How We Keep Ourselves Truly “Healthy”
To be truly healthy involves how we see the world, how the world sees us, and how satisfied we are with both our personal and professional lives.
Although being “healthy” will be defined differently by different people, most agree that we describe our health by three main components: physical, mental, and social. So I know I won’t surprise you a bit when I say they are intrinsically linked.
Three Categories of Health
Physical health relates to the efficient functioning of the body and its systems, influencing our energy, immune system, and strength. How we perform our daily tasks and how well we recover from injury and illness result from our physical health. Physical health is also our ability—and willingness—to maintain an appropriate weight and physical fitness. (I know, it’s not the season for discussing weight. Anyone for Christmas Pudding?)
Mental health, a topic I have addressed extensively, relates to the aspects of health and well-being that influence our ability to effectively recognize our strengths and weaknesses and cope with the everyday stresses of our professional and personal lives.
Finally, not to be overlooked is our social health: our ability to confidently (and co-operatively) interact with our family, friends, and community. Doctors tell us that our ability to manage social stress, handle disappointments, and adapt to situations will directly influence the rest of our health.
So, naturally, what follows are tips on improving and maintaining our overall health and resilience. And, of course, it goes without saying that I am only just scratching the surface.
Exercise
We need to make time for daily exercise. Even a little can go a long way. The benefits of exercise are excellent (and well known). The list of benefits continues to grow, and among them are a healthy weight, improved eyesight, normalized blood pressure, lowered cholesterol, and improved bone density.
Use the stairs at work, go for a lunchtime walk, get outside with the family on weekends. Walk the dog—you both benefit! It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you do it regularly and with a smile! And don’t undo all of your hard work by overeating and consuming more calories than your body needs—all things in moderation.
Yoga
Yoga may help bring calm and mindfulness to your busy life. Yoga develops inner awareness by focusing your attention on your body’s abilities at the present moment. Yoga uses breath to strengthen the mind and body, and it is also known for its ability to ease tension and anxiety.
Also, people who practice yoga are often more mindful eaters and are more in tune with their bodies.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness will help you. Over time it makes us good at not allowing things to stick in our thoughts (or our thoughts to stick). Although it takes a little work and practice, in time, mindfulness can completely alter how you manage life’s unexpected curveballs.
Mindfulness can mean a lot of different things to different people. But in a nutshell, it is an ability to maintain a moment-by-moment awareness and acceptance: our thoughts and emotions, bodily sensations, and even the surrounding environment. So mindfulness is the process of bringing intentional awareness or attention to our experiences in the present without any form of judgment.
Sleep
Sleep deprivation is associated with weakened immune systems and cognitive decline. So if you have poor sleeping habits, you are functioning at a far less capacity than your best. And you deserve better than that. As does the world; it needs and wants to experience you at your best.
Stay away from any screen an hour before bed. Good news – research shows a light snack in the evening helps with sleep. BUT, no sugar and no caffeine. Keep your bedroom dark and at a comfortably cool temperature.
Breathing
You really ought to give this a go! All kidding aside, you can control stress and anxiety through controlled and deliberate breathing exercises. Some simple breathing exercises can make a big difference if you make them part of a daily routine. And you don’t need any equipment other than your lungs!
Take a deep, deep breath into your belly. Hold it. Now let it out. You may notice a difference in how you feel already.
Do this for a few minutes, a few times per day. Many breathing exercises take only minutes, so it’s relatively impossible not to have time to do it. Once you see the quick-hit benefit, try to make time for 10 minutes of breathing exercises, and you will experience even more significant benefits.
Family
Families get pulled apart. As they mature, new opportunities present themselves. We can lose touch, lose our connection and, to quote a cliche, feel empty, like the barren nest.
Fortunately, creating opportunities that make us feel better connected to our families (and friends) is in our power, and modern technology can certainly facilitate that. It’s vitally important to our overall well-being that we do not lose touch with those we love and want to be close to. Sure, sometimes that will require that we put in the effort to keep those connections alive and resilient. The benefits, however, speak for themselves.
Reading
We already know that reading (I hear there is a great leadership blog you might want to check out :-) is a key to success. It’s also no coincidence that many of today’s influential leaders and business people are avid, proud readers.
But does reading have essential health benefits as well? The answer is quite simply and empathically: YES! Reading activates our minds. It keeps the brain working and growing and gives us fresh perspectives for confronting life’s challenges. There is little that is unhealthy about that!
You are the best judge of what keeps you healthy both physically, mentally, and in a social capacity. And at the end of the day, what matters is that you treat it with the utmost importance so that you may be present and healthy for yourself and your coworkers. So, if it’s walking the dog, walking someone else’s dog, yoga, stretching, breathing exercises, meditation, walking around the block, reading quietly, connecting with family and friends, it’s your call.
Stay healthy and be well in all ways in 2022.
