Importance of healthy living
Healthy living gives you the opportunity to live longer and experience a higher quality of life. Exercise is a celebration of what our bodies can do and a great way to relieve stress. Combined with a managed diet to give our body a fighting chance against disease, healthy living is a powerful way to live a longer and healthier life.
The elimination of bad habits such as excessive eating, tobacco and alcohol use, and a sedentary lifestyle reduces the impact of disease and chronic health conditions. These are critical factors in the cost of your daily life both physically and financially.
Are Americans becoming more healthy?
We can do more than just limit portion size and exercise to increase our enjoyment of life. Establishing and maintaining a sleep schedule can improve our mental health as well. Sleep plays a critical part in memory development and how we perceive our experiences. The world isn’t quite as bad after a good nights sleep.
Additionally, performing exercises like Yoga which are great at increasing flexibility can greatly reduce our risk of injury. Yoga burns calories, increases cardiovascular health, and improves body flexibility. There are more intense options like Tai Chi. These exercises can be as intense or as gentle as you like.
Adding meditation to your daily routine is a great way to remain centered on what matters. However, meditation should not be viewed as an escape from reality, like drugs or alcohol. It is through meditation that we can become awoken to each moment. To sit calmly and face the world. It is one of the few things the world cannot take from you.
A healthy form of escapism could be allowing yourself time everyday to read or explore another relaxing hobby. Hobbies are a great way to relax and reduce stress. Stress naturally builds up in the body as a result of day-to-day life. Always make time for yourself. Sometimes, you are the only person that can or will. Taking the time to care for yourself is not a selfish action.
Chronic disease are trending downwards for the average American. An increased focus on healthy living may be a contributing factor. Increased understanding and acceptance of mental health breaks could also be contributing to declining rates of things like heart disease deaths.
Why is healthy living important to us?
Personally, the most impactful benefits I have experienced are boosted confidence and increased quality of life. When I began my own healthy living journey, I was overweight and my asthma was not manageable. After switching my diet and focusing on exercise, and with the support of my family, I was able to lose over 100 lbs and all but eliminate my asthma. I was also plagued with a knee injury that made stairs difficult to descend. This has completely gone and I am able to run 5k races without pain.
Our own personal health is something that is within our control. Much of life leaves us worrying about what might happen tomorrow, but in this aspect, we can maintain some control. Watching everything around you fall apart gives us a sense of overwhelming emotion. Maintaining our own personal well-being through meditation and healthy living is one area we have some sway over. This can return some much needed agency to our life.
Increasing the amount of control you feel over your life can significantly reduce the risks of anxiety and depression.
What next?
Check your intuition. Focus on your breathing. If you feel any tightness in your muscles, let it go. Slow down and take a breath. Feeling overwhelmed from constantly working and yet feeling like you never accomplish anything? Struggling with a burned out, over scheduled lifestyle? Listen to your instincts and decide if you are living in a situation that allows or even demands a calmer approach.
Turn off your phone and social media and focus your energy each day on healthy living. It’s one of the few things we can control. Go for a walk outside. Don’t sit for long periods of time.Take time for your mental health and stay curious about life.
Leave a Reply
Thank you for your continued support!