Our health is one of those things we mustn't joke with, and through the years I've come to realize that if we talk about our health and that discussion doesn't include the body and the mind, then such a short story is half told, and that's because both play equal roles in people's lives. I, for one, have seen how easy it is to focus on one of these and neglect the other. At some point in my life, I was visiting the gym as though my life depended on it and paid little to no attention to my emotions. On other occasions, I felt sharp mentally but sluggish physically, and it took an honest discussion with a health expert for me to come to the realization that true wellness is never complete until both aspects are nurtured.
So what that means, based on my understanding of my discussion with that expert, is that I need to strike a balance with the attention I'm giving to my health. I can't claim I want good health and only focus on the physical while neglecting the mental; it has to be equal attention to bring out the best in yourself health-wise. And what I've realized is that striking that balance comes from listening to every single sign, basically listening to myself. That way, when I feel tired, I won't shy away from slowing down or taking a break, rather than pushing myself further.
Also, whenever my mind feels cluttered, I make it a point of duty to distance myself from whatever it is that might cause such and go on to practice quietness via taking a walk and grasping free air, sitting around nature and beholding the beauty of nature, or just simply staying offline for some time. Those choices that seem simple are what often go on to keep me grounded.
Striking a balance for me in order to put myself in the best state of health comes from being intentional about my health and well-being. Aside from listening to myself and doing all of those things I listed above, I also know that our mental and physical health kind of connect one way or another, and so I do think they influence each other positively. For instance, I can decide to indulge in some exercise routine to lift up my mood, surround myself with positive individuals with whom I have positive conversations, drink enough water, eat nourishing food, and much more because doing these things serves both aspects of my health.
I know I'm not perfect, and neither can striking a balance between physical and mental health bring about perfection, but what it does bring about is awareness that helps me stay grounded and put those aspects in check without placing one above the other, so that means striking a balance can also be said to be knowing when to push, when to take a break, and when to seek help. Striking a balance can also be when we create routines that give us peace of mind while also supporting the strengthening of our body.
So it's all basically about doing a little bit of this and that, and not just focusing on one aspect. You'd see a lot of people visiting the gym almost on a daily basis and having the best of physiques, and yet their health isn't great, because they neglect their mental health. Both are important, and that's why we must be proactive in putting both in check in all we do in our daily routine. Just like me, you can also set up a daily routine of those activities I indulge in, and before you know it, you'll be on your way to having the best of health mentally and physically, because when either one suffers, our entire being will be affected, so take those proactive steps from now onwards.
All photos are mine.
