Let’s start with a critical yet most ignored question – what does health mean to individuals today? The generations might change, but the definition of health for the human body will remain the same. It will also not be wrong to say that the health parameters will keep changing with the changes in time and environment. No matter what time & generation we belong to, our body will speak for itself when it doesn’t feel at its best. One may start feeling tired constantly, the digestive system will stop functioning normally, and one may also fall ill frequently. The effect is also on mental health as one feels anxious and depressed and fails to concentrate on normal tasks.
All these are signs of deteriorated health, but the good news is that corrective measures can reverse the damage. A healthy lifestyle is the answer and it can make a person feel better. One doesn’t have to turn their life upside down. The changes are small, easy to implement, and will smoothly take a person ahead on their journey to a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to heading on a journey towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle, one starts to feel motivated and keep going.
A healthy lifestyle is more complex than diet and exercise. In simple words, lifestyle refers to the way a person lives. It includes social relations, consumption, entertainment, and overall well-being patterns. A lifestyle typically reflects an individual’s attitudes, values, or viewpoints toward society. When a person makes wise choices and creates a balanced life, then it is referred to as a “healthy lifestyle”.
If you ask 10 people about a healthy lifestyle, you will get 10 different answers. This is because there are multiple ways to stay healthy. All the things that make you feel good and happy contribute to your healthy life, which can vary from individual to individual. Good health merely doesn’t mean an absence of disease, it is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.
Living a healthy lifestyle is indeed simple but challenging. There are just a few basics to a healthy lifestyle; only after we can implement them can we move toward the specifics. Most aspects of a healthy lifestyle are straightforward, yet most people find physical well-being elusive. It is so because it is easy to understand but difficult to implement. Knowing how to achieve the goal of a healthy lifestyle or losing weight is not enough. The tough part is changing the habits that you have developed life-long.
Improvements do not mean taking huge steps. Just have a plan and stick to the same, no matter what. Start with one small step for your health today, keep that one going, and add another after every two months or as per your comfort.
Let's talk about the 5 dimensions of Health to improve one’s quality of life. These dimensions are – physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual. Ensuring that all aspects of your health are functioning well is important to develop a better sense of overall awareness.
The physical dimension encompasses all the activities and a variety of healthy behaviors that include adequate exercise, proper nutrition, and restraining from harmful activities like alcohol and drugs. Here various symptoms of diseases are identified through regular medical checkups, and measures must be taken to protect yourself from injuries and harm. In this way, you can keep chronic conditions at bay and your body fit.
It is a dimension whereby you engage in creative and stimulating activities that allows you to develop your mind and enhance your knowledge in every possible way. Just like our bodies, our minds must be continuously exercised and inspired. An intellectually well person constantly keeps improving his skills by learning new things. Participating in activities that freshen your mind and help it to grow is crucial to growing in life.
Connecting with the global community is a part of our social life. How well we perform our social roles within the environment determines our societal status. A healthy person will actively participate in all society's activities by learning good communication skills and creating a support network of friends and family. This aspect also includes treating yourself and others with respect. A sense of belonging is created when you contribute to the community.
This is the most dynamic state that keeps on fluctuating with other dimensions. When a person is emotionally well, he can express more positive emotions like – happiness, love, generosity, etc. People who are not emotionally well show excessive emotions like anger, sadness, and frustration. A healthy person can love and be loved and work towards achieving a sense of fulfillment in life.
The sets of guiding beliefs, rules, and principles come under the spiritual dimension. A high level of faith, hope, and commitment provides a sense of meaning and purpose to your life. It gives a chance to question everything and to appreciate the things which cannot be readily explained or understood. A spiritually awake person is physically and mentally active. It gives a purpose to your life and helps you find the meaning of your existence.
Lifestyle Choices that are Highly Impactful for Your Health
The right nutrition is the foremost requirement of a healthy lifestyle. Your body is developed in a manner that requires a balanced diet of vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, etc., to maintain a healthy body.
Fitness should be an indispensable part of your life. Invest time in performing physical activities to keep your weight in check and get a good night’s sleep. This will prevent you from heart attacks and strokes and prolong your life.
Your stress level is important in how your body reacts to illness. The basic reasons a person feels stressed are smoking, overeating, drinking too much, working too hard, arguing with others, etc. Therefore, managing your stress level for a healthy lifestyle is very important. Various meditation and relaxation techniques can help you manage your stress.
Realize that loving yourself is the first step towards a happy and healthy lifestyle. Build up your self-esteem; it is about how much you value yourself. Feeling good about yourself is what influences your actions. So, treat your body as a temple.
Lifestyle Choices that are Highly Impactful for Your Health
The right nutrition is the foremost requirement of a healthy lifestyle. Your body is developed in a manner that requires a balanced diet of vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, etc., to maintain a healthy body.
Fitness should be an indispensable part of your life. Invest time in performing physical activities to keep your weight in check and get a good night’s sleep. This will prevent you from heart attacks and strokes and prolong your life.
Your stress level is important in how your body reacts to illness. The basic reasons a person feels stressed are smoking, overeating, drinking too much, working too hard, arguing with others, etc. Therefore, managing your stress level for a healthy lifestyle is very important. Various meditation and relaxation techniques can help you manage your stress.
Realize that loving yourself is the first step towards a happy and healthy lifestyle. Build up your self-esteem; it is about how much you value yourself. Feeling good about yourself is what influences your actions. So, treat your body as a temple.
Role of Individual’s Health in the Overall Productivity of the Nation
Healthy people have a lot to offer to their society. Health can directly increase the general output through enhanced physical energy and mental acuity. Every individual's health is critical for the overall growth and development of the nation. When the population of a country is healthy, productivity is enhanced, and they can contribute to the betterment of their country.
There is a need for a certain level of balance spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, mentally, and financially to achieve a healthy lifestyle. It will help if you balance work, family, and other areas of life without going on a guilt trip about anything. All the key areas of life overlap, interlink, and affect each other differently. Proper satisfaction in every aspect of life must be there for a truly contented, fulfilled, or happy life.
