I have been spending a lot of time with health providers recently, and that time has focused me on healthful living. As I consider what it means to live a healthy lifestyle and support others' health, I am wondering about the intersection of healthy living and optimal work conditions. How many work places consider their clients' and employees' health when creating and maintaining work conditions. As a former classroom teacher, I know that there is room for better efforts in this regard in school systems everywhere. Too often, school environments, expectations, and routines are not healthy for students, families, or educators. It's time to focus on what creates optimal health.
A few elements of healthful living include:
- social engagement
- mental stimulation
- physical activity
- healthful nutrition
- stress management
- memory enhancing sleep practices
- healthy environment (no pollution, safe, and more)
- risk management
We also need to consider these elements as we live our lives with and for our family members. What can we do to promote optimal health in our homes?
Social engagement
How do we maintain and promote positive social engagement? Do we regularly get together with others to partake in healthy, positive activities? The pandemic challenged healthy socialization. Yet, many of us found new, healthy ways to get together with friends and family members. This included positive activities in nature, ZOOM gatherings, and intimate indoor events.
Mental stimulation
What hobbies keep you mentally engaged and invested? A close look at your daily habits will provide insights to your levels of mental stimulation. Think about how you challenge yourself mentally regulalry? In the article, "How to keep your brain young," mental stimulation such as solving problems, drawing, and paiting are recommended. Project work in any discipline that engages your mind is a positive pursuit that stimulates your mind too.
Physical activity
Regular physical activity is essential. As an individual that doesn't enjoy exercise simply for exercise sake, I have found that combining social engagement and exercise is the best solution. To get outdoors for a wonderful walk or exciting adventure with friends is a perfect way to stay physically active. I also enjoy physical activity is an act of service or betterment such as cleaning a loved ones' attic or planting a garden for the family. However you do it, regular physical activity must be a priority.
Healthful nurtrition
As one who wrongfully learned to use food as a source of comfort at an early age, I've had to reteach myself positive and healthful eating habits. For me, having a house filled with healthy choices rather than unhealthy choices works. Growing my own fresh vegetables and herbs is positive too. And, shopping at local farmstands helps. The more you learn about healthy nutrition and how to prepare delicious, healthy meals, the better you'll be. Unlearning bad habits, avoiding commercial, unhealthy foods, and enjoying delicious healthy meals each day will lead to good health.
Stress Management
There is a just-right level of good stress that helps you to complete tasks and engage in worthy projects, but too much stress is unhealthy. It is important to analyze the stress in your life and look for ways to eliminate too much stress. Recently, I was stressed out while dealing with a loved one's health. Then I found a number of skilled experts who were able to help out. That expertise greatly reduced my stress levels and helped me to create a healthy plan to help my loved ones. If you are overstressed, it is worth your good health, to reduce that stress.
Memory enhancing sleep practices
Too many of us don't get a good night's sleep. If we want to live long, healthy lives, it is essential to rethink your lifeways so that you do get a good night's sleep every night.
Healthy environment
It is essential that we work with community members to ensure healthy environments. We have to rid our home and community environments of pollution and dangerous toxins. We also have to work to protect our environments from the unhealthy, dangerous results of climate change in any ways we can. We have to learn what makes a healthy environment and work for that--clean air, clean water, few toxins, clean food, and safe environments all promote good health.
Risk management
Recently several individuals in our greater community aged between 50 and 70 have died while engaged in athletic adventures. In every case, in my opinion, the individual took too great a risk--they didn't do the necessary research needed and adventured on their own into harsh environments. Taking the time to do the research about safety and engaging in adventures with others rather than alone can save your life. There's a good reason for safety precautions, and if you want to live a longer life, it is important to take those precautions seriously.
At home, at work, and in our communities, we must find ways to lift healthy living for all. I'll be thinking more about how I can do that in the days ahead. Onward.