For many people, it’s easy to think of others over and above ourselves. This might be because we want to help other people, or it could be because worrying about their health and wellness means we don’t have to think about our own, which can be hard – and uncomfortable – to do.
However, if we want to stay happy and be healthy, it’s crucial that we take the time to prioritize our own health, even if it feels strange and possibly selfish to do so. Read on to find out why it’s so important, how to do it, and to understand that it’s definitely not selfish.
How To Make Your Health A Priority
Do Enough Exercise
Physical activity is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. Among its many benefits are increased physical strength, better cardiovascular health, and lower stress levels. The key to maintaining a fitness schedule is picking activities you enjoy.
Walking, running, swimming, and cycling are some of the best exercises for overall health. But pick your workouts wisely; your fitness level matters. If you’re just getting started with working out, it’s best to ease into it with low-impact activities before ramping up the intensity as you gain strength. Also, make sure you schedule plenty of downtime for your body to heal and rejuvenate.
Get Regular Checkups
One easy way to ensure you prioritize your health is to make regular appointments for checkups with professionals. You could make an annual appointment with your doctor, for example, or you could get your hearing checked out by Northern Hearing Health Centre. Don’t forget your eyesight too.
If you schedule these appointments regularly, you’ll be able to stay on top of your health and ensure that if there is a problem, you get the help you need much more quickly. Plus, when you are able to see the experts regularly, you’ll pick up all kinds of useful advice about how to take care of yourself well.
Try Meditation
Although some degree of stress is unavoidable in any given situation, prolonged exposure to elevated stress levels has been linked to a host of negative health outcomes, including burnout, poor focus and productivity, muscle discomfort, insomnia, and anxiety. It’s common knowledge that meditation can help people relax and improve their ability to think strategically. The effects of stress on the body are countered by the relaxation response and restoration of the body brought on by regular meditation practice.
Reward Yourself
If you want to get in shape, pick a goal and complete it, whether it’s running a 5K or simply getting started. Then, acknowledge your efforts by treating yourself to something you’ve been wanting, such as a new dress, new running shoes, or a long-overdue pedicure. You earned this reward because you exerted yourself to achieve success.
In a similar vein, celebrate even minor successes. Take pride in your consistent training and the progress you’ve made. You’re doing a great thing by laying the groundwork for a more joyful and healthy future you.
Interrupt Negative Thoughts
Spending your time thinking about “what if” and “if only” thoughts is a surefire way to wear yourself out and increase your stress levels. It’s best if you can interrupt these negative thoughts and replace them with happier, more positive ones. Although this might be hard, it can make a big difference, and it’s an excellent way to prioritize your mental health when you need to.
When you catch yourself thinking something negative, the best way to combat your thoughts is to turn them around. Perhaps you’re berating yourself for not doing well in an interview, for example. In that case, change your perspective; you didn’t get that job, so what else is out there? What can you change to make your life better? This is just one example, and there are dozens more. Frame things differently and interrupt your negative thoughts, and you’ll start to realize why it’s so important to put your health first.
Make One Change At A Time
We seem to try to change everything at once, like our weight, our relationship, our job, our family, and our finances, instead of figuring out what’s most important. This is actually not helpful at all . In fact, sometimes, the more we try to change everything, the less we can change anything, and everything suffers.
So the first step is to decide what’s most important. Write down all the things you want to change. Then look over your list carefully. Think about how each point on the list affects the others and which one makes the most sense to begin with. Put them in order of how important they are. Now, look at the first thing on your list and set a goal that you can reach. Achieve that goal and then move on to the next and so on, keeping your own health goals in mind at all times.