There are a myriad of ways that the modern world pushes on our brains and bodies in ways that are challenging. We have easy access to way more calories, options and stimulation than any generation in history. This creates challenges for staying fit, paying attention and managing the budget.
There is a lot of content lamenting our current state, but these changes are hear to stay and will likely only increase since all of the pressures are connected to huge companies making more money. So what can be do? I’d propose we start with thinking through four types of fasting that can help to break out of the ruts that are so easy to fall into.
Fasting from Food
I’m not going to discuss a more traditional style of fast associated with not any food for a period of time like 24 hours. There is plenty of great content on that topic out there. I want to focus more on how abstaining from certain foods or food at certain times can help us reset and thrive.
Elimination Diets
An elimination diet involves cutting out certain types of food like milk, eggs, dairy or processed foods for a period of time to test the impact on the body. The central idea here is that modern food is pushing on the boundaries of what our bodies can handle. For many of us, if we are feeling a bit off in some way, there is a good chance that we are over our tolerance for some type of food.
Additionally, one of the biggest challenges our bodies face that cause a myriad of disorders is heightened inflammation. There may be a more significant medical issue at hand, but often times, the issue is something in the diet that is out of balance for the systems.
Regardless of what might be going on with you personally, an elimination diet may provide a doorway to unlocking better overall health.
Intermittent Fasting
This is one I have personal experience with since I have often started work very early and so I would skip breakfast due to not being hungry at 5:30 in the morning. However, along with this I noticed that I felt more attentive in my morning work hours and generally noticed that it was easier to keep weight off.
I started hearing people talk about intermittent fasting a few years later and wasn’t surprised based off my experience. This can involve simply cutting off food intake by a particular time in the evening and then planning to wait until lunch the next day for a first meal. Additional detail can be added depending on what level of results a person is looking for, but the awesome benefit of controlling the time you eat is that it allows a bit more freedom in what you do eat.
Another benefit to the intermittent fasting is that is creates a bit more rigid schedule for food which also helps the grocery budget. Any time we simplify a certain aspect of our lives, it tends to have a positive effect on our finances.
Fasting from the Internet
Similar to food, this isn’t necessarily focusing on a full blackout since that is challenging to pull off, but it may be worth it for a season. The primary challenge here is our constant access to cheap dopamine which then has numerous adverse effects on our brains.
To survive in the modern cell phone age, we need some sort of plan to pace our access to the internet and social media. This is definitely something that isn’t a space for a one-size-fits-all approach, but is really something each individual needs to thing through. Here are some options that I’ve employed:
- Deleting all social media apps and YouTube on my phone for a week
- Putting the phone away at 7 PM and not checking when I go to bed
- Media free evenings for the whole family
- Only reading first thing in the morning before work
As a family with two young teens, my wife and I are always tinkering with the amount of screen time that makes sense for their development. Along with that, it would be very hypocritical if we didn’t work on our screen time as well. After all, the goal is to be in the healthiest space we can as a family and so it’s best if we all find ways to limit our screens.
Fasting from Busyness
Busy schedules are the number one lament of almost anyone I know with school age kids. There is a constant challenge to allow the kids access to activities, but to also find a pace of life that makes sense. The idea of fasting from busy schedules is partly acknowledging that the pace of modern life is likely going to continue on its current trajectory.
There simply have to be seasons of relief, whether its taking a break from a particular sport or even a parent stepping back from a hobby to allow for some relaxing evening time. I see this one playing out similar to an elimination diet. If a family cuts back a certain amount for a month, they may find that other maladies have reduced as well. Bickering and stress may drop and it could gives signs that a bigger change is needed.
This is something that is also very unique to each family. My family goes at a slower pace and I know friends who would be bored in our rhythms, but I am also pretty sure that there are a lot of folks out there what would benefit from throttling down for a few weeks at a time to refresh.
Fasting from Spending
This is a personal finance blog and so the money had to come up eventually. This particular fast can go a couple different ways. This could be a period of really tightening the budget to a bare minimum in order to save for something special or to do a full budget reset. Another approach is to simply drop the budget down a bit to create some margin or to fight against lifestyle creep.
The value here isn’t in being hardcore, but in breaking out of the natural progression of spending more without even noticing. This is huge for folks in their 30s or 40s who are finally getting some financial margin. That margin can be swallowed up by a nice car or by simply losing the diligence that might have existed when things were tighter.
This is the #1 challenge for my family now. I want to help my kids foster gratefulness for what we have and to enjoy the simpler things in life, but we are under constant assault from consumption. That is why we need to break the pattern once in a while for some sort of reset.
Working for a Fuller Life
The point of these four fasts is to break away from patterns that naturally develop in the fast pace of modern life. I hope that this post spawns some thoughts for folks who are just working to fight for a full, healthy life. Often the best ideas aren’t very hardcore, but something that tweaks our trajectory in a positive direction.