Your health is of fundamental importance, and yet something which often takes second fiddle to the various obligations that demand your attention – be they work, family or even the health of others. As such, it can be incredibly easy to lose sight of your own condition, something which can lead to any number of unnecessary issues further down the line.
Whether you want to regain control of your physical health or stave off the potential for poor mental health, the following five tips can be instrumental to you taking more responsibility for how you are – and experiencing some serious improvements as a result.
Regular Health Check-Ins
Checking in with your health regularly is key to understanding where you are physically and mentally, and whether certain habits are having a negative impact on your wellbeing. Now, check-ups aren’t really an option via the NHS, unless you are over 40 or have certain medical histories – which means either utilising private services, whether out of pocket or through workplace benefits, or conducting your own health check-ins.
The latter is not only more accessible, but more useful for keeping up to date with essential aspects of your health and diet – a fitness-tracking smart device can help you track sleep, heart rate, energy levels, calories burnt and more, giving you insights into diet, nutrition and other life habits. Combine this with regular self-screenings for cancer, and you put yourself in good stead for a healthy life.
Adopt a Balanced Diet
Diet is one of the most direct ways you can engage with your health, both in the short and the long term. Everyone knows the value of a balanced diet, but not everyone knows how to formulate a diet that works for them. Ignore the fads and diets-by-name; instead, make sure you’re eating a wide variety of foodstuffs and in portions that make sense for your activity levels – while avoiding too much in the way of saturated fats.
Take Control of Your Sexual Health
Sexual health is just as important as any other part of your wellbeing, and yet not often talked about in the same breath as physical health and fitness. This is key to take charge of, from ensuring you test regularly to ensuring you keep best sexual-health practice in the bedroom. Home STD kits are easier to procure than ever; if you have a scare, you can take an HIV test from the comfort of your home with relative ease, allowing you to discreetly and simply monitor your sexual health.
Prioritise Well-Being
Mental health is far less stigmatised now than it once was, but is still often regarded at arm’s length. Stress and anxiety are bad enough on their own, but can also increase the risk of other physical conditions. Various methods can help improve your mental health, from active attempts to improve your sleep to talking to a therapist.
Exercise Regularly
Last but by no means least, exercise is a lynchpin of good health and wellbeing. You don’t need to take on an athlete’s exercise regimen to be healthy; simply resolve to do more than one hour’s exercise each week, as a starting point.
