What Is Physical Wellness And Why Is It Important?

Photo by Cap Nelson

Physical Wellness is a term used to describe the health of the human body and mind. Our muscles, bones, blood, and brains are not separate – they’re all connected. Depending on how we are feeling physically and mentally, we experience another aspect of health – emotion. Combine all three aspects – physical, mental, and emotional, and we get a picture of our overall health.

The body works as one system, and in order to achieve true happiness, we must take care of all parts of it. If any one part of the system is lacking, it can throw our entire life off balance, affecting:

Personal Relationships
Self Esteem & Confidence
Work life
Success

How to Achieve Physical Wellness

1. Regular Exercise

Cardiovascular training

It doesn’t really matter what you like to do for exercise. It’s just important that you do it regularly. Whether you like to run, bike, swim, jump rope, play soccer, or do yoga, create a plan that works with your life and allows you to get moving at least three times per week.

Strength Training

By increasing our capacity to exert force on a load, we increase our ability to respond to physically stressful situations. Lifting weights twice a week can be incredibly beneficial to daily movement and long-term health related goals.

2. Nutrition

Advocates of commercialized fat diets want you to believe that eating healthy is complicated. They want you to think that only they have figured out the right way to eat, and many times, they’ll say it’s going to cost you to get in on the secret. The truth is, eating healthy is easy, not complicated. Perhaps the best way to summarize a healthy approach to nutrition has already been said by food writer and activist Michael Pollan. “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.”

3. Proper Sleep

Be sure to get a good 7 – 8 hours of sleep every night. If you struggle to stay asleep or have restless sleep, consider getting a sleep study. For a few hundred dollars, you can figure out why you’re having trouble sleeping, and what can be done to correct it.

4. Monitor Blood Numbers

It’s important to regularly check your blood numbers, like cholesterol, weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

5. Limit or Eliminate Tobacco and Alcohol Use

We’re not here to tell you that tobacco and alcohol use are linked to a variety of avoidable diseases. You already know that. However, limiting use of these products can be beneficial to adopting and sticking to a healthy lifestyle. If you’re having trouble giving up these products completely, start by cutting back. With regular exercise and healthy eating, you will quickly notice a difference. Seeing your body change and feeling more alert and optimistic are side effects of the lifestyle that only further motivates you to eliminate harmful habits.

6. Love Yourself

Surround yourself with the love and support you need. This can come in the form of:

Spending time with family and friends
Bonding with pets
Taking time to meditate
Practicing your hobbies: music, art, reading, learning, cooking
Treat yourself: get a massage, facial, or pedicure, or invest in a new outfit. When we look our best, we feel our best.