For better or worse, our bodies are always communicating with us. It’s important to be in tune with your physical form so that you’re familiar with its signals and can be aware if something’s amiss. However, it’s also true that 90% of the time, your body is just spewing some bullshit. So, here’s how you can learn to listen to your body, even though, most of the time, it has no idea what it’s talking about.
Slow down and take time to connect with yourself.
Ensure you’re really listening to your body by allocating time in your day to block out all other distractions and really focus on yourself. Since your body usually has nothing of value to say, even the slightest distraction has the potential to divert you. There’s only so many times your body can say, “I’m too aware that I’m wearing socks right now” before you’ll want to tune it out. Stay locked in by having absolutely nothing else to focus on, even if that means you’re painfully aware of your socks now.
Respect what your body is saying to you.
So, your body is telling you it’s exhausted and needs sleep, even though you slept a full nine hours last night? Hear it out! Sure, it’s total bullshit, but by respecting what your body is saying, you’ll be ready with a listening ear if it ever has something of value to say. You don’t actually need to do what your body’s suggesting, but there’s no harm in entertaining the discussion!
Practice patience.
Remember: even though it’s hard to know what your body wants sometimes, the only way to figure it out is by listening! Is it frustrating when your body spews some bullshit like, “I need a caramel latte” every day at 8 a.m. – a fact that’s absolutely not backed up by science? Of course! Does it bother you that your body literally never tells you it needs water, even though that’s, like, the one thing you’re actually sure it needs? Duh! But, by practicing patience, you’ll be tuned in if your body ever does say something important like, “Whoops, totally forgot, I’m allergic to pine nuts” or “Fuck, it’s hot in here. Did you leave the stove on?”
Ultimately, the key to listening to your body is just remembering that you don’t have to act on every single one of its whims. Your body is violently and ceaselessly opinionated but, more often than not, it has no idea what the fuck it’s talking about. Just listen, nod, then go about your day without making any material changes. Unless your body was saying that it needs a Reese’s, stat! In which case, it’s probably right and you should definitely get on that.
