No matter who you are, I think we all want to live long, healthy lives. Whether by genetics or lifestyle, lifelong health can seem like a distant pipedream. It just doesn’t seem possible for everyone, and certainly not for yourself. However, we can all work to optimize our health and long-term wellbeing.
For all of us, keeping conscious and active in this effort allows us to enjoy our lives on our own terms. We can be there longer for our children, but more active and involved in the things we love, and never have to quit until we want to quit.
While some of us will face unavoidable medical adversities, most of us have the ability to change the trajectory of our future health and wellness.
4 Critical Steps in Maintaining Lifelong Health
Believe it or not, our lifelong health is greatly impacted by our childhood and upbringing — all the way to the health of our mothers before they gave birth to us. As the research states, health is not a lack of disease. Health encompasses the human resources we have within ourselves to face everyday adversity (physical and mental), resist sickness, develop coping mechanisms, and maintain a personal sense of well-being. Successfully cultivating these human resources — this health and wellbeing — is necessary to set a framework for lifelong health.
Maybe you didn’t have a great start as a kid. Maybe your family history has you worried about future health problems. While you may not be able to eliminate your risk, you can work to reduce it and elevate your overall well-being.
1) Tackle problem areas.
If we look back, most of us have family members who have struggled with significant health problems. Cardiac issues. Alzheimer’s and dementia. Cancer. The presence of these conditions in your family line may not guarantee your risk, but it does increase it. One of the best ways we can promote lifelong health is to tackle these elevated health risks head-on.
If your family has a history of certain cancers, make it a priority to get regularly checked for said cancer. Look out for consuming things that could contain carcinogens. If you have cardiac issues in your family, focus on eating well and exercising regularly. Reduce your intake of red meats, processed foods, and unhealthy fats. Increase your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Doing so can greatly increase heart-health. What about dementia and mental disorders?
Be proactive. Speak to a doctor about your concerns and do what you can to mitigate your risk. You can strengthen your mind through running and daily mental stimulation.
2) Mind your mental health.
Our mental health plays a significant part in overall wellbeing. Often, mental and physical health affect one another. You can improve your mental health by managing your stress, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. If you notice symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems, don’t hesitate to address them. Talk to your doctor about possible treatments, lifestyle changes, and even therapy options.
3) Get up, get moving.
The facts are clear on this one. Simply put, exercise increases your life expectancy. This is true of just moderate activity, even for obese individuals. You don’t have to be in the best shape to reap the benefits of regular exercise. Not only does regular exercise promote heart (and mental) health, but it also increases your quality of life in the long-term. Lifelong wellbeing means that you want to be able to move and go and do for as long as possible. If you are regularly on the move, you are more likely to have the ability to do so for years to come.
4) Alter your diet.
What we eat affects us. I’m not just talking about cutting out steaks and burgers for your heart’s sake — though that is a part of it. There is an area of study called nutritional psychiatry. It is, in essence, the study of how food affects the brain. So much of this depends on how much we eat, what we eat, and eating regularly. The kind of foods we eat matter, too. Refined carbohydrates are often the culprit for our bad moods! That means sugar. The blood-sugar rollercoaster doesn’t help us feel better. Neither will the fast-food drive-thru.
Eating releases chemicals in the brain and affects things like blood sugar, blood pressure, and mood. A healthy, balanced diet that focuses on fresh vegetables and lean meats is typically suggested for long-term health.
What you eat alters your state of mind as well as your waistline. Prioritize mood and energy-boosting foods if you want to set a solid foundation for daily health.
What lifestyle changes have you made to improve your quality of life? Share them with me in the comments.