Tool Box for Health

Reviewed August 2026

1. Grease/oil and feedback mechanism of movement – keeps our frame strong and durable and our brain firing smoothly on all cylinders. Walking is a great option for starters...and there are so many more. The goal is 3 and ½ hours a week.

2 . Spirit level of balance - needs to be challenged and practised regularly so our brain keeps up the skill of coordinating data from our joints (esp. neck and ankles), inner ear and eyes to keep us upright in the gravity field. 1 minute of balance work a day works wonders to bodies and brains of all ages. It also decreases falls risk.

3. The "On" Switch

• Ability to notice when we are reacting emotionally to the world or pausing to make considered responses. Staying calm and not responding to other people's poor behaviour keeps our heads in a better space. Developing strategies to move one's headspace away from the "disappointment/anger" threshold is vital here. Breathing slowly is a great start.
• Awareness that the body is neither symmetrical nor perfect (especially when you toss the occasional injury into a lifetime) – there will be individual glitches that we need to learn to live with gracefully...and still have a great quality of life! Unreal expectations shoot people in the proverbial foot.
• Appreciation that age is not a sentence of dysfunction and gloom – each individual holds the power to change things if they choose to. Deal with problems early and do the maintenance. It's worth it!

4. Ruler and a Red Pen. A firm awareness of boundaries so the family/work/social/downtime commitments don't exceed our capacity or get out of kilter. This requires cultivating the ability to say a polite "No" to other's expectations at times.

5. Lunch Box. Being mindful that we are what we eat and making good choices on the food/fluids front. More and more science is showing our gut health is vital to good brain function and headspace...it's worth being mindful of what we put in our mouths.

6. The Reboot Button - maintaining good sleep hygiene habits. Sleeping is when we repair and restore our mind and body. It does no one any good to be short changed on this front.

7. The Shadow Board – posture and ergonomics. How we hold ourselves as we move through the day (work/home/sporting arena/dancing on tables...) and the position we sleep in at night has a massive impact on how our body functions long term. From high heels and pillows to desk chairs and laptops...working with the body always produces a healthier and happier outcome.

8. A Monitored Safety Alarm. Knowledge that pain is our brain's way of keeping us safe and not necessarily a harbinger of doom. When you know pain is a signal from your brain you can work with it and often recover faster.

9. Links of chain - social engagement and giving of yourself (time, energy, knowledge, expertise). We know that both interacting with others regularly and giving back to society, whether young or old, leads to a healthier headspace. Less inward focus and tendency towards cynicism and resentment.

10. Phone Directory. A trusted health team (GP, Chiro, Physio, Naturopath, Nutritional Therapist, Counsellor...) and a good friend to call on when advice is needed, or when the wheels fall off, to facilitate a speedy return to good function and quality of life.

Without being flippant, we need all of these tools to be the best we can be.

We can all identify facets of ourselves that could be polished up and improved. We all have the capacity to make it happen...it's just a matter of whether we choose to do that or not.

It might feel like it's an overwhelming challenge, but pick something that feels small and do-able, make it happen and then choose the next step.

Note many of these changes take practise and persistence to make them stick...but it's well worth the effort.

And to finish with a couple of quotes ~

"God grant us the serenity

to accept the things we cannot change,

the courage to change the things we can,

and the wisdom to know the difference."

The Serenity Prayer

"Nothing worth having comes easy"

Theodore Roosevelt

"Rome wasn't built in a day,

but they were laying bricks every hour."

John Heywood

"Do or do not. There is no try."

Yoda

Please give us a call at the Adelaide Chiropractic Centre on 8221 6262 and make an appointment if you'd like a little help selecting your next bricks. We'd be very happy to help.