Managing Health: What You Really Need to Succeed
By Genevieve Cunningham
Health management is a lifetime process. When we're young, we don't give much thought to our health. Things just seem to work as they should. But as we get older, our bodies begin to slow down. We begin to experience problems and frustrating health situations. This is why a health management plan is so important! You have to ask yourself questions such as: How do I care for myself? How do I minimize problems? How do I stay healthy for the long haul? Luckily, you don't have to get bogged down in the details. If you need a little help managing your health, take a look at what you need to know to succeed now and in the future.
You Need to Think About Movement
We need to stop thinking about movement as something that happens only in the gym. Movement and activity should be part of your lifestyle. If you want to maintain health, you need movement every day. You need simple walks, stretching, and regular exercise. But you also need general activity -- not work, home, couch, sleep. Start thinking about movement as something you get to do every day (instead of a chore!), and it may become much easier to make it happen.
You Need to Consider Your Diet
We are what we eat, and there's really no way around this fact. Eating a poor diet can lead to all kinds of problems for your health -- from weight gain to high blood pressure to heart disease. If you want long-term good health, you need to be conscious of the foods going into your mouth. Eliminate as much junk as possible, stick to fresh foods as much as you can, and make healthy eating a part of your daily life.
You Need Less Stress
We're not meant to be stressed all the time. Our bodies don't like it. Unfortunately, most people are stressed on a nearly constant basis. We're stressed about work and money and family. It never ends! But if you want to maintain your health, you have to lower the amount of stress you're under. Start by living within your means. If you can't afford a brand new car, don't buy it. Buy used instead. Then cut back on needless activity and obligations. When we're over-scheduled, we struggle to get it done -- and also add more stress to the table. Finally, make sure that you're doing plenty of stress reducing activities such as meditation, walks in nature, and exercise. If you can truly lower your stress, you can add years to your life and a lot of happiness every day.
There are times when managing health is hard. But for most people, health management is just a plan and some follow-through. Use these tips to help you get started, and you can set yourself up for better health for the rest of your life.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Jose, Calif.