today to help yourself to thrive physically:

1. Exercise

Whether you take a 30-minute walk or join a gym, spending time exercising can help build your physical health and improve your mental health. Adding exercise to your daily routine can help build stronger bones, lower your chances of heart disease and stroke, reduce your risk for dementia, and help build self-confidence.

2. Eat Healthily

Cutting down on sugary foods and filling your plate with more nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and chicken, can help your physical body become healthier and help you to feel healthier too. Changing your diet and replacing those sugary treats with healthy ones can help reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes, diabetes, digestive problems, high cholesterol, and more.

3. Get Enough Sleep

Not getting enough sleep every night can lead to a wide variety of problems. When our bodies do not get enough sleep, we are left the next day fatigued and less motivated to get done the things we intended. Create a nightly routine for yourself to help you get to bed and get a full night’s rest.

4. Drink More Water

It can be easy during a busy day to drink less water than we should. Many people do not realize the physical ways water can help your body. It helps lubricate joints, protects your spinal cords, and tissues, and eliminates waste in our bodies. When we do not drink enough water, our bodies can become dehydrated, leading to unclear thinking, overheating, and many more physical side effects. Get a new water bottle you love and get enough water daily to help yourself thrive physically.

God wants us to thrive and flourish in all areas of our lives. Isaiah 54:2 says, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” To thrive in your life is for all areas to function correctly, in a whole-body experience. Our optimal health is all areas thriving together- mind, spirit, finances, social, and physical. If one area of our lives is off balance, it can affect the others. When your physical health is on the back burner, it runs off in other areas of your life. The same goes for vice versa; when we take care of our physical health, we thrive physically and in other areas of our lives. Making small changes to your day can help you to thrive in all areas of your life.