Taking care of our physical, mental, and spiritual health daily is crucial for overall well-being and a balanced, fulfilling life. You might roll your eyes and say, "Haven't I heard that before!" And I would not disagree. In fact, we hear that all the time. Some of us might talk about that as well.
Putting all that into practice is a different story.
In a recent study, the most common New Year's resolutions were: 1. Improved mental health (45%) 2. Improved fitness (39%) 3. Lose weight (37%) 4. Improved diet (33%) 5. Improved finances (30%). Mental health is covered. #2-4 are physical health. It is likely that spiritual health didn't make the list due to the misconception that it is related to some sort of new religion or some sort of ritual mumble-jumble.
These three health aspects used to be negotiable. At one point, they were neglected because I wasn't strong enough to stand up for myself. I would trade my mental health to please a jerk boss. I would binge on bags of chips for comfort. And I had no idea what spirituality really meant.
And now? They are non-negotiable.
I'll split this into three parts along with personal stories and experiences.
Physical Health
In my late 20's, I worked out because I wanted to look good. I wanted to look good in clothes. I wanted to make myself presentable.
It wasn't until I had my first child through natural birth that I learned all the syncopes I had in the past were due to a heart valve issue. The seriousness was when the doctor said that if I ever wanted to have another child, natural birth would not be advisable.
From there, my motivation for staying healthy changed--I now wanted to stay healthy for my child.
Maintaining good physical health is essential for our body's optimal functioning. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption all contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Physical health not only strengthens our immune system, but it also improves energy levels, enhances productivity, and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses. When we take care of our physical health daily, we enhance our ability to engage in daily activities and pursue our goals with vigor and enthusiasm. Plus, you can fit into those jeans that have been sitting in the back of your closet for years!
Tips for Maintaining Your Physical Health
Going to the gym is a common way to improve and maintain your physical health, but it isn't the only way. For people who work long hours, gym visits might not be feasible. Take a look at your daily routine and then find parts where you can kill multiple birds with one stone. I will share mine as an example:
I'll have a shot of carrot + apple + ginger juice before having coffee (Invested in a juicer during Amazon Prime!)
I also invested in purchasing a standing desk. During those unavoidable long Zoom calls, I would stand so I could move around. If the camera is off, I'll do jumping jacks or just march in place.
If schedule allows, I would squeeze in a 30-minute power nap.
I have pre cut fruit in the fridge to munch on throughout the day
After a long day, I still like to rewind by catching up with one or two shows I like. I would then march in place while watching the show. The idea came from "Get Fit with Rick."
At the end of a super stressful day, I would dance it out as seen in Grey's Anatomy.
On weekends, I like to go for walks at the nearby trails as long as it isn't a snake season.
As you can see, nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. I simply fit physical health into my daily routine. And every now and then I still enjoy a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos or Lays. I mean, how can you ever resist them!
