Stop putting your health on the back burner

 Introduction:

It’s estimated that around 80% of Americans are overweight or obese and it’s not hard to see why when you look at our eating habits and lifestyle choices. We eat more than we need, we sit around more than we should, and we rarely give our bodies the attention they deserve; so it’s no wonder many of us aren’t looking or feeling our best right now. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

It impacts everything

The fact is, if you’re not in good shape, it will impact everything else in your life. Can you play with your kids? Can you do all those fun things that bring joy to life? Are you a wimp when it comes to winter weather and avoids going outside? If so, those are just some of the reasons why managing diabetes (or another chronic condition) is even more important than usual. That doesn’t mean you should sacrifice anything—it just means you should be aware of how a medical condition affects your day-to-day life. Take steps toward keeping yourself healthy! After all, it only takes one missed meal or skipped workout to make a big difference over time. It’s easy to put off until tomorrow what you can do today, but don’t let that happen. Instead, take care of yourself now and reap huge rewards down the road. You’ll feel better, have more energy, and be able to enjoy life to its fullest. In short: Be proactive about your health!

Don’t wait until you are ill

Many of us put our physical and mental health at a disadvantage by constantly putting it off. We tell ourselves that we’ll schedule a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes. When we do make appointments with healthcare professionals, many of us don’t show up due to forgetfulness or laziness. Some don’t even plan ahead for their well-being and only remember to see a physician when they are ill. This is one habit that needs to stop immediately if you want to be happy and healthy in life! It takes dedication and discipline to take care of yourself mentally and physically, but it is worth it in the end because you will feel better about yourself every day! So why not start today? Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician and go get checked out. If you have any concerns, address them now before they turn into something more serious down the road. In addition to seeing a medical professional, there are plenty of other ways to improve your overall health and happiness as well. Start small by doing things like eating healthier meals and exercising regularly—and then work your way up from there! Remember: You can always make time for self-care; you just need to prioritize it first! As far as diet goes, cut back on processed foods and sugary drinks. Switching to fresh produce, lean meats, whole grains, nuts, and seeds will give you all of the nutrients you need without packing on extra calories and unnecessary fat. To boost your energy levels throughout the day, try incorporating exercise into your daily routine. Taking short walks around your neighborhood after dinner is a great way to burn extra calories while unwinding after a long day at work or school. Not sure where to begin? Ask someone else for help! Try signing up for group fitness classes with friends or family members so that you have people encouraging you along the way!

Understand how it works with your body

Your body is very complex and it’s made up of many smaller systems that need to work together. Your digestive system is an amazing example. It’s one of your most vital organs and enables you to digest, absorb, transport, and break down nutrients so they can be used for energy by other parts of your body. But if it isn’t working properly then all those benefits are lost. Digestive discomfort or disease can affect just about every other part of your body because there are so many connections between them. Learning how each system works (and how they relate to each other) is one way you can begin to make better decisions about how you treat yourself throughout life. For example, when you eat spicy foods, do you know what happens in your stomach? When you have a cold or flu, do you know what happens in your respiratory system? If not, learning more about these systems will help put things into perspective. You might even discover new ways to improve symptoms and overall health. That’s why understanding how things work with our bodies is so important—it gives us a greater sense of control over our lives and improves our ability to prevent illness and maintain good overall health as we age.

Change what you do

If you’re doing all of these things, but still not feeling good, then it’s time to make a change. Take some time to talk with family and friends about what you can do to improve your daily activities. If you have kids, see if there are ways that they can support you as well. You may also want to talk with your doctor or another healthcare professional to get advice on how else you can improve your health. Remember that taking small steps will go a long way towards helping ensure that you live for many years into the future! Be active: When was the last time that you took a walk? Or even did something as simple as going outside and playing with your kids? One of the easiest ways to improve your overall health is by being more active. It doesn’t matter if you just spend five minutes walking around during commercials while watching TV or take a longer stroll around your neighborhood—it all counts! Plus, staying active helps prevent obesity and other conditions like heart disease. Eat healthily: Eating right is an important part of maintaining good health. There are so many different foods out there that it can be hard to know which ones are actually healthy for us. The best thing to do is speak with a dietician who can help point out specific foods that you should be eating more often than others.

Use your time wisely

One of the best ways to increase well-being is by spending time doing intrinsically rewarding things—activities that you find enjoyable and interesting. When you’re learning something new, exercising, or laughing with friends, for example, you experience greater clarity of thought and positive moods; you’re also less likely to become depressed. Use your time wisely. Think about what fulfills you and put those activities first in your schedule. If they happen to be good for your body as well as your mind, even better! In addition to being a healthy habit, prioritizing activities that bring you joy can improve productivity at work too. So think carefully about how you spend your time, then do more of what makes you feel good. And don’t forget: Being happy isn't just an end goal—it's a way of life.

Change your habits

If you’re going to be successful at sticking with an exercise routine, chances are you’ll need to make some changes to your daily schedule. If morning workouts just aren’t in your wheelhouse, try a lunchtime walk or run instead. Or, look for activities that work around your schedule (like cooking at home instead of eating out). And check out our tips for making working out more realistic and productive. The fact is, sometimes we have to change our habits to move forward toward our goals – even if it means altering the way we approach our daily lives. But that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy ourselves while doing so! Make sure to take time each day to do something you love, whether it's spending time with friends and family or indulging in your favorite hobby. You'll find yourself feeling less stressed and much happier when you're not worrying about what I'm missing out on.

Reward yourself

Put it in writing that you’ll take one afternoon per week to do something fun—and then follow through. A little R&R can boost your productivity, and make you more pleasant to be around at work. Let coworkers or family members know when you’re taking off; if they see that it’s not only okay but encouraged, they may follow suit. And always remember: You deserve a break! If you’ve been working hard for several weeks, give yourself an extra-long weekend. If you’ve been working hard for several months, reward yourself with a trip somewhere special. It could be as simple as going out to dinner with friends—but don't forget about giving yourself some downtime. It's important to recharge your batteries so that you have enough energy left over for work.

Tell someone else about it

It is easy to overlook our own self-care, but it’s important not to. Your first line of care should always be yourself, which means taking steps to create a healthy lifestyle and routine that works for you. Staying healthy allows you to give your best performance at work and feel great in general. If others are open to hearing about how they can take better care of themselves, tell them! Even if they aren’t interested right now, even just planting that seed may inspire them in a future time of need. You never know when or where your words will strike home. You could save someone’s life by encouraging them to eat healthier or exercise more often—or simply boost their morale by sharing a story of personal success or inspiration.

Stop putting your health on the back burner