A fit body is one of the most important goals to achieve to live a healthy and wholesome life. And many people focus on that, making workouts an important part of their day, practicing sports, taking sports-centered vacations like going surfing, skiing, and such, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever they can (it’s more important than you think). Having a healthy body surely helps extend life and improve its quality in the long run – but in itself, it’s not enough. There’s more to health than just taking care of one’s body – for a truly wholesome life, the mind also needs to be taken care of. This is, in turn, increasingly hard in today’s rushing, stressful reality.
Defining “health”
According to the World Health Organization, health means “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. This means that to be truly healthy, one’s body and mind must be healthy. And this is becoming increasingly hard today.
Mental health issues
According to various health organizations around the world, this is not the case for millions of people. Depression is running rampant across the world, affecting a considerable percentage of the general population. According to the US’ National Institute of Mental Health, depression affected over 6% of the United States’ population – and in the light of recent events, this percentage is likely higher today. Depression may not be deadly in itself but it leads to a variety of health issues that are. And the worst thing about it is that it remains undiagnosed quite often, leaving the sufferer to deal with it alone.
Everyday stress
In today’s world, an ever-increasing number of people live under constant stress. The sources of stress are numerous, ranging from work and personal life to the news, social media, and such. And chronic stress has many harmful effects both on our mental health and our body. Among others, it can harm the respiratory and cardiovascular system, and it affects the liver, the adrenal glands, the nervous system, and can even have harmful effects on the male and female reproductive system. At the same time, chronic stress can make existing mental health issues worse, causing everything from headaches and fatigue to depression.
Cut the stress for a healthy life
To keep your body and mind healthy, try to identify the sources of stress in your life. If you have too many tasks to handle at work, delegate those that are not vital. Simply prioritizing tasks, both at work and in your personal life, can eliminate at least a few sources of stress and reduce the pressure. Try to find harmony in your personal relationships – and don’t be afraid to cut toxic people out of your life. Get all the rest you need, don’t let yourself lie awake at night because you are stressed. And don’t be ashamed to get help if you feel you are unable to cope with stress alone.
Only by making sure both your body and mind are healthy will you be able to live a truly wholesome life.
