*Warning, reality check coming*

I want to help to you live better. This means making you stronger, faster, happier, healthier, etc. It all adds up to determine the results you get.

Sadly I am seeing a growing number of clients I work with in person, online, and at courses who do NOT even pick up the low hanging fruit.

So I put together a handy little chart to determine where you fall on the self-care spectrum.

SELF-CARE SCALE QUICK-REFERENCE

Level 1: Plant

You get sufficient water and sunshine. This is basic survival for life. Somehow a lot of living human beings don’t get this far.

If you don’t get enough water, it takes you down to cactus level–and also makes you kind of a prick. Sufficient water also allows you to drop fat, build more muscle, and improves basically every body function all the way to hormones and digestion.

Level 2: Dog

As healthy as a plant, PLUS you play and go for a walk every day. So few people make it to even this level, it’s really a shame. Apparently this advice has been around for a long time:

Hippocrates (460 BC–370 BC) — ‘If you are in a bad mood go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood go for another walk.’

Level 3: Monkey

All the habits of a healthy dog-plant, PLUS you climb or hang on something. As a higher primate, this is a common-sense key for better health and strength. Your shoulders and spine will thank you for this.

Level 4: Human

All the above, PLUS you add carries, crawling, and running to the daily menu. Lacking these natural human capabilities makes you less useful, and more trapped in your own body. Trust me, you want to be free and useful. People who aren’t usually get really sad. Luckily, it gets even better.

The bonus level comes when you choose to express yourself through what you do every day.

Level 5: Artist

You may hear the term artist and picture a 30-year-old with no job and a weird mustache, but what if I said martial artist? An athlete is also a type of artist.

You see, artistic expression is one of the beautiful realities of humanity. Whether you decide to express yourself through your #5minuteflow in the morning, compose a piece of music, dance, jiu jitsu, or balance on your hands…this is where the human magic happens. This is the level where we don’t just survive, but HAPPILY THRIVE!

And that’s the goal, right?

I’m always looking for the easiest ways to improve my life and yours. In fact, that’s the whole reason I’m writing this, and you’re reading it.

We’re hunting for the simple, easy ways toward better.

Even crazier, you and I are already in the top 1% of people who deeply care about their health! Just imagine who many cactus are running around dehydrated out there!

It’s all a cost/benefit analysis.

How much benefit (muscles, movement quality, or mental peace) do I get for the cost (time, effort, money)?

We ALL make decisions this way. So let’s not make things harder on ourselves than they need to be. Let’s make it easy.

So remember to grab ALL the easy, low hanging fruit to make your day better first–it’ll lay a solid foundation to build a life where you THRIVE rather than just survive.

Make sure your Self Care is on point.

Express yourself honestly through movement or other art. Climb, carry, run, crawl, and play. Go for a walk.

It’s hot out there, remember to drink enough water so you’re not a prick.

Better every day,

-Max

P.S. Environment and community often have greater impacts on our lives than we realize. That’s why I put together the M3 Academy (Movement, Muscle, and Meditation). It’s an online community with monthly exercise plans, meditations, fun challenges, and basically a way for us to grow together. If you are ready to take your mind and body to the next level and enjoy the journey with a crew of like-minded individuals from all over the world, join us: maxshank.com/m3-academy