The Basic Needs: Just Be
February 12, 2009
Yesterday I wrote about my version of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Today I would like to elaborate on the most basic level of needs: physiological needs. These should not require much time or energy, but are vital to the rest of the levels. There’s probably a long scientific checklist for these, but here are six basics:
1. Air – Breathe the cleanest air you can, and take deep breaths. Living somewhere that has fresh, clean, unpolluted air is best. If that is not possible, try to get out in nature to breathe air that has more oxygen than toxic chemicals. If you cannot even do this, and are completely trapped indoors, surround yourself with plants. They will suck the carbon dioxide out of the air and give you oxygen in exchange… nature’s air purifier. Inhale the good, exhale the bad.
2. Water - Drink as much water as you can tolerate, don’t worry about the exact ounces. Tea and coffee count, as long as they are not filled with sugar and heavy creamers. The object of the game is to stay hydrated so that all your vital organs, particularly your brain, can work efficiently. Avoid sugary drinks and juices.
3. Sleep - Quality sleep is not the same for everyone. Some people need 8 to 10 hours, and others do fine on 4 to 6. Some go to bed early, others are a little more nocturnal in nature, being most productive while the rest of us sleep. Create a lifestyle that can accommodate your natural circadian rhythm (when you sleep and when you wake). Getting the right amount of restful, rejuvenating sleep will go a LONG way in starting your day the right way.
4. Food – I try to view food as fuel for my body rather than a reward or source of entertainment (eat to live, don’t live to eat). I don’t spend a whole lot of time shopping, cooking, and cleaning in order to serve masterpieces at every meal. I shop once a week, for one hour, and buy healthy stuff: rice, beans, bread, produce, and dairy… you KNOW the stuff, the kind that was food when your grandma was a kid. It’s not a ton of fun, but it feeds my system and keeps my weight at a level I’m happy with. There’s a great book about this now, called Eat This, Not That. On special occasions I eat something fabulous that I would never have at home, and I enjoy every bit of it.
5. Exercise - This is my albatross, because I don’t like it. My issue is not with exercise that just happens as the result of some enjoyable activity, like walking in the woods, or chasing my son around the yard. I just don’t like exercise for its own sake (it feels like work,) and I definitely don’t like it for the sake of vanity (I have better things to devote my energy to in this short lifetime). So I approach the food and exercise equation from the angle of balance: the more I eat, the more I have to exercise. Since I do not want to exercise, I eat very little. It works.
6. Clothing – I am no slave to fashion; I keep it simple. My view of clothing is that it should be comfortable, practical (keep me warm or cool), and reasonably flattering. I don’t spend any considerable amount of time or money shopping, or keeping up with trends, but I don’t want to look like a frumpy sack of potatoes, either. I have a few pairs of nice fitting jeans, yoga pants, and women’s T’s (long and short sleeve). If you work in an office, you will have to step it up a notch; but still… stick with the basics that are simple, flattering and timeless.
There is no need to spend a large amount of your time, energy or money on any of these items, unless they are a byproduct of the thing you are passionate about. If what you love is rock-climbing, you will invest more time and resources in exercise, without taking anything away from your overall happiness. If you are a chef, clearly you’ll spend more time in the kitchen… and love every minute of it.
Spend more time on the things you love, and less on those that just need to be checked off the list. Tomorrow I will cover the second level of needs: Be Safe (home, income and health).
Do you think people spend too much time, energy and money on this most basic level?
Read more about the 5 Steps to Finding Fulfillment: Just Be | Be Safe | Be Social | Be Strong | Be Happy.
Helpful Links: Breakfast Ideas | Start the Exercise Habit
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- How I Stay Thin Despite My Neurotic Aversion to Intentional Exercise, and Obsessive Love of Desserts
- 10 Parenting Tips for Guaranteed Success
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Great post! I think people do tend to sometimes spend too much time thinking about clothes and exercise from a vanity point-of-view, which is a shame. LIke you say, too many other things to dedicate energy to in our short lifetime! I say, eat fresh local home-cooked food, walk the dog (or run around after your children) and wear simple classic outfits that you know suit you and you feel good in … getting involved in high-fashion is way too much like hard work and too open to disasters!!! Funnily – I feel better nowadays when I’m wearing my wellies and jeans … although I do still make sure they are nice wellies and nice jeans
Exactly! Clothing should be simple and practical, but not make us feel frumpy. Just keep the simple stuff simple and focus on the fun and exciting stuff.
Thanks, Alice!
Lisis
Hi Lisis,
First I love the design of your blog.
We do spend far too much time concentrating on the things that we do not ‘need’ such as designer clothes. As you said life should be simple and practical, only then do we feel free.
A good nights sleep is vital and water, I admit I do not drink enough water although I do drink 2 cups of Green tea or Peppermint tea everyday.
I say keep exercise fun. I wrote a list of ways to make exercise fun on my blog. I do not enjoy gyms so I like to do lots of different things like walking, trampolining, hula hooping and dancing.
We use up too much energy on material or extra things that we do not need in our lives.
I will return to read the second level.
Michelle – Lifeposter
Thanks, Michelle! I didn’t realize when I wrote yesterday’s post (Finding Fulfillment) that I would end up doing a series of posts about each level. But so I have… you just never know what life has in store.
Next week I’ll post the remaining three levels, so don’t stray too far!
Thanks for visiting!
Lisis
[...] Don’t forget to eat and sleep. It sounds obvious, but often the most basic needs get sacrificed when we have too much to do. The problem is, if we don’t have enough sleep, or [...]
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[...] Just be. Because we all do breathe, eat, and sleep. Also the ability of just being is also something highly valuable. Then, be safe. Because you don’t want to be kidnapped, and financial security is a good thing, too. Be social. We love friends, and dating is awesome, too. The list goes on, be strong. And that’s not just lifting weights. And finally – everybody knows a smile has godly healing powers: be happy. [...]
In the same vain as clothing, I’d add shelter. While no one needs a mansion or any such thing like that, a nice, dry home to go to is essential for both mental and physical needs I think.
Absolutely, Becca! I think I included it in the second step, Be Safe, but either way it is definitely one of those basics that needs to be covered before we can move on to the more esoteric levels.
Thanks for your comment!