We all know that being healthy is important but just this knowledge needs to be put into action to realize lasting returns. Active participation in one’s own health is a major part of maintaining overall wellness. It’s a human tendency that the value of anything is high when we don’t have it or when we lose it. Health is the best example where this behavior manifests itself, only after one has lost health does one value it.

In this fast-paced life, we tend to ignore our own well-being without even realizing it. Ignorance may be bliss in a few situations but that is not the case with healthcare. Taking charge of our own health and taking consistent measures to maintain a healthy lifestyle is very important. Overall health means that we take care of our entire self — our body as well as our mind. A balance between all three factors i.e physical health, nutrition, and mental health is required to lead a holistic life.

Physical Health

When we speak of physical health we talk about exercise, hygiene, and rest. So, even though it is important that we exercise every day, it is also very important that we provide our bodies with the adequate amount of rest. The body has to replenish what it has lost. Sleep requirements may vary from person to person, but an average healthy adult requires at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep. It is important to listen to your biological clock and give your body the sleep it needs. Before taking up any sort of rigorous exercise, it is important that we understand our bodies first and what it is capable of. Starting slowly, increasing the levels steadily, warming up and preparing yourself before any sort of activity is very important. Warming up not only prepares your muscles for stretching but also increases the supply of oxygen to your muscles that would help you cope with your exercise routine better. Apart from this, physical health also includes maintaining clean hygienic conditions in our surroundings as well as our bodies. A well-ventilated house with proper garbage disposal and clean water is extremely important to maintain a disease free environment and a clean healthy body. Thus a clean, active, well-fed body is right on the road to proper health.

Mental Health

Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological and social well being. An astounding fact about mental illness is that out of all the people suffering from some sort of mental issue only half of them get treatment. The other half is left untreated due to reasons like high medical bills, low awareness or even just plain ignorance. It is important that we take care of our mental health as much as we take care of our physical health. Just like your muscles after rigorous exercise, you need to give your brain the time to breathe as well. Surrounding yourself in a peaceful environment, going for a simple walk along with nature or even meditating can help your brain relax. Develop an efficient way of dealing with stress and pressure that works for you. Seeking help is a sign of strength and not weakness if you feel the need reach out to your friends, family or a medical professional. A disturbed mental space will only lead to greater issues, it may even manifest as a physical problem if not treated properly in time.

Nutrition

To maintain any sort of mental or physical wellness, we need to feed our bodies with the right amount of nutrition. Without good nutrition, your body can be prone to diseases, fatigue, and infections. Bad eating habits can persist an entire lifetime and cause a lot of harm. Inculcating good eating habits at an early age would help in the long run. It is said that the food you eat dictates the life you live and hence, choosing the right kind of food becomes extremely important. The internet is filled with guides and research-based diets. You can try a few that catch your fancy and apply trial and error to understand which one works best. Along with this, there is a pool of nutritionists out in the world waiting to assist you. If you are not sure of the kind of food you need to have on a daily basis, it would be better if a medical professional is consulted. If you eat right you feel right.

An amalgamation and balance of these three are important to achieve and maintain good health. It is a continuous process and requires some amount of effort, but the end result is worth all the effort put in.

In addition to all the factors, it is important to go for regular checkups. The onset of lifestyle diseases is non-symptomatic and it always helps to get those annual checkups done regularly. It also helps you build a medical history that can come in handy in case of any medical exigency. Many apps make it quite easy to monitor your progress. An application like NHCT brings all your healthcare needs under one platform, from doctors to gyms etc. On top of that, it uses the technology of blockchain to enable you to earn tokens by living a healthy life.

No one knows what the future holds and in what circumstances we might be in. If we start investing in our health now, we won’t have to deal with future repercussions. This is definitely an investment that pays itself many times over. A happier tomorrow starts with a healthier today.