Living a healthy life means making lifestyle choices that support one's physical, mental, spiritual , and emotional well-being. Managing your health can be challenging at times; when one facet of wellness demands more attention than others, you may end up struggling to maintain a good balance. But to remain of sound body, mind, and spirit, it’s important to pay attention to all aspects of health: Your mental, emotional, and spiritual sides all play a role in your overall welfare.
The Importance of Self-Care
Self-care is not about being selfish; everyone must care for and maintain their bodies and minds for optimal well-being. However, one person’s approach to self-care may not work for another. While some priorities are universal, such as eating a well-balanced diet, others are not, and each individual must custom-design a plan fitting their lifestyle, one that will deliver benefits. Some people require less sleep, while others require more. And some people devote themselves to the practice of meditation , while others put in time at the gym.
Caring for yourself seems like a no-brainer: Eating right, staying active, and sleeping well don’t sound hard, yet many people fail miserably. Self-care starts with a healthy relationship with yourself. It takes effort but it’s required to maintain overall well-being.
Exercise has a positive impact on the body’s growth and repair ; the body can be in a continual state of renewal. Without regular physical activity, a person’s muscles can waste away, hindering movement, then affecting overall health and leading to decline and decay.
Proper nutrition can help protect you from illness and disease. A poor diet of processed foods that are high in fat and sugars can lead to any number of health concerns heart disease, diabetes, cancer, among others. Ohio State psychology professor Gary Wenk notes that a lousy diet generates an environment in the body that ages us too quickly and in turn impairs our thinking.
The Science of Health Psychology
Health psychology, developed in the late 1970s, is its own domain of inquiry. A health psychologist, also called a medical psychologist, helps individuals explore the link between emotions and physical health. The health psychologist also helps physicians and medical professionals understand the emotional effects of a patient’s illness or disease.
Health psychologists can be found in clinics, hospitals, and public health agencies, as well as in private practice. These practitioners are engaged in such areas of health as chronic pain management , oncology, physical rehabilitation, addiction treatment, eating disorders, among other areas.
Corporate settings also use the help of health psychologists, to promote health and wellness among employees ; they also advise on workplace policies and decision-making , generally looking to encourage healthy companies.
Are we overlooking the most important metric for measuring a life well lived?
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