Too often, I and other people, who are trying to make their health a priority get asked:
“How do I manage to cook healthy and nutritious meals at home every day?”
“How do I find time to work out in the gym?”
“How do I find the time to eat well?”
Whatever the circumstances are—people know they should be taking care of their health and wellbeing. A lot of folks do take care of their health seriously; not everyone does or can't do the way they intend to. There are many good reasons for it. Our lives have become more hectic and mechanized than ever before— between work, kids, family, friends, and busy schedules—for most working people focusing on their health falls at the bottom of their priorities.
Like everybody else, we know we should be eating vegetables, leafy greens, exercise regularly, walk daily, and, most importantly, cut sugar from our diets and drinking more water. But how many of us follow it? Not many, I suppose. Then there is another group of people who do eat right and maintain a healthy lifestyle, but they think they don't always have to do it.
Nonetheless, despite the daily grind, and never-ending family obligations, to-do lists, and work-related responsibilities, it is essential to make your health a priority. You need to do everything possible to improve and enhance your physical health and wellbeing without feeling it like a chore. Here are some tips on how to make your health a priority.
High Level Of Stress Have Adverse Effects On Your Health And Mental Well-Being
Most, including me, have jobs that are fun, intense, or fast-paced. Some of us really enjoy what we do, while the rest are working for the sake of working. Nevertheless, between work and the rest of your life, what did you do to invest some of your time, money, and effort for your health and wellbeing?
Putting too much time in our jobs, especially if you happen to be working in high-pressure sectors such as PR and marketing can cost your health. Most people who are experiencing moderate to high levels of stress, often cite work-related pressure and family responsibilities as the top two contributing factors. Health experts have always advocated for taking pragmatic initiatives to reduce stress in our work because a high level of stress can affect your job performance, career advancements, and work relationships.
Said that you also need to manage your stress in your personal lives, and if left unaddressed, it can cause tension in your relationships, social withdrawal, and depression. Chronic stress and its symptoms will impact your family life, which will make it hard for you to keep up with household responsibilities. Studies indicate acute stress can cause sexual dysfunction and trigger various complicated health issues such as hypertension, insomnia, and cardiovascular problems.
The good news is that most people are concerned about their high levels of stress, and in fact, most have placed managing stress as their top health concern. Other health issues include taking preventive measures from contracting infectious diseases, improve mental health, and stop ageing. People are also concerned about their physical fitness and weight management. There is also another level of concern when it comes to improving your health and stress management. People, especially parents, have admitted that they have prioritized their child's health before theirs.
Not making your health a priority will not only make your personal lives more stressful, you'll also find that you are less productive in all areas of life. “When I get in a rut of ignoring my health, I find I am less productive in all areas of life,” explained Meghan Rivera, VP, at Amag Pharmaceuticals. “I actually view my daily dose of physical activity almost as, if not more, important than taking days off work. My workouts are my ‘me time,' and I consider them almost like a daily mini-vacation,” she said.
Tips To Help Take Care Of Your Physical and Mental Health And Manage Your Stress
- Make your own health a priority. If you aren't healthy yourself, how can you take care of others? It's your utmost responsibility to focus on promoting your health. Exercise regularly, eat right, eat more leafy greens and vegetables, get enough sleep, and don't miss your scheduled health care visits. If you've any health issues, seek medical attention promptly.
- Disconnect from work when you're home or on vacation. Don't be tempted to make calls or check email. Instead, spend quality time with your family.
- Spare some fun, relaxing time for yourself. You can spend some time with your partner, play with your kids, get together with a friend, watch a movie, or read a good book.
- For employers, take steps to help ease the strain by allowing flexible work schedules to your employees. Allow them to work from home when possible, as it helps with overall job satisfaction. Encourage your employees to take advantage of various support programs and benefits such as childcare offered by your organization.
Call To Action
We are just at the beginning of a new year, and we won't be talking about whether making your health a priority is in your new year's resolution list. We know that there is a long list of things you want to change, and focusing on the things that will promote your overall physical health and mental wellbeing should be a priority. Whether it's time to cook your own meals, eat better, work out regularly, cut sugar from our diets, reduce stress, get an important health screening, do annual physical health checkups, or practice more self-care—visit the Northern Health Centers website. You can also check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
