We can probably all agree that the only time we go to see a doctor is as a reactive measure, however, that should not stop up from being proactive about our health in the meantime.
There are a number of aspects of our health that we have the power to control, and while you may think these are not within your control you have to consider exactly how they all feed into each other. A bit like the ear, nose and throat are connected… so is the entire body!
1 – Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep can dictate how your day proceeds. You awake with more energy, feeling less stressed. WebMD has provided a number of tips on how to improve your sleep pattern, and how it combats against stress and depression.
The most straightforward way to improve your sleep is by reducing your caffeine intake and sticking to a pattern with a nightly ritual that signals the body that it’s time to sleep.
2 – Mental Fitness
The NHS has offered a number of helpful steps for boosting your mental health and they are important.
- One is to connect to the people around you, withdrawing is dangerous.
- Staying active is just as important to your mental health as it is to your physical health.
- Continued learning makes you feel empowered, whether it is reading a psychology book, taking up yoga or even learning to make pizza.
- Volunteering is another excellent way to boost your self-worth, and it is a great way of connecting with people, too.
- Being mindful is important, making time to repeat positive affirmations and meditating to visualize success.
3 – Self-Talk
As mentioned in the section above, positive affirmations are vital. By making a habit of this, you are controlling your self-talk and steering it away from the negative thoughts, which can permeate your mind.
Negative thoughts can lead us down a path of stress, anxiety, and depression as we fight to achieve a perfection that is unattainable.
4 – Physical Fitness
Exercise plays a part in not only our physical fitness but also our overall wellbeing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights just how important physical activity is to our health.
Whether you want to maintain your target weight or lose more, the good news is that there is physical activity that is safe for everyone, regardless of physical condition.
If you have a severe illness, you should check with your doctor to discuss what exercise is safe for you.
Physical activity can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, it can limit your risk of diabetes (or help you keep your diabetes under control), as well as reducing your risk of colon and breast cancers.
Staying fit increases your bone and muscle strength and for the elderly reduces the risk of falls, which can be damaging, additionally it increases your lifespan.
5 – Nutrition
This includes, but is not limited, to your diet. A healthy, balanced diet is vital, too, fruit and vegetables need to play a part in your daily diet, choose lean meats and only consume red meats on occasion; avoid saturated fats and high sugar contents.
6 & 7 – Alcohol and Smoking
Alcohol intake and smoking habits play a big part, too.
While it sounds obvious, it is easy to forget how damaging alcohol can be to our health. There are recommended alcohol guidelines for a reason and while we roll our eyes at them, they are in place for a reason. Alcohol has become such a normal item in our fridges and cupboards that it is easy to disregard the dangers.
It fuels depression, it can lead to cancer, and it damages your liver and your kidneys and leads to weight gain. The Centers for Disease Control has broken down the short term and long term health effects, as well as what limits are recommended.
Smoking is an automatic no go, apart from the long-term dangers of asthma, lung cancer, emphysema, tongue cancer and esophageal cancer, it does not help stress levels or your heart.
