Being a solopreneur isn’t always easy. Since I’m the only one in my business, I do everything. I take care of the clients, the projects, going after new business, and everything else in between. Add in all of my family responsibilities, and sometimes “working on me” doesn’t necessarily factor into the equation.

Knowing I’m not getting any younger, I consistently prioritized my mental and physical health this year. I figured if I’m thriving, that helps everyone around me. My clients get a more creative and motivated business partner, and my family gets a healthier and more positive husband, dad, brother, uncle, etc.

Eight months in, I can honestly say I feel better this year than last. Here are some of the things I’ve done that have me thriving at the ripe old age of 44 (still “early 40s” 🤣).

Dry January to Reset and Focus in on My Solopreneur Journey

It all started earlier this year when a few friends and I teamed up to ditch the booze for January. It was a welcomed reset for the new year, and it helped me clear my head and kick the year off on the right foot. Reducing calories helped me cut a few pounds, sleep better, and feel better overall.

Meat and Fruit

Over the past few years, I’ve transitioned to an animal-based diet consisting of high-quality meat, organs, fruit, honey, dairy, and eggs. I’m sure a few of my friends are tired of hearing me say “meat and fruit” when they ask what I eat. My stomach is made of iron, so I could probably eat just about anything, and I’d do fine, but when I truly check in on how I feel when I eat meat and fruit, I’m thriving. I’d say that last year, I was about 75% animal-based lifestyle; over the past year, I’d say I’m more like 85% to 95%. And about four out of the last eight months, I was near 99%.

But now I’m introducing other things back into my diet, such as homemade sourdough bread that I’ve learned to make thanks to my niece, Makayla. I aim to make our bread with healthier, European-based flour to avoid store-bought bread for our kiddos’ peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Our bread has two ingredients: European flour and water. If you count the yeast, there are three ingredients, but the yeast comes from the flour anyway.

Should you do animal-based? I’m not a doctor, so I can’t give you that advice, but I will say if you’re not thriving, maybe check it out. If you’re thriving. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Dry April, May, June and July

This was a game-changer for me, my belt loops and everything in my life. Cutting out alcohol for another four months was extremely beneficial to my health. It’s funny how drinking is so accepted (and celebrated) in our culture, yet it is a poison and can cause so many issues. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good margarita, but I’ve now cut booze down by about 80% and feel much better for doing so. I sleep better, I snore less, my heart rate, resting heart rate and overall health has improved a ton. I just feel like I’m actively living life vs. being numb to it.

Supplements to Bridge the Gaps

As my client and health and wellness blogger Michael Kummer says, “Supplements are not an excuse for a poor lifestyle.” I’ve taken that to heart and bought into supplements as a way to supplement a healthy lifestyle. This way of thinking has helped me cut down on those margaritas because I take a sip and go; well, the billion dollars worth of supplements I took today just got washed down the drain. 🙂 Here’s what I take, the benefits of taking them, and how much I take:

• Collagen & Colostrum: This has major benefits for the gut, skin, nail, joint health, and exercise recovery. I take one scoop, which is 10 g grass-fed bovine collagen and 3 g grass-fed bovine colostrum.
• DHEA: This is a precursor to testosterone and helps to maintain hormone levels as men age. It has libido and sexual function benefits. It also improves mood and cognitive function. I take 20 mg in the morning and sometimes 10 mg at night.
• Beef Organs (mix of liver, heart, spleen, kidney, pancreas): I’m not a big fan of the taste of the previously mentioned beef organs, so I opted for the supplement form. It makes it easier to get essential nutrients and peptides that support improving nutrient absorption, vitality, and energy. I take 4 pills (3,000 mg). I’d highly recommend learning more about these beef organ meat supplements from MK Supplements. They have no taste, are the most nutrient-dense food on the planet and are a simple way to get those nutrients on the daily. Plus, I’m able to add these to protein smoothies for my entire family and because they don’t have a flavor, my kiddos absolutely love their smoothies and I love that my kiddos are getting extra nutrients.
• Magnesium (Glycinate): This supports muscle and nerve function, promotes heart health, enhances sleep quality, and more. I take 120 mg.
• L-Tyrosine: It supports cognitive function during stressful situations, helping to improve focus, alertness, and memory when you’re under pressure. Boosts mood and motivation, too. I take 500 mg.
• Tru Niagen: This patented form of NR is a superior NAD+ booster that may increase NAD+ levels by over 50% in just two weeks, supporting cellular energy, metabolism, and repair across the body while promoting muscle recovery, brain function, and heart health by addressing age-related NAD+ depletion. I take 300 mg.

Cold Plunges Are Extremely Beneficial to Health and Mood

As I’ve started to thrive, I’ve started introducing new ways to up my game. I’ve been cold plunging daily for the past two weeks. When I wake up, it’s straight out to the cold plunge. Cold plunging is one action that has many benefits. Even better, studies show you only need to cold plunge 1-2 minutes per session for up to 11 minutes per week. The ROI on cold plunging is huge. I use the SuanaBox PlungeBox: Cold Plunge. Check out these benefits:

• Boosts Circulation and Reduces Inflammation: Cold plunging stimulates blood flow, which can help reduce inflammation, speed up recovery, and alleviate muscle soreness after intense workouts.
• Enhances Mental Resilience: Regular exposure to cold water builds mental toughness and resilience, helping you better manage stress and anxiety in everyday life.
• Improves Mood and Energy Levels: Cold immersion triggers the release of endorphins and adrenaline, boosting your mood and providing a natural energy lift that can last for hours.
• Supports Immune Function: Cold exposure strengthens the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells, which can help your body fight off illnesses more effectively.
• Promotes Better Sleep: By lowering your core body temperature, cold plunging can improve sleep quality, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.

As a side bonus, my cold plunge is situated so that I get morning sun on my face, and so I get 1-2 min of Vitamin D goodness, and after my cold plunge, I stand in the sun for another 1-2 minutes. Vitamin D supports bone health, immune function, mood and mental health, heart health, and muscle function. It’s a must-have!

Morning Gratitude Journaling Increases Mindfulness

What the heck is mindfulness, and why do you need to increase it? It helps you become more aware of the present moment and the positive aspects of your life. This helps promote a great sense of contentment and self-awareness. Plus, I just feel good and get happy vibes after reflecting on the things I’m grateful for.

I make this super simple. I write the date and then write “I’m grateful for:” and then three lines, which makes me be quick and to the point. I also just write three things down that come to mind first. Here was this morning’s gratitude:

8/29/24

I’m grateful for:

• Hanging out with family yesterday.
• Getting my kiddos to cold plunge with me.
• Learning how to make sourdough bread.

It’s super simple and easy to do and brings major benefits, such as:

• Enhances Mental Well-Being: Regularly practicing gratitude can boost your mood, increase happiness, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by shifting your focus to positive aspects of life.
• Improves Emotional Resilience: Gratitude journaling helps build resilience by fostering a positive outlook, making coping with challenges and setbacks easier.
• Strengthens Relationships: Expressing gratitude can deepen connections with others, enhancing relationships by fostering a sense of appreciation and empathy.
• Promotes Better Sleep: Reflecting on things you’re grateful for before bed can calm the mind, making it easier to fall asleep and improving sleep quality.

Heat Therapy: A Simple Way to Boost Health and Well-being

In my journey towards optimal health, I’ve added a new ritual to my routine: spending time in a wet sauna. This nearly daily habit has become one of my favorite ways to recharge, as heat therapy has numerous benefits for both body and mind. And the best part? You only need 15-20 minutes per session to experience its powerful effects. I use the SuanaBox SmartSteam Kit Pro. The return on investment for sauna sessions is huge.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Enhances Detoxification and Circulation: The heat from the sauna induces sweating, which helps flush out toxins from your body. It also promotes better circulation, supporting cardiovascular health and speeding up muscle recovery after exercise.
• Reduces Stress and Promotes Relaxation: The soothing warmth of the sauna helps relax tense muscles and calm the mind, reducing stress levels and promoting a deep sense of relaxation.
• Supports Immune Function: Regular heat exposure can strengthen your immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells, helping your body fight off infections and illnesses more effectively.
• Improves Skin Health: Sweating in a wet sauna opens up your pores, which can help cleanse the skin, reduce acne, and promote a healthier complexion.
• Boosts Mood and Mental Clarity: The calming effects of heat therapy can elevate your mood by triggering the release of endorphins, while also improving focus and mental clarity throughout the day.

As a bonus, the sauna environment encourages mindfulness, giving you time to unwind and reflect. This practice has become a key part of my wellness routine, and I can’t recommend it enough for those looking to boost their health and well-being.

Conclusion

Being a solopreneur with a busy life can make it easy to neglect self-care, but I’ve found that prioritizing my health has been a game-changer. By adopting new habits like cutting out / down on alcohol, embracing an animal-based diet, adding supplements, cold plunging, practicing gratitude, and incorporating heat therapy, I’ve significantly improved my physical and mental well-being. These small changes have led to big improvements in my energy, mood, and overall quality of life. If you’re looking to thrive, consider making some of these adjustments—you might just find they transform your health as they have mine.

 

 

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Medical Disclaimer

The information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dieticians (which we are not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan or overall health. GregDawson.biz and its owner LPD Interactive are not liable for how you use and implement the information shared here, which is based on the opinions of the authors formed after engaging in personal use and research. We recommend products, services, or programs and are sometimes compensated for doing so as affiliates.